Pune lives in me even if I don’t live there

Geographical boundaries seem arbitrary to my mind, especially for the places where my loved ones reside. Pune is one such cherished destination for me, where my sister is settled presently. While I happened to live in the City Beautiful for 30 years till I moved to Noida two years back, my sister left Chandigarh right after graduation. Tales about her experiences always give me a sense of belongingness to her city. Her anecdotes about the challenges peculiar to this Deccan territory make me feel as if they are my own.

When I first travelled to Pune, the place totally matched the image I had conceptualised — green surrounding ghats with pleasant weather all year round, inhabited by industrious, yet amicable people. The rainy season in Pune is phenomenal. We once drove a few kilometers to Tiger Point in Lonavala, and the beauty of this pristine cliff left me spellbound. Even today, I visualise that scene and imagine myself standing under a fluffy canopy formed by winds, relishing corn cob amid clouds so near, as if caressing my forehead.

Every sojourn there has been a splendid memory, the last one being extremely special. In three years of my marriage, these were my first steps at my sister’s threshold with my husband. The walk on narrow roads seemed merrier and the cafes felt cozier in his company. We also took a road trip to the picturesque Sula Vineyards. The aromatic wine we tasted there is making me nostalgic as I am inhaling the toxic air of Noida right now.

I pray this annual ritual of visiting my sister continues, renewing our bond with Pune and one another.

Rashi Mathur, Noida