Strangers

by Omkar Yadwad (India)

I didn't expect to find India

Last month I visited Ahmedabad, Gujarat for a two day wedding shoot. So my plan was to shoot for those days and then wander in and around the place on the third day and then back to Pune. The shoot was done around 6:30 am on the planned day of exploring the city. Then after a short nap, I packed my stuff and left the hotel. And I was there standing and staring the highway in front cluelessly. That moment was so lively and I was thrilled for the day as I didn't knew what was coming! I knew nothing about the place, but I had heard about the Adalaj Stepwell (Adalaj ni Vav). It was 15 kms from where I was. Decided to walk a few kms first. Walking through the streets of the city I somehow lost the track and ended up increasing 2 more kms! Then I finally booked a cab and reached the place in about 45 mins. The moment I reached an old man had just started about the history of the stepwell; how and when was it built, why was it built, etc. For me the most amazing part of 'it was the architecture and design of it. No doubt it's beautiful but also it's a mixture of different religious designs carved on it throughout depicting harmony'. After my photography was done, I sat there in silence. It was calm, it was soothing. Watching people passing by and observing their actions was what I did for the next 1 hour. Then I had a thali just opposite to the place and then walked to the highway. From Adalaj, the place, I took a rickshaw to Chanderkhand bus station and then a bus to Paldi (if I remember correctly). Now I had 2 hours for my bus for Pune to arrive. So I went to a nearby Subway (That's when I clicked this), sat there for a while and returned by the time. Now the best part, the Adalaj Stepwell experience was truly wonderful but what topped for me in the whole one day trip or the whole Ahmedabad trip, was 'talking to strangers'. Even on the very first day from the drop point to the hotel for about an hour me and the (Ola,Uber and Jugnoo running simultaneously) driver opened himself so casually from complaining about the female customers, giving career guidance to selling me his personalised 1 day Ahmedabad trip package, we talked a hell lot! Then on the 3rd day another cab driver, a man at the Stepwell, a rickshaw wala, all of them were also so outspoken, were sharing random life experiences, telling about their lives asking about me, asking my experiences, it was fun! It was more fun as I was solo trippin'. and I guess (I guess that's why all of them were more comfortable). As a listener (btw I love listening) I heard whatever they spoke about and tried to empathize to their situations. Honestly I felt so so sooo fresh, new and happy after listening to them. I felt an instant connection with them. The diversity among their stories just made me wonder. Now I'm surely more confident and am gonna try and talk to more and more strangers during my next trip , I don't know which .