Taken 4 a ride!!

Happened to take an auto from Nayandahalli[Mysore Road] to Malleshwaram today evening...n it turned out to be quite a ride!!

I grew up travelling to school by auto...n having a gala time....there were times when nearly 20 of us would sit inside 1 auto....our auto uncle...was an extremely sweet guy....he wud stop to let us have ice candies....he used to wait patiently for us even if we were late[only thing that I was infamous 4:)]...n most importantly ...he used to drive safe!!

Coll had me juggling with pals from Mounts to Malleshwaram 18th cross...n arguing with them non-stop in brilliant Kannada:)...there was this one time...when a certain auto driver asked me to 1st go learn Kannada n then talk to him:)

Since then, d only point when I get irritated with them is when they ask for extra money or when they refuse to go to specific places....

Coming back to today's ride....my auto hit exactly 5 other vehicles[1 Honda Activa Bike, 2 BMTC buses, 1 mini-lorry and 1 Maruti Omni Van], missed killing 2 pedestrians and had every other person on the road reprimand my driver.....

N mind u...Im not exaggerating ......for all I could do sitting behind....admidst huge traffic jams in Mysore Road-KR Market Flyover Road.....was to hope that either of us didnt get hurt...

After our 3rd hit...I had like ...like...enuf....n I must admit when it comes to things like this...my tolerance levels are so much more better.....I politely requested him to drive slowly....to which he muttered something under his breath....which sounded like this...."Pay me double..if I have to drive slow"....n...."Bengaloooru traffic....U have to drive like this only"....

Having realised that my cries are not gonna get addressed......I was just thinking of asking him to stop.....to take another auto....when he hit a mini-lorry from the back...n ya...his auto's side lamp was on the road....

After that hit, I was dead sure that he would have learnt his lesson...n wud mend his ways.....so I stayed back with the same auto....only to have the next sets of "hits and misses"....

I was wondering all along if such things actually happen ....I thought it did only in movies...where u r forced to laugh at such scenes....

I have seen rash drivers...but they have very good control of the vehicle...n rarely go bang into other vehicles....but none like this specimen....either the auto is not his...or belonged to someone he hates...or maybe he wanted to get rid of the auto...for something better......or maybe he was allergic to other vehicles on the road....or maybe he was just out of his mind......coz even after hitting some non-suspecting vehicle.....our hero would actually throw his hands out of the auto...n yell!!

A Once in a Lifetime Moment!!

After waiting for 4 long years, I finally made it to the place I had always wanted to visit....Manju took me to SSK...n had me cut a wonderful Mango Cake from a Shop called "Just Bakes"!!!!...Y I mentioned the name of the shop.....Highly Recommended:)

Got to meet his wonderful pals 2!!!!....

Parents get me a new dress[To which I had to tell them "Oh My God...Not again:)]

Planning was On for 10 days!

My own flesh n blood knew most of it!!....u 2...Cindy...

Minus what I wanted....I had the time of my life:)

5 Nutty gals land @ my doorstep dressed in their bests...looking so good....It took me a while n contact lenses to recover from the shock....screaming...SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!....n singing Happy B'day......Can a gal ask for more.....After reminding them that my neighbours like it quiet around here....They were at it again:)

Im later told that I have to get ready ASAP...n that the driver is expected any moment!!

After hearing what was more than Music to my ears..."Preethi is gonna make it...Preethi is gonna make it"....She is also handed over a deadline...

Little did I know that the evening wud unfold with a driver taking "My Appan Caaru" n 6 nuts...to an Italian Restaurant...

Believe me...It was a dream come true...To sit in a restaurant.....to listen to the "Happy B'day" Song....n to be presented a "Mango cake"[A lovely coincidence]....n a tricky little candle...that kept firing back again n again...

I wont thank anybody...I was forced to promise them that:)

But 5th September 2009.....Im not gonna forget it in a lifetime...

Striking a chord!!

The last coupla months....there have been 3 sessions...that have inspired me big time....

1. Goonj Founder: Anshu Gupta's talk[Covered it in Goonjified]

2. Manoj: A wild-life photographer's talk n presentation of his work[Inspired me to get all adventurous n increased my wanting to travel n see new places]

3.Army Chief's talk on his involvement in the War[Am covering it in this post]

Something told me that it would be a session worth attending n wat was also not surprising was that the audience comprised of ppal I knew....not all that well...but knowing them....n knowing the context of the session...I knew they wud be there:)

After my audience survey...the session unfolded with our speaker giving us a talk on project management....using his experiences from the Army....

Prelude:

*I must admit that I get very senti when I watch war movies or read abt war heroes in magazines or the newspapers....

**Geography n Social Studies in School was my favourite subject...

So, when our speaker....will call him Sir henceforth....started with a slide with the map of India...showing the Valley.........It was like I connected with what was happening in the session instantly...

When he showed us pictures of the terrain...I kept remembering my treks....that were nowhere compared to the mountains...n abt how awfully frightful I was of even attempting the climb....come to think of it...they did all that rock-climbing n trekking in the night.....as the enemy was perched atop the hill....n daylight would lead them to be discovered by the enemy...

The temperatures were as high as 35 C in the daytime and as low as -5 C at night.....

Apparaently my knowledge of watever happens in a war is heavily influenced by namma Hindi Movies...n of admiring Hrithik Roshan do all that amazing rock climbing n charging on the enemy acts...

The infiltrators perched atop the Indian territory were no easy target.....I am told it took several combats with army teams leading from various directions....cutting across the enemy or getting hit....

Our chief spoke about unlikely heroes....a night blinded carpenter...who offered to carry ammunition..n when he was chided that he wud be more of a burden than a help...he replied telling that....dont worry abt me....Just dump d ammunition on me....n I will hold on to the coat of the person walking in front...n drop ammunition near the hill top....Our chief tells us that the spirit of this carpenter got the others motivated to get along...with many of them echoing that "Agar ye kar saktha hai...tho main kyo nahin"

He spoke abt the brave fights n sacrifices given by a batallion leader...who had to lead the attack from the top...doing a task that he described as "Somebody has to do it..".....He lost his life having made the 1st assault on the enemy!!

He spoke abt the doctor n his assistant who carried nearly 25kgs of medicines to set up a camp near the battle zone....n when he was asked y he didnt ask for assistance to carry the medicines...the doc told him that "All of u were carrying stuff urselves.....we didnt want to trouble u with our luggage...n quickly added that "Agar koyi mere paas zinda pachunchtha hai.....U will not go away dead...I have all of the world's best medicine out here:)"

He spoke of leaders who despite their leg injuries asked for pain-killers despite being advised rest to lead from the front....

He says he lives today to tell their untold story....All we did as a mute audience was to give him and his team a standing ovation....

3 years ago!

This piece is a small narrative of my experience at d old B'lore airport on my 1st and till date last flight alone.....

I finally made it...I had very few hopes though....on Friday at the Airport....where I had a horrible time trying to figure out what was happening and y it was happening to me:(...........

K here goes my narrative of Black Friday.......

The day in itself was a hugely confusing one.........it was only after I carried a 22 kg suitcase from my house to the bus stop...all thanks to an extremely sweet neighbour who offered me a bike ride:)...... when it struck me that i would be travelling.........Thanks to Shila and Prets..........my packing was done..........Guess what my suitcase had.......3 kgs of Pomogranate, 4 kgs of Rice, Soaps, Teabags, 4 kgs of Nedhra Banana, Jelebis, Henna Powder, Rice Powder, etc..etc..It was like I was ferrying the taste of India...

Troubled Sharath who very kindly offered to take me to a place close to office...as the prev day......I could not get Nedra Bananas .....n.....Rahitha, another pal...went hunting for Jelabis and Shils was as usual getting her BP Soaring to newer heights thanks to me:):)

DJ actually accompanied me to the Airport........He was carrying my luggage all
along..........and used to tell me Cma...Come to my right, if there were vehicles coming from the left......while crossing the road.....d good fella that he is:)

I reach the airport pretty early ...at around 8:10...and my flight was at 12.......so they did not let me in till around 9:15......so for around an hour...I stood there getting mosquito bitten:(:(:(

Once v were in........at the check-in counter.....the boarding pass issue karne wallah guy tells me that ur tickets have been cancelled yesterday......V do not have ur complete records here......please come back at 10:30 .......will put u in Waiting List........


Indian Airlines had this stooopid thing like u have to actually call the Airlines, 3 days before ur flight telling them that u want them to confirm ur tickets or else they get cancelled........Now Cma has already done the needful on the 10th itself.........and yet they were denying me tickets:((:

Also, when u r travelling alone.......and have a 22kg suitcase in a Trolley............when ur phone has not been recharged,......and ur told that the nearest phone booth is a Floor Away, accessible only via a staircase............U dont know where and how to leave ur luggage...

There was this really sweet family.....who heard me talk to one of the Airport Guys regarding my luggage....who offered to keep a watch on my luggage....while I made the phone-call.....and yes........with growing worries of whether they wud hide guns or drugs[Hindi Movie Gunaah effects] in my luggage......and have me jailed.............

Turned out that they didnt:)

After calling Bro.........who had no clue y this was happening......and who asked me to speak to the Manager........I did just that..........

The Manager apparently had a different story to tell.....He claimed that the Ticket No on my Ticket and the one in their system did not tally...........something which he himself cud not offer an explanation for.......But like namma TT of Railways .....he assured me ......Madam I will
get u on that plane............ come at 11...........thats when I realised that they did have a waiting list system in place there also...

I remember sitting in that tiny place behind the check-in counter with the manager and his staff giving me contradictory views on y I cudnt check in yet....if one was complaining abt that silly calling up part....which BTW I had already done...d other was wondering y numbers on my ticket didnt tally anywhere on their system....which kept me wondering if I had actually purchased a valid ticket...

This time, people in and around me in the Q also seemed to show a lot of emphathy......I kept explaining my situation and asking them for solutions....n not one of them told me things like u will have to go back home....strange as it sounds...they were very encouraging n reassuring....

Now people...Plane's leaving at 12.........And these people want me to do all that last min running to catch flights that they show in movies....that I am already famous for in Life:)

Just when I was wondering wat I wud do if they told me ....madam...no ticket.....no seat....I was damn sure that I wud empty my suitcase of anything edible....n wait till 6 in the morning n catch a taxi back home....

At 11:20.......D manager came to me with my boarding pass..........one of my happiest moments....n when I was finally on that plane, I felt so victorious.....wat with my fellow passengers expressing joy that I did make it finally....n giving me the thumbs up sign:)....all thanks to 5 people who had cancelled their flight............I keep wondering wat if I had to go back home had those 5 people turned up....

Story Time!!

A car stops by an old age home....n u have this inmate packing her stuff unwillingly......when quizzed by her fellow inmates...as to y she wasnt happy abt her son ...who had come to take her home to the US....She tells them that...."Hello...what makes u think...he's taking me to the US...to look after me....He is taking me to the US to look after his kids..when he n his wife go to work....n to look after the house.....simply coz its difficult to find a trustworthy maidservant.....also.....they dont want to travel all the way to India for my funeral...when I die....To avoid the costs...they would rather have me live n die with them "

An old man in an old age home is excited beyond words....He has just heard from the doctor that his sons r gonna take him home.....

The old man weaves a dream as he sleeps beside his packed bag....wherein his children are all too glad to have him back with them...n happy good times spent with his grandchildren...

Cut to reality....n when his sons do come to take their father back home...he does not sense any excitement in them.....

After landing home, he is offered food...n then asked to sign papers to hand over the property to his sons....n when he asks them..."But...where will I go?...Will u take me with u?"...he is met with replies like..." U wont like it at our place...Its far too hot...Both of us work....How will u manage alone at home..."

Finally....he is offered a ride back to the old age home....

Wat u read are 2 stories that were aired on Asianet[Mal Channel] yesterday....n s I didnt get to actually watch it...But gotto hear every minute detail of the episode....

Oldies

Now I have this crazy n strange habit of calling ppal even slightly older...Oldies...Senior Netizens.....etc.....Half the time..it is to boost their morale....in walking faster...or in reminding them that its not too late to still do stuff young n bubbly....But they never understand the true reasoning:)

After hanging out with ppal younger....strangely I dont feel any old....But Im sure they might wonder y Im still like this:)

But ultimately age doesnt matter!

Shillong...So Long!!

Imagine growing up in a hill-station in the North-East.....that has untampered beauty....with temperatures close to -3 degree Celsius....n facing constant earthquakes....n having to carry raincoats all through the year...simply coz it rains all throughout...with the monsoons being extremely heavy...

Happened to meet a pal who has done all the above..n believe me....when she told me that if you ever get a chance to go there please do....I will help you make the arrangements....I was jumping already:)

Im told that there's a 4-hour flight to Guwahati from B'lore n Shillong is 3 hours away by road from Guwahati.....yup...an uphill ride:)

Anybody listening:)

Heeeeeeeeeee

Wat am I so "heeeeeeee" abt?...BTW...the above piece of art is my creation:)

As strange as it sounds.....I think this year is gonna be the 1st year since coll[Now Coll was a long time ago]....that Im gonna be spending "Onam" at home.....

Mallus as such have very few festivals....I think the sole reason being that.... that part of the universe has its own individuality n they retain it even if they r on the moon:)

S...I have been Mallucized[Word coined today in conjunction with Vids...is meant to mean criticized as in Mal] often....largely for the accent part...n thats when I remember a cute sms forward I once received...goes on something like this...

"What did the Mallus tell the British when they finally left India?

...

...

...

U screwed our motherland for ages.....V will screw ur mothertongue forever"

Forwards apart....strangely these days..I dont receive any email forwards..n sometimes I wonder if ppal think I have outgrown it or something....Gone are the good old forwarding days.....

These days in office...my day is made if there is a chain mail of sorts running across pals.....My chief entertainment source....

Getting back to festivals.....I have had like umpteen no. of ppal ask me...if v have the Ganesha Chathruthi or Varamahalakshmi or many of the other festivals that my homeland..ya...ya...Karnataka.....boasts of.....making me feel like a BBCM....n thats ur very own...B'lore Born Confused Mallu....

I cant remember the no. of times....I have mixed up languages.....I add Mal in Kannada.....Mal in Tamil.....n luckily havent yet added it in Hindi n English....

Onam .....is 1 festival...that I've always looked forward to....simply coz the only other festival is close to six months away.....

Onam....brings back childhood memories....of we guys doing the pookalam[floral designs] with uncles....n pals...

My uncle...a wonderful artist...used to actually make floral designs of the Kathakali art form n our entire mornings used to have us outside the house making the bestest possiblest patterns...n then run off to our fellow neighbour's houses to see if they had done any better!!!!

I must admit that we were hardly disappointed...hehehhe...

Collecting flowers for the pookalam was always a wonderful ritual....our non-Mallu neighbours used to help us out with flowers from their own garden....telling us that ...oh...looks like u need a lil more of white....or red in the pattern....

N living in V.Pura...is almost like living in Kerala.....v r surrounded by Mallus..in all corners...

Onam feasts have elasheri, aviyal,sambhar,olan,yeasthu[my favourite dish cooked in coconut milk...also called stew to mere mortals...but in our part of Kerala....v call it yeasthu], kalan, papadam, pulliinji,vadagapulli,payasam...n the list is almost endless:)

Onam is abt feasts n abt family get-togethers n abt coming together for an occasion types...

I was asked today as to y I was wearing a Kerala Style sari ...n I told my friend...that its Uthradam.....1st Onam....she asked me y we celebrate Onam....I told her ...hey..the same reason as to y u celebrate Diwali.....n happily started off with the Mahabali n the Vamana story ...as to how Mahabali was pushed to Pathal...n how he happens to come to meet his subjects....To which she quickly added telling me that...v dont celebrate Diwali for the same reason...In the North...v celebrate Diwali to commemorate Ram's return from Vanvas n Lanka.....

After going through agonies of not having basic mythological knowledge......I turned to another friend...who happened to be from the South...who started off a demon killing n the Vamana- Bali connection....solving my agony issues instantly:)