More than a handful of my friends have already warned me about taking a car in Bangalore traffic. It really is worser we can imagine. But I decided to give it a try myself.
So I finally decided on my own car and barely managed to get the one I wanted. Two months after the whole deal the car was still running scratch-less. People were surprised, as to, if I am actually using the car.
One day I was getting back home after my office. I always prefer roads where there are signals to the ones where drivers decide how to maneuvre. People, I have seen, get smarter when the get into the driving seat. They believe they are the only ones who are really busy. All the rest have to wait. And that makes them do a hell lot of circus on the roads. And the people who do them are mostly autorikshaw-walas.
I got a red signal at one of the junctions. I stopped my car to the left most side of the road, nearer to the foot path so that no one will overtake me from the left. A couple of seconds later, I heard a crashing sound from the rear side of my car. An auto rikshaw had actually banged to the rear left of my car, trying to get ahead of me from the left over the foot path. I suspect him believing his auto could really fly.
I was totally shocked, angry and upset. I stopped the car putting on the warning lights, and got out to blast at the auto driver. Meanwhile he somehow managed to get ahead of me and the signal suddenly went green. He shot across the road and tried to escape.
I started running after the auto. I believe I was breaking all my speed records. On the way I happened to see a traffic police officer. I told him that a hit and run case has occured with me. He left the traffic handling to the assistant and followed me.
I managed to reach the auto. Thanks to the slow moving Bangalore traffic. You can any day over take a Porsche walking infront of it, those are some rare occations when you get to be jealous of a pedestrian. I got the auto driver get the auto to one side of the road. A couple of other drivers also reached there. The traffic police also reached the spot. I went back and got the car also to the spot. I got a huge dent in the rear bumber. It could get me atleast 1500 bucks to get it fixed.
The police and the people around were talking in compromise terms. They started discussing among themselves in Kannada. Finally policeman told me in English that if I file a case, both the vehicles would be in the station for more than a week. I said I dont mind having my car in the station for a month even, till this gets settled.Finally leaving, I noted down his number and let him go. The rikashaw-walas might be doing a lot of anti social activities, like over charging the traveller, not going where you want but rather where he wants to go, and a lot more like that. But just take a moment. Think of how much he might be earning. Think of how extravagant a life we are leading. How much we spend without a cause or a reason. Yes, all these points never grant them the authority to do any kind of illegal activity, that is for sure. Still....(the thought lingers)..
The final smile that he granted me, when I let him go, made me feel that I got more than what I asked for.
Flight arrived at London on time. The customs checking had started and most of the security checks went through eventlessly.
Suddenly, one could notice the change on the face of the security official. They had identified something, that they couldnt identify in one of the baggages.
This was the time when my friend, Sas, went to pickup the exact same baggage. There she was greeted by an officer waiting to see the possesor of the bag.
The security officer opening the bag, asked
"excuse me young lady, could you please tell me what this would be?" and he handed out a cone like utensil, rolled in colourful paper. And Sas, was not not taken aback by a sudden question.
"Oh, yes. That would be the souvenier from home, India. It is a type of Indian chocolate."
"So, you say this is chocolate, right? Can I taste one of them?"
"Oh, sure. Carry on! I have enough with me."
The security personnel took out one and had a bite of it.
"But this does not taste like chocolate. It aint even sweet. What is this exactly".
"Oh I think you have never tried Indian food. There everything is spicy, even the chocolates. And this happens to be one of them."
"Is that so. Sorry ma'am. I thought.." The security officer's voice trailed off.
"It is fine. You can keep the piece if you would like to."
"Thank you. And have a nice day". Security officer, handed the bag to Sas and waved at her.
"Welcome", she said and walked off.
It was 2 weeks back that this British born and brought up girl had come down to India to attend a typical Indian wedding. Though born to Indian parents, Indian tradition was quite new to her. The music, the crowd everything aroused her curiosity. The thing which captured her the most was the mehndi pen. The cone like thing, used to paint on the bride's palms, the pen being filled with a herb which gave a colour when put on the palm.
Walking out of the airport, Sas couldnt control her giggles, imagining what mehndi would have tasted like.
