"Fareed ka Hyderabad"..

"Fareed ka Hyderabad"..

Just out of an official meeting I smiled at the waiting driver.. nodding at his " salaam Sahaab" I slided in to his ready inviting vehicle.. Soon we were out on the crowded roads of Hyderabad..it was 5 pm .. Peak office hr.. Roads were spilling over with people and vehicles.. Peeping out of the car window I spotted an elderly lady in bright silk sari.. Loads of gold jewellery ..White mogras in her hair and Hawaii slip ons in her foot buying vegetables from the street vendor....couldn't help smiling at the odd combo.." Irani cafe ki chai aur bakery se cake try karengi madam".. I heard the driver suggesting from front seat... .nodding ..soon I found myself in the cafe with the tiniest cup of strong Irani tea.. and Karachi bakery ka puff..both fitting into each other like hands and gloves..awesome experience..

Back into the car saw my cell phone beep with a text from office " driver name Fareed .. Number so and so..will drop you to your home in eve".. Just out of curiosity I asked " aap Fareed hain?"" Jee madam "pat came the reply.. Passing thru the Osmania University campus..I was by then again engrossed on the road watching a young pretty girl in pattu sari and bindi walking on the sideways of the road with a bunch of burqa clad girls.. The four girls doubled up giggling on thier sides over some secret joke ..invariably I broke into a warm smile on thier infectious bonhomie and joviality .. Turning my attention back into the car again I couldn't help " prodding ".. the young man driving me " Hyd mien kya rest of the country mien Jo mahaul hai.. Cow lynchings..beef politics .. Love jihaad etc etc ka asar Nazar aata hai? Fareed smiled indulgently and said " Nakko madam Hyderabad aisa Nahin hai".. I looked away wondering sceptically whether it's a factual response or the guy is just being cautious..just then Fareed rolled down the car windows to try to get directions from a auto man for my in laws place where I needed to go.. Me bieng a little chaotic with my sense of directions.. I think ended up confusing the poor guy and that adamant GPS lady added up to his woes with her super confusing directions as well..Finally Fareed put his hands up and decided to not listen to both the chaotic ladies 😊 (me and the GPS wali super confident but confusing lady ) ..and opted for the auto man driving next to us in the lane.. Auto man willingly gave detailed directions and we took the next left for our destination.. Just then we heard a knock on the car window and saw the same auto man with the red Tilak flashing on his forehead prompting us to roll down the windows "maulana Sb u took the wrong left.. U have to take next one not this one" he was indicating this to Fareed.. I noticed the auto man took a detour and esp got down from his auto to correct our wrong route.. Fareed thanked him profusely and promptly did the corrections .. And then few moments later Fareed added " aapke Dili mien kabhi aisa koi karega madam ? " and before I could respond he further added " Maine bola na madam ...Nakko mera Hyderabad different hai".. He proudly remarked and confidently moved on for our destination...