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Time out at night
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If you thought that there is nothing that the city offers after sunset think again. MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER takes a tour of the city by night.
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Letting their hair down
HAVE YOU gritted your teeth and bared your fangs in a sad imitation of a tolerant smile as "been there, done that" out of towners languidly comment that "there is no nightlife in the city." You know the kind that immediately reels out all the fun things that one could do if one was anywhere but here? Like party till forever at Ghungroo, Enigma, Athena or Purple Haze and then continue to party somewhere else?
All has changed darlings, changed so utterly that you have to wait for a table at a midnight buffet. And while waiting to indulge in the absolutely divine buffet at the Deccan Pavilion (ITC Kakatiya Sheraton Hotel and Towers) you are sure to rub shoulders with the city's very own celebs. "The place is peppered with wannabe models in strappy little nothings, film stars present and past, theatre personalities and general socialites," says Ashutosh, an adman and a self-confessed people watcher.
"I have been in the city forever and even a couple of years ago we were a sleepy, happy city. Now we still are happy but wide awake! Blame it on the disposable income and the fact that younger people have more money to spend. The floating population is adventurous and would like to try out everything."
While Trishna Guha, a Process Associate from Kolkata, feels the nightlife in the city has improved "somewhat," she wishes there were more places "to shake a leg." As she explains, "I have spent quite a fortune learning dance at private institutes. And there are many like me. It is sad that there is no place where one can show off."
Night life "has certainly improved" according to Jaswinder Randhawa, a student at Arena Multimedia from Gurgaon. He however feels "the city is at a very nascent stage and has a long way to go before it catches up with Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai or Delhi."
And we are getting there slowly and surely - Nawabi style. So now a night show is invariably just the teaser trailer for the rest of the evening. Midnight is no more the witching hour as the roads are crowded not just with the heavy-duty party animals but even mummies, daddies, uncles, aunties, Chunu, Munnu, Bunty and company returning from or heading for a drive on Necklace Road.
"It (Necklace Road) is well lit and children love the balloons, the lights and ice cream," says Sangeeta. "Night is a good time because we set out after all the work (homework, housework) is done. One can really relax as we know all we have to do when we get home is go to sleep."
While Necklace Road and Tank Bund are mainly for family outings except for the odd speed demon who always seems to be flying too low, the hi-tec city stretch has the look and feel of a 24-hour commercial complex with much comings and goings and bandis doing brisk trade in everything from mirchi bajjis to Chinese food.
Biryani after hours
"Nothing beats the fun of digging into piping hot mirchis at midnight," says Felicity D'Souza. Then there is Windows of the World that is open round the clock and offers Sarita and her husband the unlimited joy of having "Schezwan fried rice seasoned with red chillies and mustard!"
There are the inveterate long drive enthusiasts like Philip N. Kumar, a social scientist, who enjoys getting into "the jeep and going where the road takes you. It is nice now that one can grab a bite at any hour. The food options now go beyond biryani at Garden and Paradise."
Then there are those like Kartika who have just learnt to drive. "I feel confident driving at night and treat myself to ice cream at Famous Ice cream. One in the morning is the only time those roads are relatively empty!"
So there are the food options, entertainment options (the Imax will have you going crazy with choice) and all those long drives you can indulge in but man, woman and child do not live by bread alone.
For those who crave something different, why not catch up with some stars? Not the celluloid kind dears - the astral kind. "Tracking planets is a special kind of thrill," says Santosh P., a technical writer by day and an avid astronomer by night.
"Jupiter and Saturn are really beautiful and watching them move across the sky is awe-inspiring. It gives you a feeling of how small we are. You know leading these bustling lives like the ants in that Robert Frost poem." Bird watching (the feathered ones okay) is another zara hatke se alternative one could check out.
Irrespective of the option you choose, you can be sure that the city with its tehzeeb of khatirdaari will see to it that you can indulge in it.
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