A five minute walk in my neighbourhood

 Taking a Five-Minute Walk

 

 

I prefer walking to any other form of exercise. I don’t much care for structured routines, so I step out as often as possible—walking to the grocer, laundry, chemist, cobbler, bank, and even the salon.

Once upon a time, I enjoyed walking in my neighbourhood. A friend once said, “You have the privilege of living in the city, without really living in it.” Far from the maddening crowd, tucked in a quiet corner, it was mainly residential, with quaint cottages and low-storied buildings dotting the landscape, a plethora of shady trees, a few old-fashioned grocery stores, parks, and a few tried-and-tested places to eat or simply hang out.

In the past two years, the face of my neighbourhood has changed drastically. It now resembles a construction site. The older apartment blocks, cottages and bungalows are being demolished and replaced by towers that almost touch the sky. I look at them and pray that the residents in the towers remain safe and have access to essential amenities like water and electricity.

Civil authorities are constantly digging up roads to lay cables and pipes or to resurface them. I find myself doing a jig, or some nifty dance moves, as I navigate traffic that is always in a hurry, trenches, potholes, and piles of rubble, in addition to the menace of stray dogs.

Just when the roads look all smooth and travel-worthy after what seemed like ages, I step out, only to find that one has been reopened and another is being dug up. Currently the road in front of my apartment block is being dug.

A couple of roads are semi-open to the public, as work is still ongoing, and one must stay alert as traffic and pedestrians share the space

 Beauty salons, each promising to make me more beautiful than the next, have mushroomed from nowhere. I’m amused by the number of new salons that have sprung up all over the place. From Beauticlious to Claws, which I mistook for a pet clinic but was later told is exclusively devoted to nail art, I feel my neighbourhood is definitely in the running for an international beauty pageant winner.

The eateries have increased by leaps and bounds.  From Good Flipping Burgers and Pop Tates to the idli–dosa platter, I’m spoilt for choice.

The only peaceful places are the gardens and parks, which are regularly visited by the health-conscious, the senior citizens, and the laid-back alike, all seeking a chat and a breath of fresh air.

As I become accustomed to the changing face of my neighbourhood, I'm happy to hear the birds still chirp outside my window and to soak in the greenery around me. All is not lost.

 I miss the cottages and bungalows and feel quite exasperated as I watch my step and long for the old-world charm of my neighborhood, but again, change is the order of the universe. 

 

 This post is part of the Blogchatter HalfMarathon2025

Imagecredit:My personal gallery.