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?