Day's Chronicle.

12th august
 My cellphone beeped and alarmed to disturb my pleasant morning sleep. I just hated the distraction and the whole idea of waking up early but was left with no option but to wake up and freshen up myself. I had a mind to pull the blanket over and sleep some more time, but had to reluctantly avert. It was 6am and I was awake early right at the dawn break when others elsewhere were still in their dreams. Every day, as soon as I am out of bed, it takes me another 10-15 minutes to get rid of my remaining sleep. I see myself on the balcony of my apartment staring into the unceasing plains. That was during the regular weekdays when college timing was at 9am. For sure, I was early today by two and a half hours.  

Surprised, people around my vicinity were already at work and this made me realize how lazy I was to say that it was too early. Of all, I liked the pleasant morning breeze which kinda gave me a nostalgic vibe of my stays at home. A vegetable vendor was right in front of my door with fresh vegetables and daily newspapers were already kept near the door. As I opened the door, I could see the man going to the other apartments with a bunch of newspapers on the back of his bicycle. Most of the farmers were already into the fields, some ploughing and others spraying pesticides in the field. Perhaps, they might have started so early so as to wrap it up as early as possible and stay away from the sizzling spell of the midday heat.

I recently shifted to the outskirts of the main Vijayawada city as the place is just a walking distance from my college. Life here is totally different from ours. I see, people busier than us. They have the mind to work even for a single penny whereas we Bhutanese never care and value a coin. I now feel the pinch when I have to walk 50m from my apartment to buy water cans for drinking purposes. The ordinary tape water doesn't seem potable with a weird taste. I have seen people active until mid-night, but never thought they will be the same early morning too. Irrespective of timing, we are sure to get anything if we go out to a restaurant or a roadside Dhaba. 100 bucks can fully serve and make 5-6 people happy. 

Touring the whole of India is not a problem anymore for me which I did on many occasions with my college mates. We take risks by going without any tickets in the general classification. The best part of it is we take risks and that's the greatest enjoyment.  Restaurants are plenty along the highway 24*7 with steaming Indian foods ready to be served. Of course, surrounding looks little messy with litters all around. They may be diligent to keep it clean, but it is something unquestionable considering the population. The altitude near my place reads 23m above sea level which makes the atmosphere very humid and suffocating. However, with my acceptance of the place, I take it as the place worth living as I am pursuing my studies for my own sake. 

It isn't uncommon to see people defecating in the open air alongside the road. At times, the scene is just too yucky to see people all over replying to nature's call and I am with no words to manifest it descriptively. If we are to firmly believe our mythology, every day will be a bad day as such scenes are common and bound to be seen if you are out of the room. I don't mean to be contemptuous by saying all this since it is their way of life. One can either turn away by not deviating sideways from your path or get to see the worst scene of the day right in the morning. I don't consider it as a bad luck or anything, but the scene nearly puked me several times.

Divine Heaven(Village or City)

The inner instinct makes us optimistic, but being realistic helps us to understand more about life. City life, usually considered as social life is often misconstrued as real life. In reality, it has no depth in it to be rated as real life. The best part of the village is that folks are all related to one another in many ways and enjoys a life worth being called the supernal life. Anything like mishaps, everybody will be well informed and help comes in within no time.

It is utterly unjustifiable to point out the less than normal progress in the nooks and corners of our country as the main reason for the total migration of people into urban areas. Rural life, where people usually spent their entire life in the field is what I like the most. Of course, it is tedious, but we lead a life free of tension. At the end of the day, people draw out the satisfaction of the day. The quest and burning desire for a better life by leaving the grins and beautiful place deserted is the greatest mistake people usually do in the modern world. 

Back in villages, everyone's place is just like your home. Being nurtured in the small village of Tashigang, I am confident enough to say it so. You have to fear about nothing and there is no risk of going out late. People in cities are more under mental pressure because of the challenging and expensive living standards. Not all are destined to lead a city life and those who mistake cities as their home are the ones who lead a pathetic life. There will be no cases of robbery, gang fights, vandalism, drug abuse, etc if they were little wise enough to take a prudent decision. 

How is city life better than rural life? Every time we go out late at night, we fear notorious people in every corner of the cities and some are already the victims of their thwarted urban life. The peaceful night, which is everybody's night and needs to be respected is never taken care of by the late-night nuisance. As for rural life, I find it peaceful with no disturbances or noise pollutions. Of course, to live the reality of it isn't an easy task with tedious labor year-round. Whatsoever, happiness kicks in when we accomplish our work which gives a sense of great jubilation. To take the outcome of hard physical labor and the jubilation both in one stride is the real taste of rural life. 

I cannot be biased and prevent the objective considerations and brighter part of life in the cities. The changing time unfolds the economy as a whole and people do prefer living in the cities. Migration has led to various consequences such as labor shortage in rural areas and soaring up the unemployment rate in urban areas. City life, assumed to be a comfortable life has showered a harsh reality to many migrants which they find it hard to endure and survive. There is no steady state of growth or stature maintained with some sections of people swimming in wealth while others are drowned in poverty which is the woeful plight seen in reality.