Bangalore rocks

I meant the rocks on the road, so many of them now thanks to all the construction!

The last three days or so, I have been experiencing the dreaded Bangalore traffic first hand. I first drove around the city on a motorbike without a licence ;) and faced buses, autorickshaws and other impatient bikers edging me off the streets.

Today was especially tiring. Our branch in Bangalore is right next to Hosmat hospital, my ride back home got delayed, so I decided to take a bus home. Left work around 5:30 PM, walked to Mayo hall and realized Residency road is a one-way! Walked up to M.G road, and I didn't see Majestic buses! Relutant to ask for help (this being our adda !) I roamed around a few minutes till I finally found the bus stand, only to see a thousand people waiting..

OK, so I struck a deal with two other commuters, hired an autorickshaw to Majestic bus stand and split the cost(pat pat pat). One of the guys just got his passport renewed, and gave two thousand rupees as a bribe. Our auto-wallah asked for 10 rs more than the meter reading, and our friendly neighborhood commuter flew into a royal rage. ;)

Majestic was as I remembered, thankfully. 96A still comes to the same spot, and still enters from the same place.. I was the first on the bus, jumping on to it just as it was entering the bus stand. By God, I felt alive again, remembering how I used to prowl around the bus stop during college days for the next bus to arrive, so I can run on to the bus and get a seat before the crowd hits. :)

Otherwise, life is good. I cant believe how much life happens in India. People's lives overlap, there are more things to do, more, oh many more pretty young smiling faces, family and social events.... It feels like I went into a shell in the US of A! Wonder if being released from prison after 2 years would feel much different than the way I feel now. Of course, the moola is a big difference...

And, I postponed my trip back to the US of A by a week, by popular demand from my colleagues (and meself). They are a spirited set of people.. Did I say we have a party tomorrow on the terrace, where everyone is arrive in patriotic clothes in honour of our Republic Day ? The flyer said "expect controversial things". Folks at work participated in a poll - " Most outstanding employee - who is the employee who is most seen standing outside!". Hehe.

Seriously, should I stay back ?