Worse follows bad. Everything went fine that dreaded Thursday. Little did we (me and a colleague) know when we thumped each others backs for the value we had added. The client was happy too who went on to say that it was a great day and some good work was done.
Someone up there had it all plotted for us. We set off to Rajajinagar from Whitefield at 1630 hrs. It was just beginning to drizzle and we ignored the sign and rode the bike singing "yeh shaam mastani.." and all that. We somehow reached the airport road and at Marathahalli, the traffic came to a standstill. We thought, with so many factory outlets (shopping options) around, we shouldn't get too bugged up and just like that we entered Woodlands show room. Out came four tees and a pair of shoes after forty minutes. The rain had subsided and the traffic was just the same.
We decided to move ahead and the drizzle graduated to a downpour and chose to remain that way for the rest of the evening! The traffic didn't reduce. It was the long weekend and every one in Bangalore had to reach the city railway station or the bus stand (which are opposite to each other).
On one hand, the rain was relentless, the traffic was in a state of high that I had to accommodate a wheel of a two wheeler on my right leg and a car rear view mirror constantly rubbed my ribs. (To help your imagination, I was on a motorcycle). Frustration built to extents unimaginable and I started talking with myself and others around me- the auto driver, his passenger (who was a malayalee and it was funny he said 8 O Clock in kannada, to which even the auto driver laughed). I spotted some one talking to the rain, turning skywards. The pillion, my colleague was abusing the bus driver, who in turn was abusing the conductor, while the conductor stood there absolutely clueless.
And then Krishnapavan came out of nowhere, like he always does. We chatted for a while, inching in first gear. We discussed the implications of Musharaff being impeached and the impact it could have on oil prices. All this and we had just reached MG Road! We had to stop for a snack. Rain water trickled on my back and when this was happening, I just couldn't stand in one position.
After we departed from MG Road, every road we took was crowded. It was as if it was the end of this world. Rain, traffic and one thing that we didn't want was puncture. No, it didn't happen.
I reached home at 2130, resolving never to touch the bike for another month.
11 comments:
maann.. I pity the pillion.. At least you had your helmet on..
btw, this might cheer you up - The Bangalore Metro project is apparently on schedule
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug182008/scroll2008081885180.asp?section=frontpagenews
Vinod, The pillion was non other than ram. Don't dare to laugh:(
Yewww. That was the worst. Reminded me of when I drove down from MG Road to Whitefield with it raining HEAVILY thruout the journey! This was through the K R Puram ITPL road, so to top it all, there were NO LIGHTS! I narrowly missed an accident, a bus passed by splashing water all over me and I lost sight of whatever little I could see for a whole minute, oh my god! At one point I thought I would never reach home!!! Glad you had a some one sitting behind you atleast!
I miss Bangalore with its traffic and rain and all. Esp the snack on MG Road. So did you use your bike in the last 48hrs?
Vinod: yes man, that news comforts, thanks.
Ram: whoever laughs, will invite the wrath. you know what I'm saying, don't you?
Aps: My my! That is worse. no lights either! I echo your feeling of "never reaching home". I was there on that dreadful evening. Without a pillion, I don't know what I would've done.
rafiki: twice, thanks to the auto strike and lack of buses on one particular route.
Do you really think things would have been better if you were in a bus???
Except for the shopping....
@Medhini:Bus? Why in the world?
Things would've radically different if I was in the car. The company would've arranged for one..
btw, Nice to see you here!
@ram: no wonder the pillion yelled at the bus driver
Vish, its terrible that you got stuck in the traffic on Thursday evening..I too took a route very close to the route which you took and about 30 mins earlier and man.. I had a lovely evening waiting for me :-) Dont curse the rain..its the traffic which is playing the villan.
Nandini
That was worst evening for me too ....i still remember that evening huffff
Hey yes, it was a horrible day for me too....had loads of work, all going wrong the whole day, to top it all, i was stuck in my vehicle (yes i missed the shuttle to work , so had to drive ) for 3.5 hrs on the same road (near Barbeque nation - koramangala) reached home only by 22:45 hrs IST :(
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