A Souvenir from Kochi

The magnificent city-Kochi has remarkably changed in the last two years. The city has a brand new look. Unfortunately, the Kochi metro has wormed in its way through the city taking away a few of my favorite restaurants.

After bidding farewell to this gorgeous city, I was back again 2 years later, to dust and read the book of memories. ‘Kochi Muziris Biennale’, the biggest contemporary art festival in Asia, was the primary purpose of this journey but the thought of revisiting my old joints was always on my mind. Who doesn’t like some sweets after a heavy meal?

So, I decided to walk the same roads which hid under the gloss of new developments. Suddenly they seemed unfamiliar to me. I continued to trudge ahead, revisiting my favorite spots reminiscing  the good old memories. Those evening walks which  helped us unwind after  hectic schedules, where both of us traded our day’s events,both good and bad,sharing different perspectives only to rejuvenate the both of us for the next day.

I always missed Kochi ever since I left. Because Kochi was all about you. The evening strolls, rummaging new restaurants, endless discussions over a samosa chat. We never  missed any exhibition in the art gallery. Those were the days.

I was trying to recollect the names of restaurants we frequented. From the local Indian Coffee house and Hotel Sapphire to  Dominos and KFC, there were many. The chat shop near Durbar Hall ground was unforgettable. It became my favorite fast food. We visited the art gallery, trying to figure out the nuances of the exhibits. It displayed the creations of amazing artists.

The heartache I felt once we graduated and parted ways, I have the same feeling linger on. The same roads which brought us close eventually took us on different journeys. I remember those days, vividly.

My heart became heavier with every step I took. I stopped at those sweet shops, chat centers to check if they tasted the same or not. But they didn’t. I sat at the Durbar Hall ground where we shared our past and future, motivating each other. But the meadow or the shade didn’t give me any comfort.

Back in the hotel room sitting and staring into the mysterious darkness through the window. I can still picture you, standing at your hostel balcony waiting for the sun to rise. We waited for the moment wishing it would never set. Because time worked against us. Always moving ahead.

Kochi is incomplete in your absence.

Those endless roads are shorter without you.

The chat center, the sweet shops, the ground, the art gallery; it did not muster the same energy or emotion as before.

Because Kochi was all about you.

And what we eventually miss are these memories, not the person.

Because memories stay and people come and go.

I am indebted to Kochi forever for all the great memories it gave me.

I’ve always been fascinated by memory and dreams because they are both completely our own. No one else has the same memories. No one has the same dreams.

-Lois Lowry