Feb 16th, 2007Returned from Chennai to Bangalore on this day with my sister by the Bangalore Express. Something interesting happened in the train.
The train seats were bench-like and very uncomfortable. It was not possible to lean back or stretch or feel free... especially with the elbow and knees of the passenger in the next seat touching me. So, I spent a lot of time standing at the door, looking out the running train. At some point, an old lady with a small kid occupied my seat. I did not have the heart to ask her to vacate my seat. So, when I felt tired of standing at the door, I occupied an empty seat, which was about 20 rows away from mine, beside someone who seemed like a high school boy. On the other side of this boy was a girl and they seemed to be extremely cozy together. I saw them touch each other, put hands on each others shoulders and at one point, I even saw the boy lean over and sleep on the girl's shoulder and lap. I was pretty surprised, thinking that young people these days were quite openly affectionate, indeed.
Most of the surrounding seats were occupied by kids who seemed to be from highschool or college. I guessed that they must all be from the same school or college, returning from some camp or sports tournament. I made smalltalk with the boy and he did confirm that they were from two different colleges and they were returning from a sports tournament. I was surprised to discover that the boy actually went to a degree (undergrad) college. Sometime later, one of their teachers who had been sitting a little bit away, got up and started talking to all the kids. When he saw me sitting among them, he asked the boy beside me who I was. The boy said that he did not know who I was. The teacher then turned to me and quite rudely asked me who I was and why I was sitting beside a girl. I was taken aback by his rudeness as well as by the fact that he claimed I was sitting beside a girl. I turned to look at the boy beside me and only then did I realize that the very young looking boy with short hair was actually a girl. I told him that I did not know it was a girl. Everybody around us started laughing. I felt awkward for embarrassing the girl. I apologized to her and vacated the seat.
Before I wind up the account of my visa-stamping trip, here's a break-down of the expenses. I like to record these expenses because I think it will be interesting to compare them with the prices years from now.
Visa stamping consulate fees – Rs. 4600 (supposed to be $100)
VFS (agency which facilitates the appointments) fees – Rs. 281
Hotel expenses for one night, including buffet dinner and breakfast – Rs. 3156
The hotel expenses included a whopping Rs. 60 for a 10-minute phone call from the hotel reception to Citibank because my new debit card would not work to pay my hotel bill. This was the only unpleasant part of my stay at this hotel. I had not expected them to charge me for that call, let alone such an exorbitant rate!
Autorickshaw charges:
Rickshaw drivers in Chennai still refuse to use meters. All of the following charges were unmetered and negotiated, including the charge in Bangalore.
Chennai Central Railway Stn to the hotel in Royapettah – Rs. 70
US Consulate to Hotel – Rs 30
Hotel in Royapettah to my sister's home in Jawaharnagar – Rs. 150
Sister's Home to Central Railway Stn – Rs. 80
Bangalore Central Railway Stn to my home in NandiniLayout – Rs. 60
Feb 17th, 2007Late in the afternoon, I went with my friend Nagendra to give my sister's wedding invitation cards to few of my friend's homes.
I visited Veena's home for the first time in my life. She was my college classmate. I have known her since 1997, and only now I got to actually go to her house. But she did not invite me inside the house. She was on her way out with her uncle, and all of us sat in her front patio/verandah, where she served us coffee and talked to us. Nagendra was teasing her telling that she does not invite bachelor guys inside the house. She said, “Yeah”. I did not find that very amusing.
From there, we went to my friend KP's home. He got married since the last time I saw him. There was some puja going on at his house. I saw a couple of young girls hovering around the puja area, along with his parents and KP. I was wondering if one of them was his new wife, but they seemed too young to be so. After the puja, KP told us that the two girls were his sister's kids. I was shocked! I had seen them during my college days, when they were just tiny tots. They were so grown up now. KP's wife was upstairs and she came down to be introduced to us. She seemed quiet, nice and had a sweet smile. She seemed like a good match to him.
From there, we went to my friend Kumar's home. He is Veena's husband and he is in the UK right now. We met his parents and invited them to my sister's wedding. His mother is quite ill, recovering from major hip surgery (I think).
Our final stop for the night was Vikram's home. I was meeting him for the first time after his dad expired on Jan 29th. I felt very bad for him. There was an awkwardness, which I had never felt before with him. I did not know what to say or do. We just made some meaningless small talk. I was glad that I had Nagendra there with me to take away some of the awkwardness with his own conversations. I asked him to come to my sister's wedding, but he said he did not want to go anywhere for upto 3 months after his dad's death.
Feb 18th, 2007I was supposed to meet the Aptech gang for dinner and movie today. After much calling around and trying to get things organized, it looked like most of them would not make it. As of this morning/afternoon, I thought at least Sidda, his wife, Deepak (his wife Geetanjali, was visiting Tirupati with her family, he said) and Nagendra would be there. But only Deepak turned up. He picked me up from my home in his Tata Indigo car. We went to Garuda Mall. We caught up on stuff on the way to the Mall. He surprised me by telling me about being jailed on his last birthday! I was shocked. He has always been upto some adventure or another all his life. So, this news should not have been very shocking, but being in jail still shocked me.
Apparently, on his birthday, his car had been parked in a no-parking zone, while he and his friends had tea at some restaurant. When they came out, they found a cop giving them a ticket. They took the ticket and made some flippant remark. It got the cop worked up. Words were exchanged. And finally the cop booked them falsely on charges of attempt to assault a policeman, and took them to jail for the day. The next day they were out on bail, and the case is still doing the rounds of the Indian court system. Deepak talked about how people were calling him up to wish him for his birthday, while he was sitting in the lockup. He had to lie to his family and some of the close friends telling that he was out partying with friends and could not come home for the night! Damn, that must have sucked. All this over just a small flippant remark!
Anyway, we went to the Garuda Mall and bought tickets for the movie Ekalavya. This would be my first visit to a multiplex in India. I did some clothes shopping as Shopper's Stop, as there was lot of time for the movie to start.
We did something stupid when we were shopping. We were told that if our purchases totalled upto Rs 2500, we would get 5% cash back. At first, I had bought stuff for only around Rs. 1500. So, I decided to buy one more item I liked. That brought our total just Rs. 3 short of Rs. 2500. So, we had to buy some other small item. The cheapest small item there was a set of 5 handkerchiefs for Rs. 100. I bought that. It was only later that I realized what a fool I had been. I was surprised that Deepak, who is usually very calculative, had also not been sharp enough this time. Perhaps, he was tired of just hanging around while I spent time picking up clothes for myself.
The 5% cash back from Rs. 2500, amounts to Rs 125. I had purchased handkerchiefs worth Rs. 100, just because I was Rs. 3 short of the eligibility for cash back. That effectively made my cash back amount just Rs. 25! It gets worse – I did not have to buy the handkerchiefs to make up for the shortage of Rs. 3 at all. The tax on my purchases was more than enough to get me comfortably over the Rs. 2500 mark. But it gets even worse than that – I just checked my bank statement from Feb, and discovered that Citibank has not given me cash back, like they were supposed to. Grrr! I am going to write to them now!
Feb 19th, 2007I went to the Bangalore University campus with my father today, to get the transcripts of my B Sc course. My father had previously called up somebody in the University office, and they had asked him to send me to the University when I was in India, along with an application form I could get from my college. They told him that it was not a big deal to get the transcripts. I just had to get the form from my college and submit it at the University office, and I would get the transcripts. The way the guy had explained the process to my father, my father got the impression that it would all be done within a day! Great expectations from bureaucrats!
Our first stop was at my college office to get the application form. The idiots in my college office did not even know what a transcript is. They did not understand what I wanted, and they said they don't have any forms for transcripts. I explained to them what a transcript is. They said if I have a format for the transcript, I should bring it and show it to them, they would themselves prepare the transcript in that format and give it to me. My dad and I decided to go check at the University office.
We reached there at around 1 PM or so. We met the guy with whom my father had talked on the phone. We were told that we should first pay fees for the application form to apply for the transcripts and for the transcripts themselves, at the State Bank of Mysore branch on Avenue Road. Then, we should bring the receipt from the bank to the University office to show them that we had paid the application fees. They would then give us the application, which should be taken to my college for my Principal's signature. The duly signed and authorized form should then be submitted back at the University office, along with copies of my degree certificate and marks cards, envelopes for the transcripts, and the receipt from the bank showing that I had paid the fees for the transcripts.
We paid the fees at the bank, showed the receipt at the University office, got the application form and took it my college. The University has a common application form for all types of documents – to get duplicates of marks cards or certificates, corrections to them, re-grading of exam answer scripts, transcripts, etc. This application form is available in all the colleges under the purview of Bangalore University, including my college. The idiots in my college office did not know it was this form that we were asking for only because they did not know what the hell a transcript was. If only they had known that it was this form, we could have filled it out during our first visit to the college and submitted it at the University office, during our first visit there. Now, we had to visit both the places twice. After getting the principal's signature, my father and I came back home. I will have to take the application form to the University tomorrow, as it was already quite late. I also discovered that Mr Borgalli, the Physics lecturer from my college days was the Head of Department for Physics now, and he was also signing forms on behalf of the Principal.
Oh, for the record, I think the fees for each set of transcripts at Bangalore University is Rs. 150 or so. I forget the exact amount. The fee for the application form itself is Rs. 10.
Feb 20th, 2007Met Vikram first thing in the morning, opposite Malleshwaram club, next to the Malleshwaram grounds. I was using my father's Kinetic Honda to ride around. He took me to the Bullet service shop behind Nataraja Talkies, where he had given my Bullet for servicing. My Bullet was in good running condition. It just needed a little bit of work here and there, battery recharging, brakes, lights and electricals, rear view mirrors and small stuff like that. The guy at the shop told me that it would be ready next day.
From there, I went to the University and submitted the application form for my transcripts. They told me that it would be available for me on Monday, Mar 5th. But I was leaving back for the US on Sunday, Mar 4th! They told me that I could go by and check the week before Mar 5th, to see if it was available. If I was lucky, I might get it. I cursed my luck for missing it by just 1-2 days. If only my college office guys had given me the application form the first time I visited them yesterday, I might have been able to submit the application at the University yesterday itself, and I would have gotten my transcripts on the Friday or Saturday before I left India on Sunday! Damn!
From the University, I went to meet my old and very good friend Brij at his office on Lavelle Road. He has been my friend from my days in Wipro. I think I met him in 1998 or 1999, when I still worked in Wipro's MG Road office. There was an instant friendship between us since then. Brij took me for lunch at the Woodlands Hotel. They have a very good South Indian lunch there. It is simple, homely fare. The dining room itself was quite small and very plain. I was quite surprised. Woodlands is supposed to be a big, 5-star hotel, and I had expected a far richer ambience and food. But I was not disappointed, though. The food was very good. Just the kind of homely South Indian food I love and yearn for.
After lunch, we walked back to Brij's office and spent some time chatting there. Then, I left his office, proceeding for my roommate's home in JP Nagar. I took the Bannerghatta Road to JP Nagar, and for the first time, rode across the IBM office on Bannerghatta road. I felt very touched and almost wept when I saw that office because it brought back memories of my girlfriend, Sh, talking to me from there. It was when she was working there that I ran into her online. It was from there that we had our many arguments and disagreements. It was there that she wept so many times, in so much pain. I felt like stopping my Kinetic Honda there and weeping myself. But I pushed on.
After spending a few minutes on the wrong road, I found my roommate's home. Her parents were expecting me. I spent a few minutes there talking to them. Then I picked up the stuff they wanted to send with me for my roommate and for our home use.
From there, I came home, dropping by my grandmother's house on the way.
Feb 21st, 2007This morning, I went with my father to the Bullet service shop. On the way, we bought a helmet for myself, from a curbside seller near Vivekananda college. The traffic police in Bangalore have finally come round to strictly enforcing the helmet rule for all riders of two-wheelers. This is something they had been trying to do for a long, long time... almost from before I was born, I think. All previous attempts had been half-hearted, largely ignored by the public, before the cops gave up. But this time, it was being strictly enforced. In fact, I myself wore helmet for the first time in my life during this trip to India, when riding my father's Kinetic Honda. It was darned awkward and uncomfortable. The guy who sold us the helmet quoted a price of Rs. 480 for it. My father insist that we would pay only Rs. 300. I thought that was a difference from his quoted price. If I was alone, I think I would have paid Rs. 400. The guy asked for Rs. 400 and then Rs. 350. But my dad was quite adamant, to my surprise. He knew the going rate for helmets and the guy agreed to that rate without too much trouble.
Then, we got my Bullet. I felt so happy to be riding it, although I also felt a little awkward and shaky because I was riding it after at least two years. But it's amazing how quickly I got back the hang of riding it in that Bangalore traffic, which was heavier than ever. I took the Bullet home and had lunch. After lunch, I met my friend Nagendra and together, we went to the RTO office in Rajajinagar to get the fitness certificate for my 1984 bullet. We reached there at around 3 PM, and we were told that we had to come at 10 in the morning to even get the application form for the fitness certificate. I got the emission certificate for the Bullet from a private emission testing center opposite the RTO office. Then, I returned home via my grandmother's house.
My grandmother is not keeping too well. She seems to have grown so much weaker and older in just the past few years. The change is very swift and surprising. I can even see dark patches in her facial skin, which is a sure sign of very old age. I feel very sad.
I came home and chatted with my gf Sh over the Internet. It was not very pleasant. Something she said during the chat affected me very badly. I don't want to repeat what she said, but it was something she said might happen to her because of me. I literally felt my heart drop a couple of inches. I felt a constriction in my chest. I felt like I was getting a heart attack. I cried with much grief for what she had said, feeling so helpless and powerless and almost going crazy myself.
Feb 22nd, 2007I went to the RTO early today morning with Nagendra. He had to get his license renewed. While he was getting that done, I was approached by a middleman, an agent, who said that he would get my Bullet's fitness certificate done and delivered to my door for Rs. 1000. I settled on Rs. 750, on the condition that he did not have to deliver it to my door. I would come to the RTO, submit the forms and collect it myself. The actual fees to get it legitimately is Rs 500. But from past experience at RTOs, I knew that getting it through the straight road would involve a lot of difficulties and effort, and did not guarantee results. I was in India on a short 3-week visit. I did not have time to spend a lot of time trying to get a fitness certificate for the pleasure of riding my Bullet and keeping it on the road for a long time. So, against my mind and heart, I agreed to go through the middle-man. When Nagendra heard about the amount I had settled for, he thought it was too much by at least Rs. 100.
The middle-man guided me on the process, the forms I needed to fill, what to fill in, etc. Otherwise, he was not of much help. I had to stand in all the lines to get the forms, submit them, etc. Nagendra told me that I did another mistake by giving the guy the money in advance. If I had not done so, the guy would have done all the legwork for us, he said. What the hell! Nagendra was standing right in front of me when I gave the guy the money. If Nagendra knew that I should not give it to him in advance, he should have stopped me right then. Anyway, it was too late now.
We got and filled up the form to get the fitness certificate. But before we could submit the form, I had to get my Bullet insured. Now, this was a tricky situation for us. The RTO won't give us fitness certificate without insurance. And the insurance company would not insure the Bullet without a fitness certificate, or so we were told.
Nagendra took me to an insurance company a couple of miles away, where he thought he knew somebody. We went into the insurance office, the officer there would not even look at the Bullet. He flat out refused to insure it because it was from 1984. I was disappointed. Nagendra asked around about the guy he was supposed to know in the office. Somebody told us that the guy had gone to a 'Xerox shop' close by and he should be back soon. We waited for him outside. He came soon enough, met us, told us that he could get it done. He went inside, came out with some forms for me to sign. About half an hour later, I had the insurance papers for my Bullet. Without anybody even taking a proper look at it! The insurance fees was Rs. 393. The guy who helped us refused to take money because he knew Nagendra. But I was so happy and relieved, I insisted that he take Rs. 100.
On the way back to RTO, Nagendra and I had lunch at the MTR restaurant near Bhashyam Circle in Rajajinagar. It was very good limited lunch for Rs. 40.
By the time we came back to the RTO with the insurance papers, it was too late to get my Bullet inspected for fitness certificate. Apparently, two-wheeler inspections happen at 11 AM in the morning, the middle-man told us. What the hell! Why didn't he tell us that before? I was so angry. But there was nothing to be done now. We would have to come back again tomorrow.
In the evening, I met A, whom I had first seen on the 14th. I did not really want to meet her. But having met her in person once before, I did not feel good brushing her off over the phone. I decided to meet her in person and tell her my feelings. I picked her up from the Gangenahalli bus stop. We went to Sankey Tank. I was really impressed by the clean-up work that was done in and around Sankey tank. It was pleasant and popular park-like place now for people to visit, walk and hang out. I spent much of the time quietly enjoying the lake, the trees, the birds, the birds' nests, etc. Later A would tell me that while I was enjoying the place, she was observing how I was enjoying the nature.
From Sankey Tank, we went to Shanti Sagar at Bhashyam Circle in Sadashivanagar. We had chaats and icecreams. The bill came up to Rs. 144. The service staff at the restaurant would not allow us to talk in peace. They kept pestering us to buy something. Very irritating. Nevertheless, I managed to tell her that I was in no position right now to start any new relationship, especially not a relationship like ours, which was kinda-sorta arranged. I told her that I was still emotionally tied up to my feelings for my gf. But she did not want to let things go abruptly like that. She did not try to force me or plead with me, to give her credit. She reasoned that may be if we got to know each other better and spent more time talking to her, my feelings might change. I told her that I did not think so, I did not see that happening any time soon, and I did not want her to wait indefinitely for me. Finally we agreed that she could wait for a month and a half, and if my opinion had not changed by then, she should move on.
News as of May 16th: As things turned out, I did not wait for a month and half. Pretty soon after I came to the US, I told A that her wait for futile. I came to know from my mother that her family was very disappointed with my decision. Even later, she told me that she was quite disappointed too. But it did not take long for her to find somebody else, who lives and works in Bangalore. She will be getting engaged to him soon. I hope she will have a nice and happy married life. She is a nice and pleasant person, might have probably made a good wife for me (I did not have any complaints about her as a person). But my heart was not into her. My heart is tied up elsewhere. As I mentioned in
this post, I don't want to compromise on love.
Feb 23rd, 2007Went to RTO in the morning, along with Nagendra. After waiting from 10 AM to almost 1 PM, the inspector who was to inspect the vehicles for fitness certification came up. He walked around my Bullet. Then we had to wait for another half an hour or more before he said my Bullet had cleared the inspection. I would be getting the Fitness Certificate at 3 PM tomorrow. I got the receipt from the RTO office. Then, we parked my Bullet at Kumar's house. Nagendra and I went to Bangalore Central to shop for clothes for myself, for my sister's wedding. On the way to Bangalore Central, we stopped at this new restaurant called Halli Mane in Malleshwaram. The place was jam-packed, totally crowded. It seemed to be very popular. The food was very good. There were signs all around which advertised the attention to cleanliness and hygiene at the restaurant. I had their limited plate meals for Rs. 12, plus a
raagi mudde for Rs. 5. Both were awesome. The
payasa made of
gus-guse was the best of all!
I took 2 hours to choose two shirts, two pants, and a kurta-pyjama set at Bangalore Central. Nagendra got very impatient during that time. Later he would claim that I spent 4 hours to shop! It was pretty late in the evening by the time we finished. By that time, my parents had called Nagendra's cell phone 2-3 times.
Today, we had the
nalungu ceremony for my sister S, who is getting married soon. This is the ceremony in which all the women of the family, and female relatives and friends, apply turmeric paste, sandal paste, flowers, rose water and other traditional cosmetics to the face, arms and legs of the bride.
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