A trip to Mandya

It was the fag end of 2011. Had 3 Sick Leaves. Had no mood to go to office. Had no mood to stay at home.

Felt terrible at the idea of spending the entire day in Bangalore. PVR, lunch then what? I need to spend time till evening, that too economically. Decided to make a short trip. Two options- Tumkur and Mandya. These two because, I can return to Bangalore easily by 7. Went to Majestic. Tossed a coin. Mandya it was. What will I do in Mandya? Let's see.

Headed to Satellite Bus Stand. Had haap-cup chhaa. Bought Prajavani paper. Window seat in a "Kemp" bus. Yeddy had wanted to be CM... a truck had overrun a youth... Bagalkot farmers wanted fertilizer... Khanapur chaps wanted Haripriya train to stop there... a few guys wanted the VTU Vice-chancellor to go... my 'Guru' was in a favorable 'house' and my lucky number was 1... Shewag's form had dropped.

Saw my college RVCE pass by. Didn't understand why all of Kengeri was going to Mysore. Remembered my college days when we used to play cricket in Kengeri near my friend Rohit Cheta's house. I am still in awe of those rocks in Ramnagar. The whole of Ramnagar had wished Kumarswamy on his B'Day. The flexes put indicated that all the Ramnagar people had at least 2 moble phones each. A couple sitting in my front were chit-chatting non-stop. Just evesdropped. The wife seemed to be immersed in problems- the jasmine she wore was not good, the wind blowing from the window was not to her liking, unlike her mother her mother-in-law was a monster. Paid my condolences to that animal -husband and looked outside the window.

A tree had fallen on a bus. There was a traffic jam. Cops were trying to clear the road. The whole of Mandya was there seeing this "unearthly" incident. Now they need not worry how to timepass this day. It was 2.

Had lunch at a roadside hotel. Unlimited meals all for 35 Rs. Not bad. Took a stroll on 'Market Street'. I think it was a market day. There was humanity sleeping on the lawns on Ambedkar Garden. My brothers, I felt. There were banners all over the road- "Khadi Mela, Visit Today", "Karnataka Exhibition now in your city". Bought some raw channa. Had chikku juice.

Reached the bus stand. Took Bangalore bus. The driver and conductor were from Belgaum. Discussed politics. Had Maddur vade in Maddur. Our bus broke down in Ramnagar. Took another one to reach namma Bengaluru. Reached at 7. For 160 rs, I could not have asked for more.

What say?

Remembering ajji

I just read an article on Kendasampige. Written in pristine Dharwad Kannada, the author mentions about a ajji (grandmother) calling him 'Randeganda'. That reminded me of my ajji- my mother's mother. She has called me that many times and have seen her call many.

Please don't go by what it means. It didn't matter whether she wanted to praise me or scold me, this term was always there. There was warmth in that address, there was a feeling of 'mine' in that address.

I used to visit her during my summer and winter vacations. She never stopped me from anything. I was very mischievous. Destroying crops from others fields, harming their cattle, stealing objects, throwing stones at people and behaving as if it was not me are some things that I remember. All these complaints came directly to my grand-parents. But I don't remember even one instance where I was chastised. In particular by my ajji. Never.

She loved me. It didn't matter whether I have scored 1st rank or flunked my tests, it didn't matter if I looked terrible and badly needed a haircut, it didn't matter how many cups or crockery I broke she always had the same love and warmth. I remember how anxious she was when I went 'missing' one day. It was just my prank. I also remember her waiting hungrily for me to return from my tuitions, even when she was over 80, several times when she was at our house for a few months.

That love, that concern, that non-artificiality... I think are gone with her generation. Now it’s all senseless competition, all drama. Whenever we are feeling down and want someone to share it with or just cry on their shoulders, do we really find that someone who actually loves us and we don't have any hesitation in going to them as we are? Don't know where we are heading.

She is gone- 8 years back. I remember her. Feeling a bit low too, I will be fine by morning.

Tryst with 'Thane'

... I will write a blog... a 'nalla' blog... Super mama Ready... 1...2...3...4...

My friend Vinayaka and I had decided to have some raw excitement for the year end. The plan- the destination of the get away will be decided by 'chit system' just an hour before leaving. No bus/train/hotel reservations. Just take everything as it comes and make instant decisions. The chits will have all district names of Karnataka and important ones of other southern states.

It was Pondicherry. We knew that cyclone 'Thane' had hit Pondy. But there is something called respect for 'Chit Verdict', isn't it? So, no question of turning back. We reached Pondy 3 hours late. It was a terrifying sight. Storm and heavy rains were on. I had seen nothing of that sort ever. Uprooted trees, hanging electric cables, fallen electric and traffic signal poles, hazy sight and inundated roads and buildings- it reminded me of Huc town shown in 'Behind Enemy Lines'. Sign boards, EDS swinging dangerously. Every time our bus see-sawed, my heart skipped beats. No telephone network, no access to News. I didn't know what is gonna fall next and where. Nature's senseless 'tandav nritya' was on full display. Pondy was brought to its knees.

We waited helplessly in the bus. Let me admit- I was not tensed or worried for my life, but instead I was calm and it was we who had asked for raw excitement and we were just getting served its unadulterated, 24 carat variety. True, life is all about making choices. Suddenly an autowalla appeared from the blue and offered us to get us a hotel room. I was skeptical, as I imagined the rickshaw taking the aerial route right inside the Bay of Bengal. Like that car shown in Harry Potter movies and me not knowing a single spell and with no wand or broom to even give a try.

As it was New Year eve, the hotels were full. After a lot of searching, we found one. Thanks to the rickshaw driver who helped in a couple of more things also. The hotel people worked overtime to get us something to eat as we were very hungry. We kept ourselves warm. We had discussions of taking the first available bus/cab to Chennai and then to Bangalore. But we decided to stay put. We took relief in the fact that it was just a cyclone and not tsunami or volcano. All the roads were blocked; there was no way to get out of there anyways. We did a quick 'city darshan'. I know we are crazy.

Actually I had started enjoying all this, because I may not witness all this ever and this was going to be a great memory for the future.

Next day. The sky was blue and the sun smiling. The Sea gods had given us relief to 'yanjaay' the new year. Rain and storm had stopped.  Nature was back in her sexy avatar. Yes, we did all that a normal tourist does in Pondy- beaches, Aurobindo ashram, Auroville city, French Colony et al. We also had a few aftereffects of our last day's 'super' excitement. Our bike breaking down in the middle of nowhere and then getting help from JP Sir- a local youth leader. I am grateful to his selfless help, despite his narration of distasteful local murder-encounter stories. Then running from pillar to post in search of working ATMs and then food at night added the much needed 'double tadka'. It was humbling. Despite all our technological advancements and our ego, we are nothing when Nature decides to go nuts.

Then our day journey back to Bangalore is another story in itself. From Pondy to Tiruvannamalai to Krishnagiri to Hosur to Bangalore. I had a feeling someone was intentionally making all this happen.

Lastly my salutations to people of Pondy and Tamil Nadu. You are the best people I have met. Your down to earth attitude and friendly nature is inspiring. A hug to Vinayaka, who was my partner in all this and his Tamil knowledge, though amputated, was very helpful.

It was the bestest trip of my life- full of surprises, chance events and accidents. It made me feel so alive. It made me strong and confident that even under such extreme situations I can remain calm and take reasonable decisions. I may visit Pondy again, but I know I will never get this experience. I am grateful to Destiny/Chance Event or anything you may call it, that this trip happened.

Bye Pondy... Hello Colombo.