It is a rare opportunity for a listless languid person like me to catch and behold the sight of scarlet sunrise. The break of day or dawn. And it was on one fortunate morning in the dry month of February that I was witness to the spectre that the rising sun can create, especially in a relatively cloudy and grey sky. If the usual aphorism associated with romantic rendezvous is a chestnut-coloured sunset, with an over sized sun at the forefront of a dimming, greying sky, slowly yet rapidly plunging itself into the sea at the distant horizon, being the backdrop of many a honeymoon memories, but to a loveless connoisseur like me, the sight of the rising sun is equally invigorating and romantic.
Ludhiana, known as the Manchester of India, boasts of lineage of Sikander Lodhi (until, of course the Mughals took over all of the Delhi Subba of which Ludhiana was a part), has an export market of $40 million USD and has since well maintained the royalty of yore despite having a written history of over 500 years. As the National Highway No.1 (popularly known as the Grand Trunk Road) about 300 kms. from Delhi, leads you to the mouth of the Ludhiana City, what would surprise the casual traveller is not the green cover characteristic of almost all of the state of Punjab, the city welcomes you with a no-nonsense industrial glare. Nestled among the burgeoning industrial ramifications is also a domestic airport, used largely by goods carriers, but to a certain extent by passengers also. The Ludhiana-Mumbai sector is supposed to be the most important sector owing allegiance to the Industrial prowess this town possesses being one of the oldest industrial townships of India, boasting of some industrial bigwigs of India. As you move further into the heart of the city, you discover some of the biggest names in the hospitality sector and the health services sector have already arrived and several large malls have come up or are under construction. McDonalds, Cafe Coffee Day have definitely arrived and almost all famous brands are struggling to be noticed, which to a financial geek is an interesting study in the consumerism pattern of non-metropolitan cities. The Indian consumer is spending big time and the retail sector is by far the most consumer-sensitive sector of an economy. Alongside the main arterial road, you find dealers and retailers of automobiles ranging from our own Maruti Suzuki to Hyundai to even Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, which again was an indication of the consumption patterns affecting this city. I was enchanted by the city, it was more hustling and bustling on a Monday evening than Connaught Place on a Saturday evening!
The late evening was a stark contrast from the oppressive heat of afternoon and we had to brave extreme chilly weather to attend the wedding celebrations organised by our hosts (garrulous come-hither nevertheless warm punjabis) at an outskirt farmhouse. The affair was opulent to say the least. Punjabi marriages are a delight but this one in particular was an aberration with its ostentatious show of wealth and power and its heavenly culinary delicacies. The date on the mobile calender had changed by the time we were through with the pleasantries and dinner (dessert(s) inclusive) and retired to our cozy hotel room arranged for by our hosts.
We took a well needed rest of about four hours and at 4:30 A.M., before any sign of the sun, we were homebound. I took the seat at the front next to the driver as Ludhiana was a sight even when not a single soul was in sight. By the time we reached Ambala (which is in Haryana and I had grown up thinking it is in Punjab!) there was no more need for the headlights, despite the sun not being visible as yet and the moon still smiling faintly. It was at this juncture that I was sky-spotting. It was cloudy, no doubt. In the distance, sounds of chirpy morning birds echoed as I was awestruck by the colour of the cloud-drenched sky. It was that amazing shade of red, I must say, I haven't ever seen, no, not even in pictures. I loathed the absence of a camera. Very faint rays of the sun were filtering from the clouds (they had a silver lining, so the proverb isn't untrue after all!). As I watched on, the sunrays started protruding out from almost every pocket of the clouds like jet streams, altering the colour of the sky altogether. I was entranced as it was a sight I'm sure I would never forget ever in my life. The first sight of the sun was exhilarating. It was a bright ball, huge in size, deep orange in colour. I watched on like a kid who is awe-struck at a magic trick as simple as pulling out a satin handkerchief from empty hands! It became brighter and brighter every second till I could no more look at it with unflinching eyes. And thus the image got stamped in my memory for the rest of my life. I'd wake up early one of these mornings, get on the terrace of my house and inhale the experience once more as I'm sure it is a love affair I'm starting, which shall last me a lifetime! Amen!