PART 1 OF 2
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It's been a year today.
A year of knowing Banaras, of breathing its air, of walking through its chaotic, ancient streets. And what a year it's been. Thrilling, yes, but also a time that brought its fair share of lessons—ones I didn’t expect and some I wasn’t ready for.
When I first stepped into this city, Banaras looked like a canvas dipped in gold. The ghats, the temples, the river, and the sunsets—everything seemed straight out of some postcard. But you know what they say, all that glitters isn’t gold. Turns out, Banaras isn’t just what you see in those Instagram reels with Ganga Aarti playing in the background. There’s a side of the city no one really warns you about.
For starters, 'Banaras ka waqt' is like the river—it flows at its own pace, and nobody’s in a hurry to catch up. Deadlines? Timeliness? They’re like myths here. If someone says "bas do minute," take that with a grain of salt. It could mean anything from 20 minutes to two hours. You learn patience, or you lose your mind—it’s as simple as that.
And speaking of patience, navigating the bureaucracy here—whether it’s for paperwork or getting some admin work done—is an art. An art that requires more breaks than actual work. You’ll hear things like “Kal aana,” and “Aaj bhi nhi hoga, Guru,” so often that you begin to wonder if this city runs on some mysterious calendar no one’s ever heard of.
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(To be continued in the next)