Not So Much!

Too much water--don't like the rains all that much now :(

Red Earth and Pouring Rain

i love chennai in the hot, hot summer
i love chennai on rainy days like these
pouring cats and dogs, water on the roads,
sipping hot tea, and eating some bajjis.

Conked Out!

This just in: Our laptop just conked out. Just won't start--I'm typing from V.'s desktop.
It's frsutrating because, to be honest, digital makes me feel totally impotent. I keep switching on and off the computer--and that's all I can really do.
With analog, you could (note the tense here) somehow try to fix it--with video tapes, you could take the tape out, and clean it, and do something that made you think you could! But with DVDs, for instance, if it doesn't play, it's gone!
I'm beginning to rethink writing on the computer--maybe I should take printouts or something?
Anyway, wish us luck!

Serendipity

Too thrilled on Saturday.

I went to check out a sale of books in a local worn-out library on Arya Gowda Road, (doubles and triples of books, the owner said). I'd been there before, and hadn't found anything interesting, but just wanted something to do, and went there.

And lo and behold! Look what I found: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" by Mark Haddon.

I had been looking for this book for over a year, and had almost given up hope--Eloor didn't have it, nor did Crossword.

I also picked up a Danielle Steele novel, and get this: The Daniel Steele novel was Rs. 70, and the Mark Haddon book, Rs. 30 :)

Read it almost at a single stretch. It's a beautiful book about how humans have complicated lives for ourselves. It is narrated by a 15-year-old autistic child, and is funny, poignant (I've been wanting to use that word in writing forever), and thought-provoking at the same time. And what's more, it's a quick read! Highly recommended by me. Of course, if you don't get a copy anywhere else, I'll be glad to loan mine :)

11 km in 2 hours!

Coming back after a long day's work, without a mode of transport, is hell.

No car on Friday, nor a bike, and I travelled by 3 modes to get home--and it took me 2 hours! Would a brisk walk have been quicker?

7:00 p.m.: The rains. Totally unprepared for them.

Then, I walk from Ascendas to Tidel (auto guys asked for Rs. 170 to come to Mambalam. Y'day at 4 p.m., it was just Rs. 100, but today, it's the rain+time+traffic factor, they explained nicely.)

7:10 p.m.: I ask an auto guy at Tidel Park, and he asks for Rs. 140 (one would think Ayyappa samis would be more reasonable, but no, siree!)

7:15 p.m.: I take a share auto to Madhya Kailash, and realize, to my horror, that I have no change--only a 100-rupee note. (I hand it over to the share auto guy with trembling hands, but he's a king soul--he fishes out his last ten-rupee note and gives me the change.)

7:30 p.m.: Am waiting for a bus at Madhya Kailash bus stop. I take a super-crowded 5B, thinking I'll come to the T. Nagar Bus Terminus, and someone can pick me up from there (someone from home, that is!)

7:45: Traffic is choking, and we're still near Raj Bhavan. The bus splutters to a complete halt. A few guys get out and push the bus. In between, there's a small fight in the bus--a guy is accused of misbehaving with a woman. He says it's the crowd--it's not like he wanted to. Just peak bus traffic, as usual. The bus reluctantly starts, but soon gets going. Only, the traffic doesn't. I have moved to the front of the bus.

I'm trying to take a picture for this post, but the shake is too much. And I turn to see a man looking directly at the screen of my phone. Cannot expect privacy in a crowded bus--my life is a free-for-all screen in a crowded bus. Here's what it looked like, anyway.

The driver cribs about how irritated he is to drive these days--the traffic is just too much. "Veruppa irukku," he tells the guy standing next to him. The guy says, somewhat in reply, "Don't go to the extreme left of the road, and then try to go right, you'll get stuck." The driver bristles at this. "I know what to do--you don't have to tell me," he says, suddenly aware of his position. "Konjam vitta podhum (Give a camel an inch and he takes a metre)," he mutters. Passengers, it seems, must be just that, and understand the hierarchy of a bus ride--it's the driver, conductor, and then the passengers, in that order.

8:00 p.m.: The traffic has sort of eased. The bus speeds down Mount Road, but I start getting a bit claustrophobic. I need to get out. I get off at the stop before Saidapet. It starts raining heavily. I try to hail an auto--he won't come to Mambalam. The rain eases up a bit, and I walk in the general direction of home. I stop at McRennett's and get myself a bun.

8:15 p.m.: I consider autos that are lined up in an auto stand, but don't. Stand autos are notorious for their rowdyism, I hear. Must be strength in numbers, because isn't every auto man part of a stand, somewhere? I look at an auto that is standing in front of a tea stall, but a blind man is passing by, and the auto guy runs to help him. I pause, and keep walking. In two minutes, the auto stops in front of me, and he agrees to the fare--Rs. 50. I get in, and chat a bit with him. The traffic really kills them, he says. The ride is pleasant enough, and I'm at home at 8:45 or so.

P.S.: I like the rains, like when it's raining now, over the weekend :)

P.S. 2: I made the map, but not sure why--just seemed pretty cool.

What Worm?

Spotted this guy (is there a way to find out if it's a he or a she, with worms?), trying to come inside the house. Then, he promptly went away--haven't seen this kind before--anyone knows whether he's a safe worm to be around?

Was reminded, somehow, of a papaya, when I saw this one.

Cutest pic of Bruce

He's 6 months old now!