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The city of joy

A newcomer to the city, K. Parameswaran, is overwhelmed by the warmth of the people

An industrious city is always accommodating, an accommodative city is always friendly, a friendly city always welcoming and a welcoming city always smiling. And Coimbatore is definitely a smiling city.

I landed in the city in the wee hours of the day. It was the first time I was coming to the city from Kozhikode. I knew no Tamil. However on alighting from the bus I was immediately struck by the spirit of bonhomie here. I was helped around the city by a set of perfectly ordinary people. I stepped into an STD booth to ask for help and a young boy looking after the booth offered to accompany me part of the way! A bus conductor harried though he was, took time off to give me precise directions to a place I was looking for. Even a total stranger walking past me on the road, probably seeing me looking lost and uncertain struck up a conversation with me and patiently advised me on the best course of action.

It is very easy to constantly pick faults or unfavourably compare a new place to one's earlier home, but it is equally easy to feel welcome and at home thanks to gestures like these that may be small but exhibit a generosity of spirit.

SOUND OFF! is a weekly space for you to rant, applaud or talk about anything on your mind. Write to metro@thehindu.co.in telling us a little about yourself (with address and phone number), and you may get a chance to sound off!

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