I’m sitting and this foreign couple take a seat next to me. We just nod and exchange smiles. Soon though, an Indian couple come and request the foreign couple to pose with them. This is something I’ve heard of but I haven’t actually seen it with my own eyes. The guy stands with the two
phirangs and his wife takes a pic and thanks them and asks them which country they are from. They say Germany and the couple thank the Germans and walk away.
I can’t help overhearing that they are from Germany, so I start talking to them. I tell them about my German visit about a year and a half ago and they are very interested to know where all I had been. I had stayed in places like Sindelfingen and Fussen and they are impressed as these are not the usual touristy destinations. They get really friendly and are telling me about their visit to India. The girl is working in Bombay but her boyfriend is visiting only to meet her and explore the country. They have already explored most of the tourist destinations of Bombay.
Soon, they felt comfortable enough to ask some questions about India and Indians. “Why do you (i.e me) call the city Bombay and most people call it Mumbai?” “Why is it that the roads are so bad and always jammed?” They continued to ask many more questions. Unfortunately for them, they were treated to some of my strong opinions as well! By this time, it was close to 7:00pm and they decided to go to their hotel and then come back for the sound and light show.
Soon, it was 7:30 pm and I entered the Red Fort. It has a lovely charm when it’s completely dark. It’s kinda eerie as well. There are very few people as well. By this time, it’s getting ridiculously cold. The metal benches on which we are supposed to sit are covered with dew. I sit and in addition to the uncomfortable wet sensation on my backside, it’s also cold! Double trouble!
Soon, the sound and light show, called the
Son et lumière starts. It starts with how this entire area was a jungle and was selected by Shah Jahan as the site of his new capital city, Shahjahanabad. It is actually more of a sound show. The light part is nothing special. They just light up the Diwan-i-Khas in different colours from time to time. It is interesting though. They explain how Nadir Shah and his army conquered Delhi and stayed for about 5 months and plundered the treasury. There was an incident when there were rumours that Nadir Shah had been assassinated. Indians attacked the Persians and in retaliation, Nadir Shah gave the order to his conquering troops to massacre every Delhiwallah they could find. On March 22nd, 20,000-30,000 Indians were killed. In a SINGLE day. Finally, the Mughal ruler of the time, Mohammad Shah had to beg for mercy. As a punishment, Nadir Shah forced the ruler to hand over the keys to his treasury. In May of 1739, the Persians finally left Delhi with thousands of elephants and camels carrying the booty from India. The loot from his Indian conquest had made him so rich that Nadir shah stopped taxation in Persia for 3 years. Among the treasures were the Peacock Throne, the Koh-i-noor Diamond, the Darya-ye-Noor diamond and lots of precious gems.
The show also consists of original recordings of Gandhiji’s voice, Nehru’s voice and Subhash Chandra Bose’s voice. The show ends with the independence of India.
The show finally ends around 8:30 pm. It is absolutely freezing! And I am starving. Time for food! However, Karims is a little far and I am worried that by the time I get back, the Metro might close. The last train is sometime around 10:25pm. It is already 9:00 pm by the time I get out of the Red Fort.
I decide to walk towards the Chandni Chowk metro station and see what I can do for dinner. I come across this small place frying hot bhaturas. I decide to have channa Bhatura for dinner as I haven’t had them yet on this trip. I order a plate of Channa Bhatura and they serve it in about 10 minutes. Hot soft chaturas with hot channa. The temperature outside is in the single digits, yet my mouth is burning because of my impatience! Yummy! Perfect weather to be munching on authentic Old Delhi fare!
I soon gobble it up and am still hungry. I order a couple of gulab jamoons. He gives two hot ones. They are absolutely delicious! I can’t stop myself and ask for two more! I settle the bill and move out. How much do you think this cost me? 75/-. That’s all!
I continue walking and come across another shop selling hot and fresh jalebis. I ask for a plate of them and he serves them with rabri. Absolutely YUMMY! Even though most of these food shops are open, I can see that the rest of Chandni Chowk is getting ready to sleep. Once I’m done with the jalebis, I walk to Ghantewala and have a badam halwa. Oh man, these are just so good!
Eventually, with no more distraction for food, I reach the Metro station and catch my train to Rajiv Chowk and from there on to Karol Bagh station.
My dad has had a long day as well and both of us are looking forward to just crashing. I haven’t yet decided what I’ll be doing tomorrow. Initially, I was planning to visit Old Delhi again, but my dad is persuading me to visit the Auto Expo. He says that it will be better on Thursday than on Friday. Let me wake up in the morning and take a call on that! For now, it’s time to visit dreamland. Where calories don’t matter and I can eat as many badam halwas and mutton burras as I want!