Is ‘No Smoking’ a suggestion in Shillong?
Shillong has a peculiar relationship with smoking. The ‘No Smoking’ signs across the city seem to serve more as decorative pieces than deterrents. Smokers often stand right in front of these signs, cigarette in hand, as if challenging the idea of rules itself.
In most cities, smoking is a furtive act, often hidden in corners. But in Shillong, the mix of cigarette smoke and fog creates a scene so seamless that you might mistake one for the other. The irony is palpable.
Perhaps it’s time to reconsider smoking in public. A little respect for non-smokers wouldn’t hurt, and giving in to the urge to step away from public spaces might just be the solution. Until then, let the ‘No Smoking’ signs continue their silent protest.
The line of change
Travellers between Guwahati and Shillong often experience an unspoken but tangible moment of transition, a sudden climate change that feels almost ceremonial. Somewhere along the journey, as the cab winds up the hills, the warm air of Guwahati seems to wave goodbye, and Shillong’s chilly embrace takes over.
This phenomenon is so precise that you could almost mark it on a map. One moment, you’re comfortably dressed for Guwahati’s weather, and the next, you’re frantically digging through your bags for the layers you thought you had shed.
Can we call this the “line of change?” It’s an unspoken rule, what Guwahati let’s go, Shillong picks up.
For first-timers, it’s a lesson in packing wisely; for the rest, it’s just another day in the hills.