Hi guys!!! All these days I was very busy with work. In software industry, every day we may get to learn a new lesson. I did recently and will like to share with you all. The secret of success here is not how much hard you work, rather knowing who to blame for your failures. Anyway, I am out of those blame games for the time being and taking a sigh of relief, and thought will put down something which happened in between these days. I can’t jot down everything as I am neither as great as Ved Vyasa to write a new Mahabharata, nor I have got someone to write on my behalf, like how Ganesha did for him. So, in short, I AM BACK.
Everything was going on smooth till one call came. Now don’t think like Chetan Bhagat’s novel, call came from God. The call was from my uncle, my cousin bro’s marriage had got fixed, and he had invited us to attend. My bro is 2 yrs elder to me. Suddenly, my parents, who were seeing me as a kid till the call had come; could see me as a grown up boy and a potential bride-groom. They started telling since they are law-abiding citizen. They have got a daughter, and now they need one daughter –in-law. Oh my god!!! How can a call change your life, I realized it today. I did a lot of retaliations, but all in vain. They had answers for all the questions I had, and they never asked me those questions for which I had genuine answers. Experience matters. Finally, I had to hang my boots, and I asked them to carry on, thinking this enthusiasm will fade away soon. But that was not to happen. It started to burn like the Olympic torch, and they were determined to get a medal; if not gold, at least silver or bronze.
It’s not true I had never tried to fulfill this dream of my parents during my early years. But my dumbness (literal meaning not disability) came as a road block quite a few times. I never had an inferiority complex, but used to think that I cannot be counted as smart or ‘cool dude’ type. Later only did I come to know I am viewed as handsome as Abhishek Bacchan and Spiderman (without mask obviously) by few people (don’t read as my parents). I still remember in my school days, when I was in class VII or so, I had liked a girl. Even the girl used to like me. I had come back from hostel, and after gathering a lot of courage I wrote a letter for her and kept. I thought of giving it to her on the last day, so that even if she gets angry, I will be too far to get scolding’s, and I will be back again after around 5 months, so things would be cool. But there is always a twist in the story. Before the movie could release, it shattered as the biggest flop on the box-office. Yes, my mom caught the letter and showed it to my dad. I don’t want to insult myself by telling you all that I got 2 slaps, along with stack of scoldings. If Mirza Ghalib would had faced the same situation in his life, he could had written a sher on this something like this –
“Likhe jo khat tujhe, wo teri yaad me,
Saare ke saare PAPA ne padh liye!
Sawera jab hua to JUTE pad gaye,
Wo FASHION wale baal hawa me ud gaye!!”
This incident was enough to keep me decent for another 3-4 years. I concentrated more on sports and studies than girls. But every day is not a rainy day. When I went to my +2 school, the sleeping ghost woke up again. Not my mistake, my school mates (girls only, errrr) were too beautiful (poetic depiction). I thought enough is enough, searched for a girl (single), gathered more courage than the last time (after the slap gate incident) and proposed her. My god! What a shocker. I used to think as I am a dumb guy, but she came out be a deaf girl. Now I can’t put her in front of my parents even when she is deaf, just because she was beautiful.
Me : Ria, I love you.
Ria : Today only I bought new sandals.
Second time my heart was broken, but I was feeling more pity for her. She was such a young and beautiful girl, but deaf. I was little angry on her parents also, thinking why they are not taking care of her. Gradually that story also faded away. Only positive here was this chit-chat between a dumb boy and deaf girl never became public, and so there were no degrading incidents. Negative effect was; I was not sure if I will be able to gather that much courage again in future.
In between that last day and today, what all I did, let it be hidden in the bag. Lets come back to the present. Few weeks post that call, suddenly I heard on a Saturday evening, tomorrow, on Sunday, we are going to see a girl. It was something as good as SQA before a release from both sides. I protested, but it was of no use. What an irony!!! Few years back, who had scolded me for writing a letter to a girl, they only were forcing me to come and see a girl. This human life is so strange. I was more worried about the F1 race which was scheduled on the same day, and had told them whatever it is, we should be back before it starts.
We were supposed to meet at Lalbagh gardens. Last time I had gone there was around 3-4 years back, as a part of trip Bangalore Darshan. I was again heading there, almost with same aim, or to be little more specific, ladki darshan. My parents were more excited than me. Whether to wear this sari or not, or which shirt to put on was their main topic. I was wondering if they were going to see a girl for me or something else. We reached there around 11 AM. It was so mush rush there, being on Sunday. I could feel little bit of excitement with a blend of fear. What if they ask me to sing, dance or do something there, and if I am not able to, then ‘Pappu can’t dance sala’. We reached there before those guys and obviously the gal did. I and my parents, and the girl with two of their relatives (sister and brother-in-law) were gathering. They came after around 20 minutes, giving excuse that girls always take time to get ready and Bangalore traffic is so bad, bla..bla. Then started the inspection procedure through eyes, like some silent movie of old age. My parents’ eyes were fixed on her, their relatives’ on mine, mine on her and hers’ on ground. She surely could have counted the number of insects roaming around her high heels by then. Then we divided into 2 groups of the Gentlemen and the Ladies. This continued for another 20 minutes. Then we came out of the Lalbagh.
Story is not over yet guys!!! Then we went little ahead till Vision theatre and found a nice coffee outlet there. We six went there to have tea/coffee. Bollywood influence or what I don’t know, those four sat on a table and asked us both to sit on a table and talk. My god!!! Finally I realized what the pressure is. This is surely more crunch than an interview, or when you are batting when your team needs you. Anyway, I ordered for a coffee, and she preferred to have a tea. We sat there for around 5minutes without a word to share. I looked at my parents, and they were not at all bothered about me. As if we were complete strangers. I looked at her and saw the smile on her face. We both were sensing that same estrangement. My old habits were haunting me. Every time I was trying to start, the first words were coming as “Abe kamini! Oye moti!”. Finally I opened my mouth, and asked her name. Let’s call her Miss V. Initially, she was very reluctant to speak. Whatever I was asking, she was replying and that was all. Later when we started to speak about our work, it came out little better. She works in HP, and also in banking domain. Hufffff. These banks are not gonna leave me or what? She is a big fan of daily soaps, doesn’t like cricket or politics, early to bed and early to rise, likes to fight with auto drivers and many other things. At the end when I counted, our taste was matching only in 2 cases: both working in banking domain, and both like to fight with auto drivers. I was not at all sure if this was sufficient for a proper match. ;-) . We chatted for around 20-25 minutes when fortunately/ unfortunately our coffee got over.
We came to a conclusion that if we would had met somewhere else, not in this situation at least, we could had spoken little more, but the current scenario was forcing both of us to be decent and exhibit the best qualities, and it was not at all natural. I asked for her number, and she gave me. I never gave her mine. ;-) (Value-adding technique). Then we came out and parted our ways. I wished her happy Diwali and she got my number then, and she wished me back. The story ends here.
One satisfying thing was I didn’t miss the F1 race and reached back home around 1 hour before schedule. Somehow this process doesn’t look good once we come out of it. What if we don’t like each other, or either of us, then this whole thing looks like some drama. Feeling sad for the girl. Once we came back, believe me, not even once my parents asked me if I liked the girl or not. I was feeling little shy to tell anything about her from myself. But they had hidden the cat in their bag. And even I was silent. When I couldn’t control anymore, I started searching for people with whom I can share this experience. Then I remembered of you guys. Hufffff. Just forgot to ask her one thing – ‘What’s your Raashee?’ :)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Ticket to Hollywood
10 July, 2006. This was the date when I joined my company. I was feeling very lucky that particular day. From the college I belonged, our beloved EPCET, getting a campus placement was like plucking stars from the sky. But 7-8 of us were plucked for the same. The very first day HR’s told that we all should have our passports ready, as there are lots of travel needs in this company. It brought a smile on everyone’s face. :)
We were around 30 people in the Induction training program from different colleges. After rigorous work-outs of 3 months in training (Mainly those Unreal Tournament games in Almaz Software, with such unusual login names), we were allocated to different location based teams. 8 of us came into the kitty of Middle East Development team. Most of us had passports ready, and were ready to fly, but I was one among the ineligible people (Not incapable, just lack of passport). Within 3 days we were assigned work and it all started. There were few people, lucky ones who got opportunity to fly early, and they took it with both hands (Two of them were ready 2 go to Pakistan also. Thank god, a timely blast in Karachi deprived them from early departure – from India to up above the sky).
I finished my one year, and I still didn’t have a passport to travel. I saw everyone around trying hard to get an onsite. I am telling you, I was not willing to travel earlier, but like swine flu (oops… H1N1), it’s a contagious virus, and sooner or latter I was going to get affected by it. Then came a day when I was called by my PM, and he questioned me that why I have given my choice as no travel. Then he told me that joining I-flex means you are committed that if required you will be ready to travel. Finally, I had to come up with the truth that I don’t have the passport. He was out of his wits suddenly. He told- "How could you do this? More than one year in this institution and you don’t hold the basic identification document required here. Is there any problem in me, or some problem in you, or some problem in third party, that you don’t have passport?" I thought, if I don’t stop him now, it would not take him 5 minutes to proclaim me as a criminal or some refugee. I stopped him in between and told that it was my laziness and non-willingness that derailed me from getting a passport. He told me not to exhibit my laziness in such things. Then to add he said – "I am all aware of the kind of good work you are doing, and its time when some added responsibilities should be given on your shoulder. You might have to travel somewhere." This was told in September, 2007. I don’t remember the exact date.
There are only few differences between friends and stabbers. Singular I can tell is that of the timing of the pain felt. Stabbers will force an immediate realization, while friends will never allow you to do so, and even if you are able to, it might be too late for anything. I am not the only one telling this. A large survey has confirmed this. As soon as I told them all about the meeting which I had, they all congratulated me for the opportunity which I had got, and asked for an immediate party. I will take this opportunity to remind you all and tell that I am intelligent, as I convinced them all that I will give the same after getting my passport and final plans. I will thank my 6th sense for the same. Anyway, I collected all necessary documents, applied for an appointment, and landed in the passport office with DM. Due to unavailability of one document, or maybe availability of DM, my application was rejected, and had to come back.
From that day, for next five-six months, continuously I was being poked by my PM about the passport. Actually I had left one of my certificates in my 10th school itself, because of which the processing was not done. I told him the same, and told that I will need a week’s leave to go and get the same. I was shell-shocked, when he agreed for the same, as generally, for a day’s leave also; he bends his face like Beckham. Anyway, I started my journey to the school, and got a very warm welcome there, extended my stay by one more day, and enjoyed like hell. Played with kids, and how much ever they tried, they were not able to bowl me out in cricket. For a day, I felt like Sachin Tendulkar. :) Watched the movie Race with one of my old school friends who stays there, and it was like great week off.
I took the certificate from the school and came back and again applied for an appointment in the passport office. This time I dropped DM as my companion, who was my last time’s bad luck (probable), and rather accompanied myself with Miss W. Reached there in time, and within 15 minutes, the application was processed, and I got a receipt of the same. After around 15 days, I checked the status online and found that it had gone for the police verification. Became alert and decent, and told all my neighbors whose address I had given, to sing the tunes of my decency only. 5 days went and nothing happened. I was tired, and I decided to go myself to the Police station. I had to wait there for almost 45 minutes to meet with the officer related to passport transactions. Meanwhile, I checked all the photos put up on the notice board, that of culprits, and was happy to feel that I don’t know any one of them. So what, if I was little notorious, at least I was a good citizen. ;-)
That officer came and when I asked him about the passport status, in reply he scolded me instead. "You people will apply for passport, and never keep track of the same. Your passport verification form is lying with me for more than a week. You should take a notice of the same and report accordingly." I told that I thought you will come to my house for the verification process, so I didn’t come. "What do you think? I didn’t come to your house. Three times I came to your house, and every time you were away to your office. You work in I-flex right." I was shocked, impressed and angry. Shocked on the agility of the officer, impressed that he went three times in my search, and knows where I work and angry that mummy never told that verification officer had come. I told him a gentle sorry, and he was happy. He finished the verification process and asked me, "How fast you want the passport to be delivered to you?" I told it would be good if I get within a week, as I have to travel shortly. He told yeah it will be done; give something for chai-pani. I asked how much, for that he told whatever I wish. I gave him a 100rs note. He replied, how could you wish so less. I added another same denomination note, and he was happy. Stapled my file, and kept in some bag. Yeah, I had to bribe him for nothing!!! According to IPC…………. Rigorous imprisonment. ;-)
Meanwhile I informed my PM about all the proceedings, and told that it will hardly take time before I get my passport. He told that you will have to travel to Dubai shortly. I was little shocked. This was around in August, 2008. And few days back I had filled the CAT form. So I told him that I want to appear for CAT, after that I can go for the same. That was a grave mistake. He gave me a big lecture and told that you should decide your priorities. If you are working here, then first you should devote yourself here. Remember those ‘Chak De!!!’ dialogues. "First you have to play for your country, then for your own people, and then if still you have something left in you, for yourself". On same track,he told that you should be first for your company, then for your family members, and then still if you get time, then for your alternate career. I was dumb. I told him to look for any alternatives, if no one was found, I was ready to go. He told that’s fine enough. Later I heard from my TL that he is hell bound to send me only and not looking for a replacement also.
Exactly seven days, and postman came to deliver the same to my house. As I was in office, he didn’t deliver, as that should go only to the concerned person. I had to go to post office, and collect the same. It was like an achievement. I was waiting for the next day to come, so that I can go and tell my PM, that I have got the identity and I am no criminal. I reached office, told him that I have got it, and I am ready for travel now. He told that I have good news for you. That travel plan is cancelled, and now you can freely concentrate on your alternate career. Even I was happy. Did I study for CAT? Forget it.
November, another 2 weeks for CAT exam, and my PM called me again. Gaurav, there is urgent requirement in Dubai, and you might have to travel by this weekend. I told about my CAT thing. He was initially not ready to listen also. When I told many times, he agreed that rest people of group will travel immediately and I will travel on the very night of the CAT. I was feeling myself to be so lucky. :). I took a leave for 3 days before CAT, and I was informed that once I am back from leave, my travel plans were finalized.
November 16, was the test, and I joined on the 17th. Without having any idea of what awaited me? When I reached here, and checked my mails, I had been moved from my PM’s team, and was reporting to someone else. When I enquired my PM about the same, he told that team needed few resources, so released you. About travel, since you are in different team, so that travel plan is dropped. I was speechless again. Nothing to say more; came back and started new work. :
December last week, I was called again and this time it was another travel plan for me. I was supposed to travel to Yemen this time. That too, Steve Jobs (fattu) as my TL, PL or PM or whatever. I was supposed to travel in January. This was kind of up gradation and implementation job. I told yes for the same and came back. Time came and went off, but that time never came. That travel was also cancelled and god knows where it went through. From my batch, everyone went and came back at least once, but I was never chosen. I was feeling myself as wingless bird, who does not know to fly. Is there any problem in me? When I raised the same question to fattu, he replied – "No, we need you here more. And you are not a kind of resource which should be sent for support job. We are preserving you for better opportunity. Anyway, nothing is kept in site, if you take my suggestion, it’s just like hell." I told in my heart, the pace I am going on, I am sure can never see the Heaven. Let me see the Hell at least.
My current supervisor, however, has given me lots of hopes. He told me that whoever has worked with him, more than 80% of them have travelled. So the first opportunity it comes, he will put my name forward. I am waiting again for that day, which never came in last 3 years. But I am not depressed, as there are many other with me, best example DM, who might be deserving candidates, but still sitting and grazing here. Interestingly, he also had got 2-3 chances to travel, but wherever he told yes, that site project itself was cancelled. That’s when I realized, what a grave mistake I did, by taking him along to passport office on the first day. :)
"Lauta de mera Ticket to Hollywood"
Note: Recently I got one more opportunity to travel. Generally they provide an expense of 40$ per day. But for me, it was special. Along with 40$, free accommodation and food in a 5-star hotel, Z-grade security, bomb-proof car to travel, and CEO of bank to accompany me, during daily travel to and from bank. But still I rejected it, as it was to Pakistan. ;-)
We were around 30 people in the Induction training program from different colleges. After rigorous work-outs of 3 months in training (Mainly those Unreal Tournament games in Almaz Software, with such unusual login names), we were allocated to different location based teams. 8 of us came into the kitty of Middle East Development team. Most of us had passports ready, and were ready to fly, but I was one among the ineligible people (Not incapable, just lack of passport). Within 3 days we were assigned work and it all started. There were few people, lucky ones who got opportunity to fly early, and they took it with both hands (Two of them were ready 2 go to Pakistan also. Thank god, a timely blast in Karachi deprived them from early departure – from India to up above the sky).
I finished my one year, and I still didn’t have a passport to travel. I saw everyone around trying hard to get an onsite. I am telling you, I was not willing to travel earlier, but like swine flu (oops… H1N1), it’s a contagious virus, and sooner or latter I was going to get affected by it. Then came a day when I was called by my PM, and he questioned me that why I have given my choice as no travel. Then he told me that joining I-flex means you are committed that if required you will be ready to travel. Finally, I had to come up with the truth that I don’t have the passport. He was out of his wits suddenly. He told- "How could you do this? More than one year in this institution and you don’t hold the basic identification document required here. Is there any problem in me, or some problem in you, or some problem in third party, that you don’t have passport?" I thought, if I don’t stop him now, it would not take him 5 minutes to proclaim me as a criminal or some refugee. I stopped him in between and told that it was my laziness and non-willingness that derailed me from getting a passport. He told me not to exhibit my laziness in such things. Then to add he said – "I am all aware of the kind of good work you are doing, and its time when some added responsibilities should be given on your shoulder. You might have to travel somewhere." This was told in September, 2007. I don’t remember the exact date.
There are only few differences between friends and stabbers. Singular I can tell is that of the timing of the pain felt. Stabbers will force an immediate realization, while friends will never allow you to do so, and even if you are able to, it might be too late for anything. I am not the only one telling this. A large survey has confirmed this. As soon as I told them all about the meeting which I had, they all congratulated me for the opportunity which I had got, and asked for an immediate party. I will take this opportunity to remind you all and tell that I am intelligent, as I convinced them all that I will give the same after getting my passport and final plans. I will thank my 6th sense for the same. Anyway, I collected all necessary documents, applied for an appointment, and landed in the passport office with DM. Due to unavailability of one document, or maybe availability of DM, my application was rejected, and had to come back.
From that day, for next five-six months, continuously I was being poked by my PM about the passport. Actually I had left one of my certificates in my 10th school itself, because of which the processing was not done. I told him the same, and told that I will need a week’s leave to go and get the same. I was shell-shocked, when he agreed for the same, as generally, for a day’s leave also; he bends his face like Beckham. Anyway, I started my journey to the school, and got a very warm welcome there, extended my stay by one more day, and enjoyed like hell. Played with kids, and how much ever they tried, they were not able to bowl me out in cricket. For a day, I felt like Sachin Tendulkar. :) Watched the movie Race with one of my old school friends who stays there, and it was like great week off.
I took the certificate from the school and came back and again applied for an appointment in the passport office. This time I dropped DM as my companion, who was my last time’s bad luck (probable), and rather accompanied myself with Miss W. Reached there in time, and within 15 minutes, the application was processed, and I got a receipt of the same. After around 15 days, I checked the status online and found that it had gone for the police verification. Became alert and decent, and told all my neighbors whose address I had given, to sing the tunes of my decency only. 5 days went and nothing happened. I was tired, and I decided to go myself to the Police station. I had to wait there for almost 45 minutes to meet with the officer related to passport transactions. Meanwhile, I checked all the photos put up on the notice board, that of culprits, and was happy to feel that I don’t know any one of them. So what, if I was little notorious, at least I was a good citizen. ;-)
That officer came and when I asked him about the passport status, in reply he scolded me instead. "You people will apply for passport, and never keep track of the same. Your passport verification form is lying with me for more than a week. You should take a notice of the same and report accordingly." I told that I thought you will come to my house for the verification process, so I didn’t come. "What do you think? I didn’t come to your house. Three times I came to your house, and every time you were away to your office. You work in I-flex right." I was shocked, impressed and angry. Shocked on the agility of the officer, impressed that he went three times in my search, and knows where I work and angry that mummy never told that verification officer had come. I told him a gentle sorry, and he was happy. He finished the verification process and asked me, "How fast you want the passport to be delivered to you?" I told it would be good if I get within a week, as I have to travel shortly. He told yeah it will be done; give something for chai-pani. I asked how much, for that he told whatever I wish. I gave him a 100rs note. He replied, how could you wish so less. I added another same denomination note, and he was happy. Stapled my file, and kept in some bag. Yeah, I had to bribe him for nothing!!! According to IPC…………. Rigorous imprisonment. ;-)
Meanwhile I informed my PM about all the proceedings, and told that it will hardly take time before I get my passport. He told that you will have to travel to Dubai shortly. I was little shocked. This was around in August, 2008. And few days back I had filled the CAT form. So I told him that I want to appear for CAT, after that I can go for the same. That was a grave mistake. He gave me a big lecture and told that you should decide your priorities. If you are working here, then first you should devote yourself here. Remember those ‘Chak De!!!’ dialogues. "First you have to play for your country, then for your own people, and then if still you have something left in you, for yourself". On same track,he told that you should be first for your company, then for your family members, and then still if you get time, then for your alternate career. I was dumb. I told him to look for any alternatives, if no one was found, I was ready to go. He told that’s fine enough. Later I heard from my TL that he is hell bound to send me only and not looking for a replacement also.
Exactly seven days, and postman came to deliver the same to my house. As I was in office, he didn’t deliver, as that should go only to the concerned person. I had to go to post office, and collect the same. It was like an achievement. I was waiting for the next day to come, so that I can go and tell my PM, that I have got the identity and I am no criminal. I reached office, told him that I have got it, and I am ready for travel now. He told that I have good news for you. That travel plan is cancelled, and now you can freely concentrate on your alternate career. Even I was happy. Did I study for CAT? Forget it.
November, another 2 weeks for CAT exam, and my PM called me again. Gaurav, there is urgent requirement in Dubai, and you might have to travel by this weekend. I told about my CAT thing. He was initially not ready to listen also. When I told many times, he agreed that rest people of group will travel immediately and I will travel on the very night of the CAT. I was feeling myself to be so lucky. :). I took a leave for 3 days before CAT, and I was informed that once I am back from leave, my travel plans were finalized.
November 16, was the test, and I joined on the 17th. Without having any idea of what awaited me? When I reached here, and checked my mails, I had been moved from my PM’s team, and was reporting to someone else. When I enquired my PM about the same, he told that team needed few resources, so released you. About travel, since you are in different team, so that travel plan is dropped. I was speechless again. Nothing to say more; came back and started new work. :
December last week, I was called again and this time it was another travel plan for me. I was supposed to travel to Yemen this time. That too, Steve Jobs (fattu) as my TL, PL or PM or whatever. I was supposed to travel in January. This was kind of up gradation and implementation job. I told yes for the same and came back. Time came and went off, but that time never came. That travel was also cancelled and god knows where it went through. From my batch, everyone went and came back at least once, but I was never chosen. I was feeling myself as wingless bird, who does not know to fly. Is there any problem in me? When I raised the same question to fattu, he replied – "No, we need you here more. And you are not a kind of resource which should be sent for support job. We are preserving you for better opportunity. Anyway, nothing is kept in site, if you take my suggestion, it’s just like hell." I told in my heart, the pace I am going on, I am sure can never see the Heaven. Let me see the Hell at least.
My current supervisor, however, has given me lots of hopes. He told me that whoever has worked with him, more than 80% of them have travelled. So the first opportunity it comes, he will put my name forward. I am waiting again for that day, which never came in last 3 years. But I am not depressed, as there are many other with me, best example DM, who might be deserving candidates, but still sitting and grazing here. Interestingly, he also had got 2-3 chances to travel, but wherever he told yes, that site project itself was cancelled. That’s when I realized, what a grave mistake I did, by taking him along to passport office on the first day. :)
"Lauta de mera Ticket to Hollywood"
Note: Recently I got one more opportunity to travel. Generally they provide an expense of 40$ per day. But for me, it was special. Along with 40$, free accommodation and food in a 5-star hotel, Z-grade security, bomb-proof car to travel, and CEO of bank to accompany me, during daily travel to and from bank. But still I rejected it, as it was to Pakistan. ;-)
When Harry met Sally!!!
Hope you guys still remember where I had left you all previously. My last post was on my hostel life mainly, and this one I will try to stick to my class life. It was a peculiar class which I had got, and all elements were unique here in nature. If I start explaining them all, it will be more than Homer’s the Iliad and the Odyssey. So I will confine myself to stories revolving around me. I offer serious apologies to all of them, whose incidents are not being included here. Missing those can be due to memory loss also, Ghajini style, so if you remind me of the same, I will surely add them up in the next piece, I promise.
In my last post, I had told you how I had met those twin Sally(s). Miss X was anyway part of my batch, and we used to meet frequently, and chit chats during our practical classes. She used to speak to me in Hindi, and her Hindi was very soft and soothing to ears. At first I was shocked to hear Hindi come out from her mouth, and then accepted it as a part of Bollywood globalization. Only thing while speaking Hindi, she used to become as slow as Kolkata trams. ‘Tum – kaise – ho’ (Here each hyphen represents a time delay of around 2-3 seconds between words). So if she had to tell something long, she used to gasp for breath at end, and I used to wait for eternity to let her finish. So our communication was based on me opening my mouth lots, and she on responding through nodding and ‘Haan’ or ‘Nahin’ mainly.
Then in came Miss W, as I had told, and I swear it was no way her entry was matching with any of the bollywood flicks of Karan Johar, or Rajshree productions, where in first sight people become friends. Here the story was ulta, seeming as if RGV was trying some new experiment again, something as bad as ‘RGV ki aag’. I don’t remember in my so called short life, if I had hated any girl, just by seeing her face for the first time. Hate at first sight. J She was like some vamp of Ekta Kapoor’s family soaps (everlasting), whose arrival meant division of views in house. Very soon it started to show, and our class was divided in boy’s group and girl’s group. She was bossing around in girl’s group. She had a complete different group of friend circle, as she was from Information Science earlier, even after changing to Computers, she was still in her old group, and never seemed loyal to our class. I used to hate her, as well as her entire group. Was waiting for an opportunity for those people to come in our way, and we will give them a good lesson. But they came out to be very decent. I think the rivalry between Computer and Information science is based on similar tracks of supporting Manchester United or Chelsea, Shahrukh khan or Salmaan Khan, Mohun Bagan or East Bengal. But these people didn’t know it was Computer science, which gave birth to Information science, by little alterations. So finally, Information Science was a derived format of Computer Science, just like Pakistan from India. But like stated example these people also were never obliged to us, and in everything be it sports, studies or any other activity we had a competition with them from day 1. Day 0 I had bunked so don’t know. ;-)
So her old loyalty to IS (information Science), used to raise eyebrows from me. I was a known Gunda in the class, and for me she was the Gundi of the class. I had thought that the first opportunity I will get, and I will teach her a good lesson, and make her normal. ;-). This had affected my relations with Miss X too. I never used to speak to her properly when she was around with Gundi. He he he. Otherwise, we were good friends, sans her presence. I don’t remember exactly, but some day I had told her something even on her face. Not abuse, just something like ‘Thu Maga’ maybe. I had newly learnt that word na and didn’t find any better sample for testing my knowledge. ;-)
In between, once we were in chemistry lab, doing practical. In my batch, we were three. Myself, Miss X and one more girl. The other girl had brought a scale, which she had got as a gift, brought from Singapore. Somehow, I touched the scale, unknowingly, and it fell down from table and broke into pieces. Oh my god, I don’t know if the scale was made of some precious stone, but she started crying. I was not getting how to tell sorry to her. I think, I told her somehow and gathered all broken pieces and gave her. I will be so thankful to Miss X for her support that day. It was the first and last encounter for me, where a girl was crying in public place, for what I did [Generally I am decent with girls]. I was just dumb, and she somehow controlled the situation. Somehow things were managed and this story was over. Later, I came to know, Gundi tried her best to persuade the victim girl to fight for this and ask her scale back the very next day. Even ask me to go to Singapore and get the same scale. Thank god, the other girl was very decent and she never put her ears on her provocation, and I was saved. (I came to know about this much later, or else I swear I would have killed Gundi that day only). ;-)
We both used to always take different paths, and never come in way of each other. For any discussions with girl’s group, ARD was designated as the boy’s spokesperson, and he used to communicate with them. So there was no direct communication with them. I could have named the subject title as ‘Boa Vs Python’, the war was so fierce. But this time there was a twist here. The annual fest had come, and we had participated in all events. We boys took part in football, cricket and volley ball, and girls in throw ball events. Each and every event had assigned points, and finally champion class was to be chosen. We never thought we will have a chance. Initial phases had started and one day we hostlers were sitting in pizza hut (it was only a hut, without any pizza, and smoking zone for us) and smoking, when a senior of 3rd year came there. He called me in side, and told me that I am spoiling guy’s name everywhere. He told, they all go for cultural event’s practice, and there Miss W (Gundi) is spreading that all guys in her class have wore bangles and they don’t have courage to do anything. (In the fest day celebrations, these two were supposed to sing a song, but never got a chance because of delay). Also many other things they are telling about you all, and especially you, what is this. I forgot to tell you, in between we had decided to go and support girls in their throw ball match. This information had changed the wavelengths in my brain.
I returned back to hostel, called everyone from our class for urgent meeting. Within 10 minutes, we came to a conclusion of not going to support anything where our class girls are associated and we will choose to support their opposition. We told ARD, to convey the same message to girls next day, so they should not feel, we are stabbing from behind. Next day, we hostel guys were celebrating the ‘Kurta day’. I had taken a kurta from my friend, which was almost 1.5 times bigger than what it should be. Anyway, we reached class. In the break, ARD told them, and big uproar. Gundi came to me, and told me that it was all lie, and someone is misleading me. I told her, I don’t trust her, and I have full faith on her telling all those. Then she asked (requested ;-)) me to call the culprit (in her eyes) senior guy. Everyone suggested me to clear this episode for all. I called him, and then Gundi went to him and asked when she told all those. He was like why you people are discussing such cheap topics in college. Even I got angry, and told him, listen you tell her all the events as you told me, and we will decide which topic is cheap or not. Suddenly, he changed the record he was playing all these days, and told it was all lie, and he was doing all these to break the unity of our class. They feared, we juniors can beat them and grab the championship. So it was all planned, and we both were chosen as the puppets for the show. I was very angry at him, and even forgot he was my senior and had almost hit him, when a small pull and tuck saved me and him too from further drama. Miss W was pulling the sleeve of my kurta, and she asked to leave him and this topic, and clear the misunderstanding between us.
I was little sad I had misunderstood her, and trusted someone else. I told her sorry. She told it was ok, and anyone could have reacted in same way. She had put forward her hand towards me for friendship, and I was not so cheap to reject it. I shook hands with her, and we all were happy. I think first time we entered in class together and addressed our class, and asked their all help to win the championship. That day was history and from then we had been good friends till today, err… best friends.
Coming back to our fest events, I was the captain of the cricket team. Three main players in our team were day scholars. Once schedule of match were announced, our first match was on Wednesday morning. Once Tuesday college was over, the day scholars went back, the cricket organizers came and informed we have match now, and if we don’t play, walkover will be given to opposite team. I requested them telling our players have already left, but they didn’t hear anything. Somehow I arranged a team, and was almost dejected; we could lose even before starting it. Four players were there in our team, who had never played cricket in long time, five regulars and two average players. Anyway, even our opponent was not so good, so we thought of fighting it. God was so happy with me then, and his blessings were showering on me. Within no time, with a caught and bowled, one bowled and one caught at short, and I had got a hat trick in the very first match of the tournament. The oppositions were bundled out for mere 37 runs. After few hiccups, we achieved the target, and moved to knock out stage. Then we came across our batch Mechanical people. This match we played with our full strength, and even when they had better team on paper, we defeated them easily, and entered the semifinals. Here we were supposed to meet 3rd year Mechanical team, the best team of the college, and their playing 11 had 7 college team players. We had no hopes. But something else was destined, our full class had come to support us, and I was again magical, taking 4 wickets, almost getting a hat trick again. Later our hero batsman TT, and finishing touch from me, we had done the biggest upset of the tournament, and had reached the finals.
The finals were on a day before the fest day. All the classes were released, for the match, and first day I saw so many people surrounding us and cheering us. The final was with the 3rd year EC team. Most of them were cheering for seniors, but our class was rocking it. To start with, lost the toss, and they chose to bat. I took 2 wickets, still they had gathered 70 odd runs. We started the chase, and till 7-8 overs we were in full command. TT was like a whirlwind, and he was taking everyone apart. Suddenly a blinder on boundary and we lost 3 wickets in quick succession. I was seeing all these from non striker without helping. We were supposed to get 19 off last 2 overs. Brilliant running between me and Bis, where we were jumping, as if jumping for life. On such gravel field, we both had dived and taken 3 runs off a ball, where only 1 was possible. We both had ruptured elbows, which we had never felt. Blood was all over our t-shirts and then came the huge blow, last ball of penultimate over Bis was out, we still needing 9 off 6 balls. Next over, 1st ball I was on strike, and I hoisted it over the square leg for a big one, to take all honors, but failed to connect it well, and was caught. I knew it was all over, as there were no batsmen left. I was not willing to leave the crease, but I was forced to. In front of more than 500 people, I was so helpless, and tears started to roll over my eyes and cheeks. Everyone was silent. We got another 4 runs and finally lost by 4 runs. I told sorry to my classmates for I couldn’t make it, and came off. That night we felt the pain of loss, all seven of us, from hostel were sitting and all of us were crying together. Everyone had given their best, still luck had eluded. There were few cheatings done, but we were responsible to blame, as even when we were cruising towards victory. Anyway, we got back from cricket and started preparing for next events.
Next we participated in Volleyball and there we had a thumping win over all the teams. We two people and two more supports, we four were enough to handle all the teams. Our anticipation, smashes, placing, everything was unanswered. By the time, we could realize ourselves, we were the champions. Then soccer, we were never used to football so much. We were playing just for fun. Our first match was with 1st year IS, and I had requested all guys that we should win this match at least, and then if required, we will give walk over for next match without playing. Vicious brain had arisen again. ;-). My goal was disallowed courtesy offside, and we had to go for penalty shoot out. I replaced myself as goalkeeper, and saved 2 shots from them. Both were Gundi’s friends. ;-). We won 4-3. In the night, it was a huge celebration in hostel. Although, we lost the very next knock out match by 0-1, we relished our win against IS. Then started girls throw ball. We all supported our team on top of our voice and in very peculiar ways by making peculiar sounds, and we reached the finals, against same senior team which had tried to break our unity. Few gaddha activities by Miss X, and super play by our seniors, we were on the losing side, but still the brave face put by our class girls was worth appreciating. Gundi (Let me call her Miss W from now on) had got a cut in her toe, still was playing with full enthusiasm. At the end of the events, we had emerged champions by around 15 points. I had won Hindi antakshari event too along with TT and my lorry friend. ;-)
The unity in our class continued for another 6 months, and then again it started breaking. This time, with no solution. Girl friend – boy friend story had started and there was no space left for our unity. With every passing moment we were getting lesser in number, but those less numbers used to depict true friends. Enough, hands paining again. Next post on our 1st year teachers and our studies. Hold your breath till then please. And by the way this was the time when Miss W had confessed of trying her best to persuade the victim girl, my lab batch mate, to fight with me, to get her broken scale of Singapore back. Gurrrrrr…….
In my last post, I had told you how I had met those twin Sally(s). Miss X was anyway part of my batch, and we used to meet frequently, and chit chats during our practical classes. She used to speak to me in Hindi, and her Hindi was very soft and soothing to ears. At first I was shocked to hear Hindi come out from her mouth, and then accepted it as a part of Bollywood globalization. Only thing while speaking Hindi, she used to become as slow as Kolkata trams. ‘Tum – kaise – ho’ (Here each hyphen represents a time delay of around 2-3 seconds between words). So if she had to tell something long, she used to gasp for breath at end, and I used to wait for eternity to let her finish. So our communication was based on me opening my mouth lots, and she on responding through nodding and ‘Haan’ or ‘Nahin’ mainly.
Then in came Miss W, as I had told, and I swear it was no way her entry was matching with any of the bollywood flicks of Karan Johar, or Rajshree productions, where in first sight people become friends. Here the story was ulta, seeming as if RGV was trying some new experiment again, something as bad as ‘RGV ki aag’. I don’t remember in my so called short life, if I had hated any girl, just by seeing her face for the first time. Hate at first sight. J She was like some vamp of Ekta Kapoor’s family soaps (everlasting), whose arrival meant division of views in house. Very soon it started to show, and our class was divided in boy’s group and girl’s group. She was bossing around in girl’s group. She had a complete different group of friend circle, as she was from Information Science earlier, even after changing to Computers, she was still in her old group, and never seemed loyal to our class. I used to hate her, as well as her entire group. Was waiting for an opportunity for those people to come in our way, and we will give them a good lesson. But they came out to be very decent. I think the rivalry between Computer and Information science is based on similar tracks of supporting Manchester United or Chelsea, Shahrukh khan or Salmaan Khan, Mohun Bagan or East Bengal. But these people didn’t know it was Computer science, which gave birth to Information science, by little alterations. So finally, Information Science was a derived format of Computer Science, just like Pakistan from India. But like stated example these people also were never obliged to us, and in everything be it sports, studies or any other activity we had a competition with them from day 1. Day 0 I had bunked so don’t know. ;-)
So her old loyalty to IS (information Science), used to raise eyebrows from me. I was a known Gunda in the class, and for me she was the Gundi of the class. I had thought that the first opportunity I will get, and I will teach her a good lesson, and make her normal. ;-). This had affected my relations with Miss X too. I never used to speak to her properly when she was around with Gundi. He he he. Otherwise, we were good friends, sans her presence. I don’t remember exactly, but some day I had told her something even on her face. Not abuse, just something like ‘Thu Maga’ maybe. I had newly learnt that word na and didn’t find any better sample for testing my knowledge. ;-)
In between, once we were in chemistry lab, doing practical. In my batch, we were three. Myself, Miss X and one more girl. The other girl had brought a scale, which she had got as a gift, brought from Singapore. Somehow, I touched the scale, unknowingly, and it fell down from table and broke into pieces. Oh my god, I don’t know if the scale was made of some precious stone, but she started crying. I was not getting how to tell sorry to her. I think, I told her somehow and gathered all broken pieces and gave her. I will be so thankful to Miss X for her support that day. It was the first and last encounter for me, where a girl was crying in public place, for what I did [Generally I am decent with girls]. I was just dumb, and she somehow controlled the situation. Somehow things were managed and this story was over. Later, I came to know, Gundi tried her best to persuade the victim girl to fight for this and ask her scale back the very next day. Even ask me to go to Singapore and get the same scale. Thank god, the other girl was very decent and she never put her ears on her provocation, and I was saved. (I came to know about this much later, or else I swear I would have killed Gundi that day only). ;-)
We both used to always take different paths, and never come in way of each other. For any discussions with girl’s group, ARD was designated as the boy’s spokesperson, and he used to communicate with them. So there was no direct communication with them. I could have named the subject title as ‘Boa Vs Python’, the war was so fierce. But this time there was a twist here. The annual fest had come, and we had participated in all events. We boys took part in football, cricket and volley ball, and girls in throw ball events. Each and every event had assigned points, and finally champion class was to be chosen. We never thought we will have a chance. Initial phases had started and one day we hostlers were sitting in pizza hut (it was only a hut, without any pizza, and smoking zone for us) and smoking, when a senior of 3rd year came there. He called me in side, and told me that I am spoiling guy’s name everywhere. He told, they all go for cultural event’s practice, and there Miss W (Gundi) is spreading that all guys in her class have wore bangles and they don’t have courage to do anything. (In the fest day celebrations, these two were supposed to sing a song, but never got a chance because of delay). Also many other things they are telling about you all, and especially you, what is this. I forgot to tell you, in between we had decided to go and support girls in their throw ball match. This information had changed the wavelengths in my brain.
I returned back to hostel, called everyone from our class for urgent meeting. Within 10 minutes, we came to a conclusion of not going to support anything where our class girls are associated and we will choose to support their opposition. We told ARD, to convey the same message to girls next day, so they should not feel, we are stabbing from behind. Next day, we hostel guys were celebrating the ‘Kurta day’. I had taken a kurta from my friend, which was almost 1.5 times bigger than what it should be. Anyway, we reached class. In the break, ARD told them, and big uproar. Gundi came to me, and told me that it was all lie, and someone is misleading me. I told her, I don’t trust her, and I have full faith on her telling all those. Then she asked (requested ;-)) me to call the culprit (in her eyes) senior guy. Everyone suggested me to clear this episode for all. I called him, and then Gundi went to him and asked when she told all those. He was like why you people are discussing such cheap topics in college. Even I got angry, and told him, listen you tell her all the events as you told me, and we will decide which topic is cheap or not. Suddenly, he changed the record he was playing all these days, and told it was all lie, and he was doing all these to break the unity of our class. They feared, we juniors can beat them and grab the championship. So it was all planned, and we both were chosen as the puppets for the show. I was very angry at him, and even forgot he was my senior and had almost hit him, when a small pull and tuck saved me and him too from further drama. Miss W was pulling the sleeve of my kurta, and she asked to leave him and this topic, and clear the misunderstanding between us.
I was little sad I had misunderstood her, and trusted someone else. I told her sorry. She told it was ok, and anyone could have reacted in same way. She had put forward her hand towards me for friendship, and I was not so cheap to reject it. I shook hands with her, and we all were happy. I think first time we entered in class together and addressed our class, and asked their all help to win the championship. That day was history and from then we had been good friends till today, err… best friends.
Coming back to our fest events, I was the captain of the cricket team. Three main players in our team were day scholars. Once schedule of match were announced, our first match was on Wednesday morning. Once Tuesday college was over, the day scholars went back, the cricket organizers came and informed we have match now, and if we don’t play, walkover will be given to opposite team. I requested them telling our players have already left, but they didn’t hear anything. Somehow I arranged a team, and was almost dejected; we could lose even before starting it. Four players were there in our team, who had never played cricket in long time, five regulars and two average players. Anyway, even our opponent was not so good, so we thought of fighting it. God was so happy with me then, and his blessings were showering on me. Within no time, with a caught and bowled, one bowled and one caught at short, and I had got a hat trick in the very first match of the tournament. The oppositions were bundled out for mere 37 runs. After few hiccups, we achieved the target, and moved to knock out stage. Then we came across our batch Mechanical people. This match we played with our full strength, and even when they had better team on paper, we defeated them easily, and entered the semifinals. Here we were supposed to meet 3rd year Mechanical team, the best team of the college, and their playing 11 had 7 college team players. We had no hopes. But something else was destined, our full class had come to support us, and I was again magical, taking 4 wickets, almost getting a hat trick again. Later our hero batsman TT, and finishing touch from me, we had done the biggest upset of the tournament, and had reached the finals.
The finals were on a day before the fest day. All the classes were released, for the match, and first day I saw so many people surrounding us and cheering us. The final was with the 3rd year EC team. Most of them were cheering for seniors, but our class was rocking it. To start with, lost the toss, and they chose to bat. I took 2 wickets, still they had gathered 70 odd runs. We started the chase, and till 7-8 overs we were in full command. TT was like a whirlwind, and he was taking everyone apart. Suddenly a blinder on boundary and we lost 3 wickets in quick succession. I was seeing all these from non striker without helping. We were supposed to get 19 off last 2 overs. Brilliant running between me and Bis, where we were jumping, as if jumping for life. On such gravel field, we both had dived and taken 3 runs off a ball, where only 1 was possible. We both had ruptured elbows, which we had never felt. Blood was all over our t-shirts and then came the huge blow, last ball of penultimate over Bis was out, we still needing 9 off 6 balls. Next over, 1st ball I was on strike, and I hoisted it over the square leg for a big one, to take all honors, but failed to connect it well, and was caught. I knew it was all over, as there were no batsmen left. I was not willing to leave the crease, but I was forced to. In front of more than 500 people, I was so helpless, and tears started to roll over my eyes and cheeks. Everyone was silent. We got another 4 runs and finally lost by 4 runs. I told sorry to my classmates for I couldn’t make it, and came off. That night we felt the pain of loss, all seven of us, from hostel were sitting and all of us were crying together. Everyone had given their best, still luck had eluded. There were few cheatings done, but we were responsible to blame, as even when we were cruising towards victory. Anyway, we got back from cricket and started preparing for next events.
Next we participated in Volleyball and there we had a thumping win over all the teams. We two people and two more supports, we four were enough to handle all the teams. Our anticipation, smashes, placing, everything was unanswered. By the time, we could realize ourselves, we were the champions. Then soccer, we were never used to football so much. We were playing just for fun. Our first match was with 1st year IS, and I had requested all guys that we should win this match at least, and then if required, we will give walk over for next match without playing. Vicious brain had arisen again. ;-). My goal was disallowed courtesy offside, and we had to go for penalty shoot out. I replaced myself as goalkeeper, and saved 2 shots from them. Both were Gundi’s friends. ;-). We won 4-3. In the night, it was a huge celebration in hostel. Although, we lost the very next knock out match by 0-1, we relished our win against IS. Then started girls throw ball. We all supported our team on top of our voice and in very peculiar ways by making peculiar sounds, and we reached the finals, against same senior team which had tried to break our unity. Few gaddha activities by Miss X, and super play by our seniors, we were on the losing side, but still the brave face put by our class girls was worth appreciating. Gundi (Let me call her Miss W from now on) had got a cut in her toe, still was playing with full enthusiasm. At the end of the events, we had emerged champions by around 15 points. I had won Hindi antakshari event too along with TT and my lorry friend. ;-)
The unity in our class continued for another 6 months, and then again it started breaking. This time, with no solution. Girl friend – boy friend story had started and there was no space left for our unity. With every passing moment we were getting lesser in number, but those less numbers used to depict true friends. Enough, hands paining again. Next post on our 1st year teachers and our studies. Hold your breath till then please. And by the way this was the time when Miss W had confessed of trying her best to persuade the victim girl, my lab batch mate, to fight with me, to get her broken scale of Singapore back. Gurrrrrr…….
Namma Bengaluru!!!
Welcome to the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, my workplace, and our Bangalore. Namma Bengaluru is what we tell in the NATIONAL language of this state, Kannada.
It’s not a mystery that how the political bodies changed the royal name of Bangalore to a local name Bengaluru! But still that name Bangalore only gives a majestic feeling. It also went through the same knife how, mumbai, kolkata, and chennai went.
It is one of the cosmopolitan cities I have ever witnessed. Language is never a problem here. Slogan used here is ‘Salpha Adjust Madi’ (Please adjust little). Everyone will understand what you are speaking here, be it Hindi, Guajarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English or anything, till you are not asking anything from them for free.
I still remember the first day when I landed here in 2002, at K R Puram railway station. When I asked the auto person about the charges to my college, I asked him in Hindi. I didn’t know the qualities of this place then. He was so happy hearing my Hindi, as if he had met God accidently. Back in 2002, in good enough Hindi, he informed us that it’s very inside and it will cost us 400INR. We bargained and made it as 350 and were happy with our achievement. Then our ride started. He made us roam at the same place for around 30 minutes. That time the hanging bridge there was under final construction. We crossed that minimum four times. My friend claimed that we have come before in this route, but I asked him to shut his mouth, telling that Bangalore is a big place. They can afford to make such flyovers at four different places. How fool I was!!! Finally that auto person also understood that we are watching things closely, so he made us reach the college. Later we came to know that it hardly costs Rs 75 till that place then.
If I have started about these auto persons, let me finish their classifications also. There are two types of auto drivers available in Bangalore; Decent ones and Dacoits. Decent ones are like dinosaurs, slowly vanishing from planet Bangalore. Dacoits carry the passengers in double fare in day time and do loot them also during the night (few of them). Dangerous ride!
Local people here are very good till you keep telling them “Good morning Uncle”, “Good evening Uncle”. Once you quit doing so, they become very rude and sometimes obnoxious too. They will follow the Kannadiga style then, which is a kind of thumb rule. Here u fold all your fingers, and make your thumb open and point skywards. The first dialogue should be ‘Yen Maga’, followed by ‘Thu Maga, T******’ etc. good thing is that they only deliver those dialogues, and will provoke the other person to take the first step. If no response, then they will keep speaking for some time and leave. So it’s like a thriller movie and not a horror one. :)
If you have to talk about something good in Bangalore, first thing that comes into mind is climate. When I came first here, I was so much impressed with that; such a beautiful climate! It was never too hot, never too cold. Always mild weather. And if it was little hotter in daytime, evening shower was a must, which used to take care of all. But slowly even that is deteriorating. They are chopping off the trees from this green city and climate has started to take its toll. From February itself, it has become so hot this year.
Geographically, it is very well located city. There are so many visiting places near to Bangalore just at a stone’s distance. We can easily plan for an outing on any weekend and go and have fun. To list few among them is Coorg, Ooty, Tirupati, Mysore, Nagarhole, Kodaikanal, etc. [etc means I hav ran out of my options here, but believe me there are lots more].
Another beautiful aspect(entity) here is girls and their dressing senses. Girl readers, take this as a generalization, and don’t over react. ;-). But the way they dress, and the amount of make up they put, each and every single piece seems to be acclaiming the spot once Priyanka, Katrina, Bipasha etc hang their boots. Everyone seems to drive you by your charm. It’s time to be careful dudes. Three M’s you have to be careful of when you land in Bangalore (courtesy my seniors), Mamu (police), Mausam (Weather) and M*** (Girls). When these three will strike, no one knows. But when effect is over, u will find yourself ruined. Still one of my friends has vouched for girls with gajra too. (maybe he is environmental friendly and believes in more plants and flowers. Salaam-e-ishq meri jaan jara……)
Vijay Malaya welcomes you all to the Pub Capital of India. I can bet that there are more pubs and bars in Bangalore than medical shops. Everywhere beer and wine flows like water. It’s easily accessible. For getting water, you have to fight with Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states, or wait for new Cauvery verdict, but nothing for beer. People here are so much ready to come for protests, not against the bad roads, or bad administrations, but against ban on bar dancers, shorter night life, drink and drive and all. It’s like people here don’t drink, because they don’t have enough money to afford that. In short, only beggars don’t drink.
After wine, next thing is dine. Food here is really tasty and all the cuisines across the globe are available. At the end they all will taste little sour (like sambhar); that’s the different issue. But food is very delicious here. If you stay here for a month only, weight gain is a must. Look at me. ;-). Another point to mention, any kind of treat means, chicken should be in the menu; veggies please excuse. [Caution: Weight gain is all contribution by the global restaurants avaialble here and not the local ones. Rice, sambar and rasam will do no good for your weight gain].
The main reason for Bangalore being treated as a metro like city is its IT industry. Almost 35% of Indian S/W professionals reside here. And this is thus called as Silicon Valley of India. These are termed as the main reason for the increasing inflation in the city. Accommodation is very costly here, just because of these IT people. They agree for paying any hefty price, if they find a suitable location for their stay. And later that budget is not affordable by other people. The cost of living is so high that you will have many aches to reach that.
Another thing to be mentioned when we talk about IT industry is Infosys. This institute is like a mini district here. They hire people like how they breathe in a day. It hardly matters for them whether they are using them on work or not. God knows if they are doing some scam like Satyam in this too. ;-). Another places to get their names here is IISc and ISRO. These are two big bodies situated here about which all bangaloreans can be proud of. :)
Another woe that they have added to the system is the traffic situation. Roads in Bangalore are generally not broader; and the number of vehicles on road is increasing inversely proportional to clothing’s of girls. This finally makes a jam packed situation, mostly on roads which link to IT places in morning and evening, during office on/off timings.
Communication facilities are made up mainly of BMTC buses, which ply on all the routes through out Bangalore. The few issues here are stinking armpits of your fellow travelers, and no guarantee that you will get down with your wallet and mobile in tact. The more you travel towards the outskirts, these stinking armpits develop more, and drunkards also accompany you (I still remember my college rides). :)
Namma metro is coming too, to the city. But at the cost of deforestations and many traffic bottle necks caused due to this construction work for metro rail. But once when it’s through with it, it will surely minimize the traffic on road.
Airport, the international one, has been built here last year. And it’s so far from the town that you will feel as if you are abroad by the time you reach there. But it’s good and well planned too.
Places of significance, being a cricket fan, I will mention first Chinnaswamy stadium. Remember 1996 world cup quarterfinals, India and Pakistan. Aamir Sohail had just hit Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary and pointed his bat and asked him to fetch that. This doesn’t happen often, but happened on Karnataka soil. The very next ball he charged again, but alas, found his middle stump uprooted. Venky then pointed him the pavilion and asked him to go there (with a Thu Maga statement also). The entire stadium was thankful to Venky and as if the sins done by Chetan Sharma, when he was hit six off his last ball by Miandad, was half forgiven. J
Next are a list of shopping malls, multiplexes and theatres. Here you will find numerous guys with gals, gals with gals, guys with guys, guys and gals with animals, moving together. After all it’s metro sexual city. Another one is then Lalbagh Park. Very beautiful and very calm place to hang around. Brigade road is a famous shopping location where you will find all latest fashions available at a cheap ( I m joking) price. One of my friends likes Kemp fort too. I had never been to that place, but I have faith in her, and I term that as a good place too (Do shopping on your own risk but).
One last thing which needs a mention is crime. When I had first stepped in the Bangalore, the crime incidents were not as frequent as these are these days. Even we witnessed pseudo serial blasts. Slowly, this place also is losing its stature of being one of the safest places in India. Earlier roaming till 11-12 pm in night was a very general thing, and during our college days, we had so many night outs in Brigade road and all. But nowadays it takes a hell lot of courage to do so. I am not promoting the night life angle here, but what I meant was this place is no more a safe land how it used to be. One thing I have noticed that when you are going to write about a person (except myself) or a place, mostly the bad critics come to the picture. But even after having so many problems, I just love being at this place. Namma Bengaluru!!!
It’s not a mystery that how the political bodies changed the royal name of Bangalore to a local name Bengaluru! But still that name Bangalore only gives a majestic feeling. It also went through the same knife how, mumbai, kolkata, and chennai went.
It is one of the cosmopolitan cities I have ever witnessed. Language is never a problem here. Slogan used here is ‘Salpha Adjust Madi’ (Please adjust little). Everyone will understand what you are speaking here, be it Hindi, Guajarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English or anything, till you are not asking anything from them for free.
I still remember the first day when I landed here in 2002, at K R Puram railway station. When I asked the auto person about the charges to my college, I asked him in Hindi. I didn’t know the qualities of this place then. He was so happy hearing my Hindi, as if he had met God accidently. Back in 2002, in good enough Hindi, he informed us that it’s very inside and it will cost us 400INR. We bargained and made it as 350 and were happy with our achievement. Then our ride started. He made us roam at the same place for around 30 minutes. That time the hanging bridge there was under final construction. We crossed that minimum four times. My friend claimed that we have come before in this route, but I asked him to shut his mouth, telling that Bangalore is a big place. They can afford to make such flyovers at four different places. How fool I was!!! Finally that auto person also understood that we are watching things closely, so he made us reach the college. Later we came to know that it hardly costs Rs 75 till that place then.
If I have started about these auto persons, let me finish their classifications also. There are two types of auto drivers available in Bangalore; Decent ones and Dacoits. Decent ones are like dinosaurs, slowly vanishing from planet Bangalore. Dacoits carry the passengers in double fare in day time and do loot them also during the night (few of them). Dangerous ride!
Local people here are very good till you keep telling them “Good morning Uncle”, “Good evening Uncle”. Once you quit doing so, they become very rude and sometimes obnoxious too. They will follow the Kannadiga style then, which is a kind of thumb rule. Here u fold all your fingers, and make your thumb open and point skywards. The first dialogue should be ‘Yen Maga’, followed by ‘Thu Maga, T******’ etc. good thing is that they only deliver those dialogues, and will provoke the other person to take the first step. If no response, then they will keep speaking for some time and leave. So it’s like a thriller movie and not a horror one. :)
If you have to talk about something good in Bangalore, first thing that comes into mind is climate. When I came first here, I was so much impressed with that; such a beautiful climate! It was never too hot, never too cold. Always mild weather. And if it was little hotter in daytime, evening shower was a must, which used to take care of all. But slowly even that is deteriorating. They are chopping off the trees from this green city and climate has started to take its toll. From February itself, it has become so hot this year.
Geographically, it is very well located city. There are so many visiting places near to Bangalore just at a stone’s distance. We can easily plan for an outing on any weekend and go and have fun. To list few among them is Coorg, Ooty, Tirupati, Mysore, Nagarhole, Kodaikanal, etc. [etc means I hav ran out of my options here, but believe me there are lots more].
Another beautiful aspect(entity) here is girls and their dressing senses. Girl readers, take this as a generalization, and don’t over react. ;-). But the way they dress, and the amount of make up they put, each and every single piece seems to be acclaiming the spot once Priyanka, Katrina, Bipasha etc hang their boots. Everyone seems to drive you by your charm. It’s time to be careful dudes. Three M’s you have to be careful of when you land in Bangalore (courtesy my seniors), Mamu (police), Mausam (Weather) and M*** (Girls). When these three will strike, no one knows. But when effect is over, u will find yourself ruined. Still one of my friends has vouched for girls with gajra too. (maybe he is environmental friendly and believes in more plants and flowers. Salaam-e-ishq meri jaan jara……)
Vijay Malaya welcomes you all to the Pub Capital of India. I can bet that there are more pubs and bars in Bangalore than medical shops. Everywhere beer and wine flows like water. It’s easily accessible. For getting water, you have to fight with Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states, or wait for new Cauvery verdict, but nothing for beer. People here are so much ready to come for protests, not against the bad roads, or bad administrations, but against ban on bar dancers, shorter night life, drink and drive and all. It’s like people here don’t drink, because they don’t have enough money to afford that. In short, only beggars don’t drink.
After wine, next thing is dine. Food here is really tasty and all the cuisines across the globe are available. At the end they all will taste little sour (like sambhar); that’s the different issue. But food is very delicious here. If you stay here for a month only, weight gain is a must. Look at me. ;-). Another point to mention, any kind of treat means, chicken should be in the menu; veggies please excuse. [Caution: Weight gain is all contribution by the global restaurants avaialble here and not the local ones. Rice, sambar and rasam will do no good for your weight gain].
The main reason for Bangalore being treated as a metro like city is its IT industry. Almost 35% of Indian S/W professionals reside here. And this is thus called as Silicon Valley of India. These are termed as the main reason for the increasing inflation in the city. Accommodation is very costly here, just because of these IT people. They agree for paying any hefty price, if they find a suitable location for their stay. And later that budget is not affordable by other people. The cost of living is so high that you will have many aches to reach that.
Another thing to be mentioned when we talk about IT industry is Infosys. This institute is like a mini district here. They hire people like how they breathe in a day. It hardly matters for them whether they are using them on work or not. God knows if they are doing some scam like Satyam in this too. ;-). Another places to get their names here is IISc and ISRO. These are two big bodies situated here about which all bangaloreans can be proud of. :)
Another woe that they have added to the system is the traffic situation. Roads in Bangalore are generally not broader; and the number of vehicles on road is increasing inversely proportional to clothing’s of girls. This finally makes a jam packed situation, mostly on roads which link to IT places in morning and evening, during office on/off timings.
Communication facilities are made up mainly of BMTC buses, which ply on all the routes through out Bangalore. The few issues here are stinking armpits of your fellow travelers, and no guarantee that you will get down with your wallet and mobile in tact. The more you travel towards the outskirts, these stinking armpits develop more, and drunkards also accompany you (I still remember my college rides). :)
Namma metro is coming too, to the city. But at the cost of deforestations and many traffic bottle necks caused due to this construction work for metro rail. But once when it’s through with it, it will surely minimize the traffic on road.
Airport, the international one, has been built here last year. And it’s so far from the town that you will feel as if you are abroad by the time you reach there. But it’s good and well planned too.
Places of significance, being a cricket fan, I will mention first Chinnaswamy stadium. Remember 1996 world cup quarterfinals, India and Pakistan. Aamir Sohail had just hit Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary and pointed his bat and asked him to fetch that. This doesn’t happen often, but happened on Karnataka soil. The very next ball he charged again, but alas, found his middle stump uprooted. Venky then pointed him the pavilion and asked him to go there (with a Thu Maga statement also). The entire stadium was thankful to Venky and as if the sins done by Chetan Sharma, when he was hit six off his last ball by Miandad, was half forgiven. J
Next are a list of shopping malls, multiplexes and theatres. Here you will find numerous guys with gals, gals with gals, guys with guys, guys and gals with animals, moving together. After all it’s metro sexual city. Another one is then Lalbagh Park. Very beautiful and very calm place to hang around. Brigade road is a famous shopping location where you will find all latest fashions available at a cheap ( I m joking) price. One of my friends likes Kemp fort too. I had never been to that place, but I have faith in her, and I term that as a good place too (Do shopping on your own risk but).
One last thing which needs a mention is crime. When I had first stepped in the Bangalore, the crime incidents were not as frequent as these are these days. Even we witnessed pseudo serial blasts. Slowly, this place also is losing its stature of being one of the safest places in India. Earlier roaming till 11-12 pm in night was a very general thing, and during our college days, we had so many night outs in Brigade road and all. But nowadays it takes a hell lot of courage to do so. I am not promoting the night life angle here, but what I meant was this place is no more a safe land how it used to be. One thing I have noticed that when you are going to write about a person (except myself) or a place, mostly the bad critics come to the picture. But even after having so many problems, I just love being at this place. Namma Bengaluru!!!
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