Bengaluru, better known as the IT capital and the Silicon valley of India now has a new tag. It now holds the title of a traffic nightmare too. Yesterday night, at around the same time (i.e. around 11), I was running for all my life was worth from one side of the Majestic bus terminus to the other. But before I tell the climax, let's go to the beginning of the story.
I had to come to Chennai by the Guwahati express. The train leaves at 11.30 pm from the Bangalore Central. Normally, it would take an hour from the Electronics City (where the hostel is) to the station. Being the soul of cautiousness that I am, I estimated a buffer of an hour and a half and decided to take a bus by 9. It must have been good enough to go, and possible come back (a tight squeeze). And we were (Vyshnavi and I) in a bus to the Town Hall at 9 pm.
It took us an hour and fifteen minutes to get to Madivala. The roads were so packed that if you stick a rat in there, and there would be no more space. Traffic at its best!!! At this rate, companies will have to start asking employees to stay over in the night and go back home once a while (better halves be warned)!!
The next part of the journey got even more interesting. We got off at Madivala and took an auto. He charged a ton (at this rate, he can set up his own company). As part of the tour package, he was supposed to bundle us into the station in half an hour flat. He decided to throw in an unguided tour of the back alleys and the gallis of Bengaluru. Under all that glitz and charm , the old city still thrives on. The autowala made a valiant effort; but to no effect. After all the fast (read as rash) driving, and my requests in Hindi (passable at its best), I came to know that he knows tamil when he told me.. "Saar, eppo vena erangi poidunga. Fulla jaam aagi irukkku" (Sir, get down now and walk from here. Fully jammed from here onwards).
I got down with Vyshnavi and started running/walking carrying nearly 10kgs of luggage, like as if it was doomsday, and I was getting away someplace else. It was nearly 3 kms (give or take half a km), and I made it in fifteen minutes. Given the fact that I am in the typical ISP physical shape, I am still not sure how I made it. Even tried some of that Rambo stuff of "No pain! No pain!" when my legs started giving out with all that running. I never boasted of being a chivalrous soul. That, combined with the fact that I might miss my train, I left behind Vyshnavi near the over-bridge in Majestic and poured in new speed.
I reached the train at 11.17 pm, 13 minutes before the departure time. I never knew I could do this. I was totally exhausted by this time. To rub it in, the train started some ten minutes late. Why does this happen to me?!? Why was the traffic this bad? Why did I have to run? Why did the train have to start late?
(Logging out! Can't stand reliving the whole thing again)
