Friday, May 25, 2007

The Road Gamers

I have by now realized that I have had bad Karma.And this road to realization was paved by the presene of autorickshaws in my life I have had bad karma.You have had bad Karma.We all have bad karma.

Germany has Autobanhs,America has autocade, japan has automation.and we have autorickshaws.

Two days ago I witnessed a frustrated driver of a private vehicle beating up an auto driver in the middle of the road.The auto driver was soaked in the blood and the man continued to puch him relentlessly.

The crowed watched with bloodthirsty eyes it was after all a reality show at its best. Scary I thought as I drove on. Then my imagination started to rev up.What could have irked the attacker and to what degree to turn him this brutal?

Did the the auto bang into the vehicles rear? Was the auto in front of the vehicle and did the auto driver suddenly use his brakes because he was flagged down by a client?

Did the auto driver,first,come skidding out of the lane and then look to see if it was safe?did the auto driver come skidding out of the lane with out looking at all?

Did the auto driver in a flash,twist his way in to the four feet of space he may have discovered in front of the car, thereby causing the attacker to brake suddenly?

Did the auto driver try to use his hands instead of his dysfunctional light?May be he had small hands that could not be seen.or did he not give signal at all?

May be the auto driver tried to swerve around the car to make an ambitious turn and so toppled over and deposited his passenger onto the car in the process.

Or was it something trival like the auto driver blowing the horn unnecessarily from behind,that caused the blow up?Perhaps.It was the sound the horn that tiny off key drone that sound like ailing version of the our old premier padminis

Or did the auto bang into the cars side-view mirror?of course the auto could have veen only six inches away from the car at the signal and the auto driver could have been playing loud speakers that have torn rims giving way to unhealthy bass and treble.

I know it was that infuriating asthmatic sound of the auto engine that got under the skin of the driver and with that dazzling cacophony of multiple autos around the driver. he may have just snapped mentally.Or it could be the most common reason of all – the car driver must have honked and honked and honked and honked and honked and even blinked his headlights in order to overtake from the right and the auto driver would just not have given way. So may be the driver had to break the law and over take from the left.

Anyway, rumour has it that autorikshaws (inspired by our country) are soon going to be introduced in the lanes of Piccadilly in Britain.

We are doing to the UK what they did to us by introducing bureaucracy. And they are soon going to have to deal with Indian legacies more dangerous than chicken curry and Shilpa Shetty!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Process of Mind -Petal 3- Journey Home

"The Journey home is never too long
Your heart arrives before the train
The journey home is never too long
When open arms are waiting there" **


Dated: 14/05/2007

My brother landed in India and he wanted me to come to Kerala before he again leaves, this time for Singapore.. Oh gosh, I was not in a position to travel...had been to Hyderabad for Induction,(I like my new organization ,we have good people around) and just got back to Bangalore, that too in horrible Air Deccan, drove to my new office which is really far from my nest... Totally exhausted..

I didn't have reservation; more over it was a Friday. All busses to Mallu land were packed with Mallus. But I was confident that there will be last minute cancellations and those tickets are meant for last minute planners like me. I was right, got the ticket. I crawled in to the Bus.

No Hassles, It was a comfortable journey home. Amma was really happy to see me after three months gap. I went upstairs to see my brother and niece. My brother gave me a tight hug; it's been a long time since he hugged, damn long two years.

I met all my relatives, didn't have much time for friends. It was a short trip and it really gave me a good break. Now I feel unlaxed and massaged! A day passed…time to go back to where I belong.I didn't want to go back. Being with family is the best thing you can have. As usual, no tickets available. Somebody told me there is one special bus to Bangalore on Sunday's but it is not an A/C bus. Non AC in summer, huh? OK whatever; I had to be back in Bangalore on Monday, committed timeline given to Aparna and Pankaj!

I bought the ticket. The so called 'special' bus was not so special; In fact it was an ordinary bus with asymmetrically placed seats. My tiny seat was somewhere in the middle, some how I managed to keep my bag under the seat. Trust me; it was not a smooth sailing. I was getting baked by the fuming ambience in the bus. I realized it's a bad week for traveling. I should have booked my ticket well in advance. Hmm I've learnt a lesson. Never be a last minute planner .Anyways I had a great time back home...

** Bombay Dreams