Fourteen days of hell or calm, only time will tell. But it will be a different side of Delhi that we’ll see during the Games from October 3-14. A fortnight of uneasiness according to a news report, so it’s bye-bye to your friendly neighbourhood sabzi wala, forget venturing out late in the market and say hello to choc-a-bloc traffic. Amidst heavy security and curtailed outings, it almost feels like a curfew. What are Delhiites planning to do, especially those, who are not going to the Games, professionals, who are not as lucky as school and college students to stay back, and homemakers, on having to think out-of-the-box to sustain supplies in their kitchen.
HR consultant Shukriya Bose is not worried. She is prepared to face any challenge ahead. She says, “I will stick to innovative food items, which can be stored in advance such as rajma, chole, soya beans, frozen corn and peas, so even if the vegetable vendor does not turn up, samosas, and chhole bhature can be made at home to tickle our tatsebuds.”
This time can also be spent catching up with friends and family, like Subia Moid Abdullah, a homemaker, who is taking all this in a good spirit. “Perhaps, for once we should accept all this to let our city play host to a world event. In the long run, this would prove to be useful to us. As for making most of the time, I am intending to organise a family gathering at home, this time, our close relations and friends would be able to spare time for a fun get-together. Also, I am happy I will be able to spend much more time with my husband,” she says.
Despite the CWG being in the limelight for the wrong reasons every few hours, Delhiites have been bracing for the worst since months. Businessman Aman Parvez is going to take a break from his business. “As I am constantly on the move all through the day, I know this period will be an uphill task. So, I am taking a break and will treat this like a short summer vacation. It is not an easy decision, as I will lose more than Rs 55,000 in rent and salaries to staff,” she says.
However, Deepshikha Seth, DU student is waiting for the Games to start as she can fearlessly meet her beau and also go for house parties. “I can safely say that people will prefer to stay at home than venture out. These few days, I can meet my boyfriend without having to worry that some aunty or uncle known to my parents will see me with a guy. Also, my friends are planning house parties, where we plan to watch the Games on TV and have fun as well.”