Not in love with Ludhiana, but definitely with its people

It was 2008 when my parents moved from Delhi to Ludhiana in search of a fresh start. For a Class XI teenager in her rebellious years (that was me), it meant leaving behind her best friend, schoolmates and the future life that I had been imagining.

Moving to a tier-2 city came as a cultural shock — a majority of the schools had salwar-kameez as uniform for girls; and I missed my short skirts and long coats. Boys and girls had separate seating arrangements, and teachers would often look down upon students who tried to mingle with the opposite gender. I was always angry at my parents for this — the teenage hormones, I guess.

Two years later, I was again saddened about the fact that I wasn’t going to Delhi University. I ended up at a commerce college in Ludhiana — the only co-ed college in the city back then. Sadly, short skirts were still not allowed, but the college came as a breather in the city that otherwise refused to grow – or so I thought.

Somewhere between managing the college attendance and bunking classes for movies, love affairs and heartbreaks, group studies and dance performances at farewell parties, friendships were forged that were to stay by my side for life through hell and high water.

Three years of bachelor’s degree came to an end in the blink of an eye, and my parents were ready to move again – this time to Panchkula, where we were to finally settle down. And here I was, teary eyed again, yearning to stay in the city I had found contemptuous.

Years have passed, friends changed cities, even countries, in search of greener pastures, but the bonds that were formed continue to grow deeper. Friends got married, so did I; they had babies and I became an aunt to them — and agony aunt to their parents.

As for Ludhiana, I visit the city every now and then, and still have not developed any liking to it — the traffic jams, the high AQI, the chaotic streets; but it is where I found my chosen family. As they say, it never is about a place but people — the city may not have found a place in my heart, but the people it gave me belong there forever.

Smridhi Chawla, Chandigarh