He is scared of it. He is so scraed of it that it comes in his dreams and scares him to wake him up suddenly and then he cries out loud.
With it's huge body it sits in a corner and when hungry it wide opens its mouth and eats like a hipopotamus. Then for about an hour it eats, drinks water , after that cleans the mouth and that big tummy by spitting water out and leaves a big noisy burp at the end before it starts to sleep again sitting in that corner. It shakes its body hysterically sometimes with a huge roar. He doesn't understand why they keep him at home. They have it in most of his relatives' and neighbours' homes too. When he visits a new place he walks on tip of the toe and goes to the kitchen and work area and bathrooms to find out where he sits at that home. He knows that these are the places where it is generally found. Once he spots its cosy position in a house he screams and runs back and make sure that he never ever goes to that room and if possible the room beside it too. People say that there is nothing to be scared of it, it doesn't do anything but he would not believe that. He just hates whoever says so to him.
And the "he" in this story is my 2 year old.
"It" is nothing other than the Washing Machine!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Formula's Never Fail
It was raining. I waited for 5 minutes. There was no sign of the rain gods going to stop pouring and I didn't have a choice. In the new office, they are very strict about the timing. So come what may, I didn't have a choice and started off from home while it was raining still. And at the JNTU junction, that school bus.. He didn't have a choice to wait too perhaps. Come what may, he has to reach school before the classes begin. And for ages there this junction at JNTU has been there. And according to the general theory of friction what has to happen will happen. It happened without fail.
So this explains why I'm limbing today. Ha.. ha.. ha!
(If I were to explain the theory of collission?! Oh God!)
So this explains why I'm limbing today. Ha.. ha.. ha!
(If I were to explain the theory of collission?! Oh God!)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I here by swear that...
Today, I have decided that...
* I will learn all possible bad words in hindi. It is a "Must have" in a driver's possessions.
* I will always wear helmet while riding a two wheeler.
* I will always stop and give way to a vehicle who tries a U turn in a busy road.
* I will always stop for pedestrians in a zebra crossing.
* I will not stop for pedestrians when the signal is green. I will use my Hindi knowledge here.
* I will not be impatient and honk at the vehicle that moves slow in front of me.
* I will not jump the red signal how much ever empty the opposite roads are.
* I will not change lanes or take to the side without proper indication. I will use my Hindi for those who does so infront of me.
* I will not overtake in a narrow road or when there is a jam in one lane of the traffic. I will use my Hindi for those who does so. I am not a fool to wait at the tail of long queue of vehicles when others can go forward through the empty other lane which makes both the sides jam soon.
* I will not block the way by driving too slow.
* I will not use high beams when in city.
* I will respect the vision of the opposite vehicle's driver by giving a dim light at night while on a highway.
* I will not suddenly start the parked vehicle on the side of the road and get on to the road without minding the vehicles coming from rear. Hindi to be used here.
* I will not use mobile phone while driving.
* I will not let my clothes fly like a flag while riding two wheelers.
Because, these habits of other fellow drivers annoy me a lot!
Patience has its own limits! The commute to and from Hitec City to pragathi nagar has helped me to cross mine this soon so succesfully. Thanks to my dear fellow commuters.
* I will learn all possible bad words in hindi. It is a "Must have" in a driver's possessions.
* I will always wear helmet while riding a two wheeler.
* I will always stop and give way to a vehicle who tries a U turn in a busy road.
* I will always stop for pedestrians in a zebra crossing.
* I will not stop for pedestrians when the signal is green. I will use my Hindi knowledge here.
* I will not be impatient and honk at the vehicle that moves slow in front of me.
* I will not jump the red signal how much ever empty the opposite roads are.
* I will not change lanes or take to the side without proper indication. I will use my Hindi for those who does so infront of me.
* I will not overtake in a narrow road or when there is a jam in one lane of the traffic. I will use my Hindi for those who does so. I am not a fool to wait at the tail of long queue of vehicles when others can go forward through the empty other lane which makes both the sides jam soon.
* I will not block the way by driving too slow.
* I will not use high beams when in city.
* I will respect the vision of the opposite vehicle's driver by giving a dim light at night while on a highway.
* I will not suddenly start the parked vehicle on the side of the road and get on to the road without minding the vehicles coming from rear. Hindi to be used here.
* I will not use mobile phone while driving.
* I will not let my clothes fly like a flag while riding two wheelers.
Because, these habits of other fellow drivers annoy me a lot!
Patience has its own limits! The commute to and from Hitec City to pragathi nagar has helped me to cross mine this soon so succesfully. Thanks to my dear fellow commuters.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Happy Ever After!
We have this custom of seeking blessings from everyone in the family on any special occasions in life. Especially from elders, you should bend and touch the feet of the person and they would bless you by keeping both palms on your head. On their marriage day a typical Kerala bride will weigh atleast 10 kilograms extra with the heavy brocaded saree, a load of awkward jewellery which is a must in Kerala traditional weddings, and a heavy load of deceiving (artificial)long hair and flowers and half a kilogram of hair pins to fix all these scraps together. I still remember how difficult it was to bend before all the uncles, aunties, ammumma’s and appuppans including that Pappu uncle, this Ammini aunty, this Raman uncle, that Janaki aunty and who not? Bending, be straight and again bending, be straight is such a difficult task that too in the brides attire and all we’re doing this is just to be blessed by them. You don't want to spare anybody's blessing when you step into a new phase in life.
I thought everyone would want it in the same way, that is to get blessed by others on their wedding day. I didn’t know that there are people who likes to be cursed on their most important day of life till I started living in Sikh Village. This is the place I’ve been living for the last 5 years and one special thing about this place is that it has a number of function halls. Within a radius of 3 kms, atleast 10 huge function halls are there where the daily rental charges are also as huge as the halls. Most of the halls are adjacent to each other and thus fall in a row. Marriages happen almost all days through the year in all these function halls.(Except some marriage-forbidden months like “Ashadam” normally during July-August) The decorations at the entrance itself is a must-see stuff and 2 ordinary marriages can be done in the expense of that alone.
Though the entire stretch of function halls is equipped with a pretty good parking space as the number of cars each wedding sees is so huge, the space would never be sufficient to accommodate all of them. Every day after 7 p.m it is a traffic jam with the “overflow” of parked cars on either side of the road. Everyone wants to park right in front of the venue because they think that walking a few steps would spoil the neatly draped sarees. So would it spoil the costly make-up layer too by sweating it out.
People who are on their way back to home after a long day’s work starts cursing the marriage party when they get stuck in this traffic jam. Adding oil to the fire is when there is a VIP attending the function. The entire traffic will be stopped by the police till the VIP is taken into the hall and seated comfortably. When people somehow manage to get out of this traffic maze, alas! there comes the next. The "Horse Show". The bridegroom is sitting on the traditionally decorated horse. He is sitting there, responding with a blushing smile to the double and triple X-ed comments from the crowd around him which includes friends,cousins and all those little nieces and nephews.
As if not enough, people who are impatiently waiting for the horse procession to pass by will have to suffer the ear breaking hindi fast numbers played by the band team. One will not even mind to kill the person who invented bass drums and clarinets at that time if given a chance. Somehow when the band team passes by you think the trouble is over. No way, here comes the next team who will en-“lighten” you with petrol lights (modern hurricane lamps). They are in hundreds. Depending on your Ghoda-walla’s financial status there can be more too. You will have to wait till the marriage procession proceeding to the marriage hall to make the road clear.
When it proceeds our groom occasionally looks around at the traffic that has come to a standstill all because of him. Then you notice the pride and pleasure in the face of the idiot. He should be so proud that he has ‘made’ so many people’s evening by giving them a chance to see him sitting on a coughing horse and they have all showered their blessings on him! Phewwww! My dear son, you have gained the heartiest curses from hundreds of people which is sufficient for your lifetime.
Some how you reach home 2 hours late though you were just 5 minutes away from home. Prepare food, eat, feed the baby, somehow manage to put the baby into sleep, do your dishes, close the kitchen and go to bed. You are catching up sleep slowly. Zzzzz....
Suddenly!!! TAPP,TAP, TOOOOO!,TAPATATATATAP…^%$$%$#$#$%%$^&%&^.
You would jump from the bed suddenly and you have been woken up to a big bang.. and the baby starts screaming and he would not stop. No baba, it’s not an earth quake or anything. Our ghoda walla just got married at this strange hours in the night and he does want to let the world know and wants the world to sing a merry song for him jumping in joy! What bullshit! You not only curse them but you tend to curse their ancestors too. The firework goes on for minimum 10 minutes and the entire neighbourhood is now awake. Some are trying to console the crying babies, some consoles the bedridden patients or old people in their homes who managed to get some sleep just minutes back.
And?
And the couple lived happily ever after with all our “BLESSINGS” they got on their wedding day!!
Note: I’m not making any point here to avoid celebrations for weddings or whatever. But one can be considerate about others when things of this sort is being arranged right in the middle of the city.
I thought everyone would want it in the same way, that is to get blessed by others on their wedding day. I didn’t know that there are people who likes to be cursed on their most important day of life till I started living in Sikh Village. This is the place I’ve been living for the last 5 years and one special thing about this place is that it has a number of function halls. Within a radius of 3 kms, atleast 10 huge function halls are there where the daily rental charges are also as huge as the halls. Most of the halls are adjacent to each other and thus fall in a row. Marriages happen almost all days through the year in all these function halls.(Except some marriage-forbidden months like “Ashadam” normally during July-August) The decorations at the entrance itself is a must-see stuff and 2 ordinary marriages can be done in the expense of that alone.
Though the entire stretch of function halls is equipped with a pretty good parking space as the number of cars each wedding sees is so huge, the space would never be sufficient to accommodate all of them. Every day after 7 p.m it is a traffic jam with the “overflow” of parked cars on either side of the road. Everyone wants to park right in front of the venue because they think that walking a few steps would spoil the neatly draped sarees. So would it spoil the costly make-up layer too by sweating it out.
People who are on their way back to home after a long day’s work starts cursing the marriage party when they get stuck in this traffic jam. Adding oil to the fire is when there is a VIP attending the function. The entire traffic will be stopped by the police till the VIP is taken into the hall and seated comfortably. When people somehow manage to get out of this traffic maze, alas! there comes the next. The "Horse Show". The bridegroom is sitting on the traditionally decorated horse. He is sitting there, responding with a blushing smile to the double and triple X-ed comments from the crowd around him which includes friends,cousins and all those little nieces and nephews.
As if not enough, people who are impatiently waiting for the horse procession to pass by will have to suffer the ear breaking hindi fast numbers played by the band team. One will not even mind to kill the person who invented bass drums and clarinets at that time if given a chance. Somehow when the band team passes by you think the trouble is over. No way, here comes the next team who will en-“lighten” you with petrol lights (modern hurricane lamps). They are in hundreds. Depending on your Ghoda-walla’s financial status there can be more too. You will have to wait till the marriage procession proceeding to the marriage hall to make the road clear.
When it proceeds our groom occasionally looks around at the traffic that has come to a standstill all because of him. Then you notice the pride and pleasure in the face of the idiot. He should be so proud that he has ‘made’ so many people’s evening by giving them a chance to see him sitting on a coughing horse and they have all showered their blessings on him! Phewwww! My dear son, you have gained the heartiest curses from hundreds of people which is sufficient for your lifetime.
Some how you reach home 2 hours late though you were just 5 minutes away from home. Prepare food, eat, feed the baby, somehow manage to put the baby into sleep, do your dishes, close the kitchen and go to bed. You are catching up sleep slowly. Zzzzz....
Suddenly!!! TAPP,TAP, TOOOOO!,TAPATATATATAP…^%$$%$#$#$%%$^&%&^.
You would jump from the bed suddenly and you have been woken up to a big bang.. and the baby starts screaming and he would not stop. No baba, it’s not an earth quake or anything. Our ghoda walla just got married at this strange hours in the night and he does want to let the world know and wants the world to sing a merry song for him jumping in joy! What bullshit! You not only curse them but you tend to curse their ancestors too. The firework goes on for minimum 10 minutes and the entire neighbourhood is now awake. Some are trying to console the crying babies, some consoles the bedridden patients or old people in their homes who managed to get some sleep just minutes back.
And?
And the couple lived happily ever after with all our “BLESSINGS” they got on their wedding day!!
Note: I’m not making any point here to avoid celebrations for weddings or whatever. But one can be considerate about others when things of this sort is being arranged right in the middle of the city.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Heavy Thoughts
Look at that cute bouquet in that FAT lady's hands...
If I hear such a remark and when the FAT refered is none other than me, that would be the scariest experience I would ever have in my life. I just can't think of such a scene.
I was a fat child and I used to get offended when people make fun of me. I decided to overcome this embarassing moments and one fine morning started to work towards losing weight. Thanks to my strong determination, I managed to shed all my extra pounds. I was so happy that people no longer commented me for being fat. I quit non-vegetarian food for 3 years. I never missed my yoga stuff any single day. I completly stopped taking all junk food. (To confess- I continued eating chocolates). It worked like magic and though i restarted on non-veg I never stopped doing Yoga.
It all went back to square one when I became pregnant. Funniest part is that, from the day I confirmed it, i started gaining weight. It was all because I stopped doing yoga and started to eat more healthy food. People say that you are not supposed to do any exercise in the first trimester and I didnt have the guts to argue against it. And the result? In the first trimester itself I gained 8-9 kgs and by the end of my 9 months term I was like a big bean bag wagging like a stout duck. I went upto 90Kg and in the last trimester I was going up like 1 kg per day! Everyone in my office thought I will explode one day and I faced many questions like "Are you going to pop?" and "Are you having twins?". My tummy was so big that people used to pity me for coming to office and many advised me to take rest. But all was well with me. The day I completed my first trimester I started to take 30 minutes tread mill in moderate speed, and I was doing all work at home too. I just enjoyed my new shape and I worried only about some newly stiched dresses which I was not able to wear. Thank God - I could come for work till the last day and the next morning I went and had my baby.
Soon after delivery I thought my tummy would flatten immediately but to my dismay I was still looking as if I'm 5 months pregnant. And I was weighing 82 Kgs. After delivery also you have the line of control of 90 days. So I had to wait. On 91st day I started with my regular yoga. And guess what, I was not able to lift my legs even for half a feet also. I thought all my abilities for physical actions are gone forever. I was very disappointed. But next day it was better. I could do 5 legs each of "Merudandaasanam". That boosted my confidence and continued Yoga adding all my series of Asanas back to my routine one by one.
In typical Kerala post delivery care you are supposed to have lot of "Lehyam", "Kashayam", and other ayurvedic medicines. I didnt eat any of those Lehyams which are rich in Ghee and stuff like "paalkozhi" which I thought will only add more fat than doing any good for my health. I don't know for sure, but in Hyderabad none of my friends had such post delivery special food care and they said such things don't exist in their custom.
I continued doing Yoga and in a weeks time I was able to do all asanas without difficulty. I observed with great pleasure that my weighing machine doesn't have to stretch too much. Beginning of 5th month I started going for work and it speeded up the process and now guess what? When my son is in his 10th month, I weigh only 65 Kg, that's my standard weight! I'm so happy that I'm fitting in my old clothes. My collegues have forgotten about those dresses and when I wear them now, they "New Pinch" me :)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Oh! My Name!
What is the question you have come across with the most in your life? I think it would be "What is your name?". In my case, another question follows when I say my name. So for me there are 2 questions I have faced most in my life. The second question comes with a perplexed expression on their face and the question is "What does it mean?" Can't blame them for their curiosity as they would be hearing the name "Bhaimi" for the first time. They ask it twice,say it twice to ensure they pronounce it correctly and then the question "What is the meaning of Bhaimi?" comes. Aaaha.. I knew this question would come and I'm ready with the twenty five thousand two hundred and forty first repetition of my name's history. I tap the play button.
"Bhaimi is actually the name of a Hindu Purana character. Her Actual name is Damayanthi. You might have heared of Nala-Damayanthi and their love story. Damayanthi's father's name was Bhimasena and thus she has this name "Bhaimi" .It is like "Bhim ki beti-Bhaimi".
(Water pleaseeeeeeeee.....)
Then comes the next comment "Oh.. that's why you eat like Bhima..ha ha". Now I have to stop them and explain- "my dear friend, I'm sorry about your ignorance, but it is not that Bhima in Mahabharata i'm talking about. This is a different Maharaja, whose name also was Bhimasena".
This story telling sessions occur mostly during my travels. Especially train travels from kerala when I have the luxurious 24 hours to explain my name's origin. But there were incidents to my surprise when the other person explains the story better than I do. One such incident was when I was travelling to Kerala from Hyderabad few years back and a family consisting of an elderly lady, her daughter and husband, grand daughter and great grandson shared the coach with me. I remember that they belong to the famous Moos family in Pulamanthole. When I said my name the elderly lady exclaimed and said "Nice Name!". Then she went ahead to add the Bhim ki Beti story by herself to admire my name and complimented me for having a princess's name. Interestigly the elderly lady's great grand son's name was"Angirassu". I was happy when he said his name as very rarely I get a chance to hear somebody elses 'name story'. Though I knew that Angirassu is a name of one old Rishi in Hindu Mythology I loved to hear him explaining it with pride. He was only 10 years old, I'm sure this enthusiasm to tell his 'Name Story' will soon fade away as he grows. His younger brother's name is 'Purooravass'. I can foresee people's reaction when that little fellow starts telling his name. Ha ha..
I used to hate my name for several reasons when I was in school. First of all I thought it was a tough name to pronounce. It was difficult for others to understand as well. Many people hear it as 'by me' or 'buy me' when I say Bhaimi. They ask me 'Why should I buy you?' or 'what is the cost to buy?' to joke on me. When small children call me it becomes 'bahimi aunty' or 'Balumi chechi' and what not!! But the second reason was really a solid reason to hate my name. I was a fat girl. Everybody used to call me Bheemi as they relate the fat Bhimasena in Mahabharata. They found it amusing and I used to get hurt. Many a times I fought with my mother for a name change and she just smiled at me. It was given to me by my grandfather. I hated him also for that reason.
But now I know the value of this name. I just love my name. i have seen people struggling to get e-mail ids by adding all those numerals and special characters like smitha2000_123@soandso.com when I just signup in any site with bhaimi@soandso.com. This unique name gives me recognition in my company and wherever I go. When I make calls to my tailor, beauty parlour or my office receptionist , they dont ask me which Bhaimi is speaking. I enjoy the way different people pronounce my name like Nalini calls me 'Beymi', Mike Jasko and Boomer calls me 'Baaimi' and even my house owner calls me 'Baima'. :)
My husband's name is so common that every third person in a shopping mall or theatre would be Santhosh. We named our son "Devamithran" which is also sort of unique. I don't know when he is going come to fight with me for a name change!
"Bhaimi is actually the name of a Hindu Purana character. Her Actual name is Damayanthi. You might have heared of Nala-Damayanthi and their love story. Damayanthi's father's name was Bhimasena and thus she has this name "Bhaimi" .It is like "Bhim ki beti-Bhaimi".
(Water pleaseeeeeeeee.....)
Then comes the next comment "Oh.. that's why you eat like Bhima..ha ha". Now I have to stop them and explain- "my dear friend, I'm sorry about your ignorance, but it is not that Bhima in Mahabharata i'm talking about. This is a different Maharaja, whose name also was Bhimasena".
This story telling sessions occur mostly during my travels. Especially train travels from kerala when I have the luxurious 24 hours to explain my name's origin. But there were incidents to my surprise when the other person explains the story better than I do. One such incident was when I was travelling to Kerala from Hyderabad few years back and a family consisting of an elderly lady, her daughter and husband, grand daughter and great grandson shared the coach with me. I remember that they belong to the famous Moos family in Pulamanthole. When I said my name the elderly lady exclaimed and said "Nice Name!". Then she went ahead to add the Bhim ki Beti story by herself to admire my name and complimented me for having a princess's name. Interestigly the elderly lady's great grand son's name was"Angirassu". I was happy when he said his name as very rarely I get a chance to hear somebody elses 'name story'. Though I knew that Angirassu is a name of one old Rishi in Hindu Mythology I loved to hear him explaining it with pride. He was only 10 years old, I'm sure this enthusiasm to tell his 'Name Story' will soon fade away as he grows. His younger brother's name is 'Purooravass'. I can foresee people's reaction when that little fellow starts telling his name. Ha ha..
I used to hate my name for several reasons when I was in school. First of all I thought it was a tough name to pronounce. It was difficult for others to understand as well. Many people hear it as 'by me' or 'buy me' when I say Bhaimi. They ask me 'Why should I buy you?' or 'what is the cost to buy?' to joke on me. When small children call me it becomes 'bahimi aunty' or 'Balumi chechi' and what not!! But the second reason was really a solid reason to hate my name. I was a fat girl. Everybody used to call me Bheemi as they relate the fat Bhimasena in Mahabharata. They found it amusing and I used to get hurt. Many a times I fought with my mother for a name change and she just smiled at me. It was given to me by my grandfather. I hated him also for that reason.
But now I know the value of this name. I just love my name. i have seen people struggling to get e-mail ids by adding all those numerals and special characters like smitha2000_123@soandso.com when I just signup in any site with bhaimi@soandso.com. This unique name gives me recognition in my company and wherever I go. When I make calls to my tailor, beauty parlour or my office receptionist , they dont ask me which Bhaimi is speaking. I enjoy the way different people pronounce my name like Nalini calls me 'Beymi', Mike Jasko and Boomer calls me 'Baaimi' and even my house owner calls me 'Baima'. :)
My husband's name is so common that every third person in a shopping mall or theatre would be Santhosh. We named our son "Devamithran" which is also sort of unique. I don't know when he is going come to fight with me for a name change!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Hydera(bad). Truly!
When I wanted to change my job 5 years ago I never thought I will end up in a company in Hyderabad. I thought I would easily get a job in Bangalore and left for this city to stay for a month and I wouldn't miss any walk-ins that were happening in the city then. One of my friends had an interview call from a company and he had no clue of the place where it was happening as he was new in Bangalore, and I knew the place. I went to this company’s hiring stall to show my friend the place. But at last it happened so that I could attend the interview and I got selected with a decent pay package and my friend couldn’t get through the first round itself.
I was disappointed. I was unhappy for 2 reasons. First reason obviously was that my friend travelled from Kerala only to attend this interview and he couldn’t make it. And the second was that, the HR representative had told me that my posting would be in Hyderabad, not Bangalore. Bangalore was as dear to me as Cochin and I had many friends, cousins and other relatives there. But Hyderabad seemed scary to me. My idea of Hyderabad was that of a city with unclean and old buildings and roads and a city where Hind-Muslim tension always exists. In Hyderabad I had no relatives and didn’t have many close friends too. Finally I decided to accept the offer after having lot of discussions re-discussions with friends. My idea was to find another job in Bangalore in 6 months time and go back.
But, Hyderabad surprised me when I actually landed here. It was a clean and green city. Leave the old city area apart, the rest of the city had well maintained roads, trees on either sides of the roads, flowers and creepers on the dividers etc etc. The traffic was horrible but it didn’t bother me much as I managed to get a place to stay just 5 minutes walk from the office. And to my surprise my Telugu colleagues were so supportive and co-operative in contrary to what I’ve heard of telugu IT people. The girl who came to stay for 6 months did not even think of applying for another job in another city for 5 years!
Now…
I stopped encouraging people to come to Hyderabad as life here has become hell these days. Imagine a city with only potholes and no road to drive on. Imagine a city with 7 hours power cut. 4 hours announced and “only-god-knows-hours” unannounced. A city where the flyover at construction collapses to kill passer-by. City where a completed flyover on a busiest road waits for the Chief Minister to come back from his B’day Celebration in Maldives to get it inaugurated. 200 year old Banyan Trees gets chopped mercilessly in this city. All these scenes replace some of the old scenes I remember like, a small gutter gets repaired immediately after it was formed, power cuts were a total no-no and big trees were brought into the city by lorries from outskirts to plant on the road sides. I don’t know if you will find another city in india where traffic police men are considered junks. Here in the Electricity Office they do readily accept that the system is 95% corrupted and they are helpless. You go to any gas (Indane) agency and enjoy their fabulous customer service and cook food with air. Go to RTA and learn how to bribe without any hindrance and embarrassment.
I longed to settle down in this city once upon a time. I no longer do.For now, let me dream of a small house in Valparai. After all, in India cities are all the same.
I was disappointed. I was unhappy for 2 reasons. First reason obviously was that my friend travelled from Kerala only to attend this interview and he couldn’t make it. And the second was that, the HR representative had told me that my posting would be in Hyderabad, not Bangalore. Bangalore was as dear to me as Cochin and I had many friends, cousins and other relatives there. But Hyderabad seemed scary to me. My idea of Hyderabad was that of a city with unclean and old buildings and roads and a city where Hind-Muslim tension always exists. In Hyderabad I had no relatives and didn’t have many close friends too. Finally I decided to accept the offer after having lot of discussions re-discussions with friends. My idea was to find another job in Bangalore in 6 months time and go back.
But, Hyderabad surprised me when I actually landed here. It was a clean and green city. Leave the old city area apart, the rest of the city had well maintained roads, trees on either sides of the roads, flowers and creepers on the dividers etc etc. The traffic was horrible but it didn’t bother me much as I managed to get a place to stay just 5 minutes walk from the office. And to my surprise my Telugu colleagues were so supportive and co-operative in contrary to what I’ve heard of telugu IT people. The girl who came to stay for 6 months did not even think of applying for another job in another city for 5 years!
Now…
I stopped encouraging people to come to Hyderabad as life here has become hell these days. Imagine a city with only potholes and no road to drive on. Imagine a city with 7 hours power cut. 4 hours announced and “only-god-knows-hours” unannounced. A city where the flyover at construction collapses to kill passer-by. City where a completed flyover on a busiest road waits for the Chief Minister to come back from his B’day Celebration in Maldives to get it inaugurated. 200 year old Banyan Trees gets chopped mercilessly in this city. All these scenes replace some of the old scenes I remember like, a small gutter gets repaired immediately after it was formed, power cuts were a total no-no and big trees were brought into the city by lorries from outskirts to plant on the road sides. I don’t know if you will find another city in india where traffic police men are considered junks. Here in the Electricity Office they do readily accept that the system is 95% corrupted and they are helpless. You go to any gas (Indane) agency and enjoy their fabulous customer service and cook food with air. Go to RTA and learn how to bribe without any hindrance and embarrassment.
I longed to settle down in this city once upon a time. I no longer do.For now, let me dream of a small house in Valparai. After all, in India cities are all the same.
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Kunju
