FEBRUARY IS ENDING.

I once remember reading, " 80 percentage of New Year's resolutions fail by February". I am on the safer side, as I didn't have any resolutions. But for sure, February is exhausting the calendar and "failing". 

19th February

Pub quizzes are fun. I got introduced to them once I came to Delhi. It's fun to be there, given the variety of people quizzing there for a pint of beer or a stack of books. It is more of a chill time, without the actual tension in a quiz. My friends get excited when I tell them about the wine and beer one gets when they win. But being a teetotaller, I am happy with the books that I collect.

20th February

When it is the wedding season and you are out of your hometown, you miss the food more than anything.

I could never expect an invitation to a wedding in Delhi, if not for Amlan Daa. Mr Amlan Das has invited me to his cousin's wedding at Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi. 

I had never been to a wedding in a 5-star hotel before this, hence it did make me a little conscious. But being in a boys PG makes things easier. I pick a jacket from a friend which suits the attire and attend the wedding.

My political science degree compels me to question the institution of marriage and the money-play in a marriage. But I distract myself into tasting different cuisines of the world, a few of them I heard for the first time.

21st February

I have started an internship with National Human Rights Commission which will continue for 15 days till 7th March. We will be lectured by various speakers everyday, submit a book review and carry out a research project.

I did get burnt out on day 1 itself, as well as try to grasp how hectic my days will be for the coming days.

 22nd February

I get a call from a distant relative about whom I had no idea about, who after admitting their kin in Delhi University wanted to meet me, as they have come to know I am here too.

I tell him to come down to Rajiv Chowk. I take a few juniors along with me as well and decided to have food at the legendary "Jain Chawal Wale"

I open Google Maps and order the items that are most recommended- Rajma Chawal, Paneer Chawal, Aloo Paratha, and Chole Bhature. 

It is definitely one of the best veg joints I have ever been to, which is also evident in the crowd it attracts.

 25th February

Mughal Garden, Rashtrapati Bhavan

I shall count this as one of the special days of my life. I came across this place in my schooltime while I was quizzing. With subsequent readings, I had already developed a fascination for the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhawan, which opens only for a month in a year.

I think this is one of the perks of quizzing, You see many places in pictures as a question in a quiz, but once you actually visit it, you tend to see that place differently than the rest, with a kind of deja vu feeling, which you know it actually isn't. But you smile. You smile because you already have a memory associated with the place, which people might not have.

It hardly took me an hour to cover the garden but days in waiting to get the tickets for it. I am mesmerized by the beauty of the vicinity. Roses and tulips all around, a few of them also named after the likes of JFK, PM Nehru, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mother Teresa amongst others.

I finally get this photo clicked after innumerable unsuccessful takes

26th February

I decided to meet my school-time friend Anoushka after 5 years. It was her first time travelling solo in a metro. We had a pep talk, and she's finally here in Sunder Nursery. 

Sunder Nursery is by far my favourite place in Delhi. It has it all a person needs to be at peace. Although standing opposite to Humayun's Tomb, tourists mostly miss the place. But I prefer myself calling a traveller or rather an explorer than a tourist.

We mostly talk about our lives and life in general. She now carries enormous energy, which I too want in my life. 

We did also discuss society and politics, and return after having a malai kulfi for Rs. 20, which according to Anoushka was the best ever kulfi she has ever tasted, compelling me to have one. 

Her words did justice.

27th February

Waking up early on Sunday is challenging. But I had to. I had to go for writing a test.

In between the test, I text my friend Vishnu for lunch as he stays nearby. I meet him after a year and decided to go to Thalassery. When I am in Karol Bagh, I never miss having my food there. We order Paneer Bhuna and Kerala Parotta. I never miss an opportunity to order Kerala Parotta if I am in a South Indian restaurant.

Interestingly, the jacket I was wearing used to be his, but it is now mine. We talk about Indian bureaucracy, UPSC "aspirants", structural issues, societal issues, and other topics. We didn't take any photographs, maybe because we'll be seeing each other a lot in college now. Or maybe, you don't often click photos with your brother.

28th February

I picked up Chess in the lockdown of 2020. As of today, I have already played 11,679 games.

The sports room of my college houses chess as well, which went unnoticed by me in my first year. But I guess things start to become pristine once you see them going far from you. The very thing has hopped on me and now I spend 3-4 hours of my day in the sports room playing chess.

The last game was exhausting and I am proud of that. It "lasted" for 2 hours and this is by far the longest game I have ever played and won.

Nice way to spend the "last" day of February I guess.