Bangalore Woes

As I sat in the auto rickshaw, waiting for the traffic to shift, I saw a rich man inside a classy SUV throw a paper cup out of the window, as the passersby looked on. Long hours in traffic do that to you, I thought. I wanted to go and howl at the man, but I was worried what if the traffic moved. The autowallah forbade me to do it. I kept sitting, looking at my watch every now and then.

It had been 3 hours, and I hadn't moved even 20 kms. People in smaller cities with less conveniences, manage to cover 90 km in 3 hours. And here, I, in a city like Bangalore, was stuck in the traffic, staring out, looking at faces, and wondering what must be their story!

This write-up could be a mockery, or an angry rant, but I thought, there is no point in complaining. Things are not going to change! So I thought, let this be a plea, instead, to all those who dream of leaving the tier 2 cities and coming to bigger cities like Bangalore with a dream of making it big!

Believe me, it's only an illusion!

What is so good about Bangalore anyway? The weather? Yes! IT WAS! Not anymore. 9 ams are hotter than ever before even in October. Still, coffee talks are mostly about what a beautiful and wonderful city Bangalore was, and now what has it become. Everyone feels it, knows it, but no one is doing anything about it! Complacency!  Or perhaps nothing can be done about it.

The AC cars, and AC offices make up for the harsh weather. So, at the end of the day, there is nothing much to complain. But ask those who have seen Bangalore grow from only Malleswaram to a Whitefield, Electronic city and Hebbal, now!

Some also blame it on the North Indians, for coming here and making it so hot! As if!

...And the roads! Barely, two huge trucks can pass. Even on main roads, which apparently connect the city to the IT parks. If one vehicle happens to break down, and stop the traffic, then you have a perpetual limbo and you are stuck. You want to reach somewhere, but you can't.

Living near the techpark has its own difficulties. What if a couple have workplaces in two different ends of the city? Where do they stay?

I also feel very sorry for people who drive to work all alone, in their posh cars. Effectively 1 car, 1 person occupies the space of 5 people. Did we never know what carpool as a concept meant? The local transport is one of the strengths of Bangalore. Perhaps the only! But people don't use it. Or maybe they do, but that is overcrowded too and it's a pain to commute long distances hanging and standing in the bus.

Then what is the solution? Metros? Well. They made that too. Phase 1. And that connects the most minimally used areas of the city. People take a metro ride for fun. There are hardly any workplaces in the areas where the metro is operational. Phase 2 is in progress, but who knows after how many generations will that materialize?

Water, Electricity! I don't even want to start writing on these topics. I have stayed in Central India, and Nagpur's temperatures cross 45 degrees in summer, and we have never faced a power cut of more than 2 hours! And in Bangalore it's 4-6 hours a day!

I did not even bother to find out what's going on. I know the Government is lousy. The state blames it on the center, the center blames it on the opposition and the opposition blames it on the state. And it's a vicious circle.

Why do I even elect such people I feel.

Perhaps, it’s entirely my fault. Not just mine; it's the fault of all the people who vote! And bring such incapable individuals to power. 

I have lived in Bangalore for over 3 years now, and my tryst with loving-hating and then loving this place has been an on and off affair. But this time, the feeling of dislike is kind of stagnating! I hope it doesn't deteriorate further.

My daily 15 min commute to work has been all that has kept me going. And people ask me what are your weekend plans! Boss, I'd rather stay home than spend 3 hours in a cab and reach to a place to hang out and then take a cab again struggle through the traffic and go back home!

I don't mind the tags.. Sloppiness.. I do!

Misophonia : Stage 4.

That's what I am suffering from. They say when any disease reaches stage 4- then there is no coming back. I knew something was really wrong with me. I did not realize it until my senses messed up. At one point I also thought that I was recuperating. But turns out, it was just a phase and then it slowly made its way to the dreaded stage 4. Now what next? I will die! Simple!

Well.. how, you may ask! Misophonia is a serious case of intolerance to certain noises. I am suffering from Misophonia PSMTN - stage 4!

It gives me this insane drive to yell a "PLEASE STOP MAKING THAT NOISE" to someone who relentlessly slurps, burps or chews loudly while eating. Rather, I don't even feel like yelling anymore, it's more of a push to kill a person. And then what happens when you kill someone?

You go to prison and you die. There.. Stage 4. Death!

That's how serious it is!

I remember my cousin telling me a name for this condition. I had no idea this was actually a disorder. But then, all disorders begin with no name, and then you have a name coined, usually based on the name of the first patient, or the first antidote that was ever produced. Or.. you know what... I really don't care! But they have a name and it's called misophonia and I have it! Period!

Sometimes, there needn't be a solution to disorders. Just get rid of those people around who cause you this disgust or pain or anger. But do we ever do that?

Sometimes, I feel, developing love and lots of love towards people will ease a lot of things. I've been at it! But this doesn't always work! You sometimes wanna shut them up, and feed them through a tube! I know that's a bad thing to say, but c'mon. You can't blame a person suffering from Misophonia! I am suffering - stage 4, and if people don't stop... I may die.. (you know that part right... kill'em-jail-hangedtilldeath-stuff!)

Boy! this rant is just a symptom perhaps!

I'll take a moment to pray for all the souls who suffer from this, and more so for people who are outright pathetic, have no manners and do not know how to chew the food and sip the beverage in the cup.. Good Lord grant them some sense!

And for me.. Well.. I'll see if I have any chance of living! Looks like there are new organic earplugs in market. That should help. Unless the Pharmacy industry decides to curb the distribution of natural remedies and shoves some medicines in the name of cure for Misophonia!

D-uh!

From Hating to Loving Priyanka Chopra!

I totally understand why guys love her. But I never understood when people spoke of her acting! I always found her to be a showoff as an actor. I thought she did too much, in the bollywood, which is anyway larger than life, and made her characters look like they had some speech defect.

Well, not so much a defect, than accent! It's evident everywhere, and it's annoying. I have not liked her in any interviews, award shows, the songs she's sung and not even in the movies!

I know it must be heartbreaking for her to read this, which I pray she never does.

But this part, now that I am going to write, I hope she does!

Dear Priyanka,

I have had a very detached journey of hating you and then loving you. It doesn't concern me what you do, and what you don't. I am not one of those people who would rush to watch a movie which stars you, nor would I follow you on instagram and watch what you wear and follow your style, which I think needs a lot of improvement!

I don't say I do not follow any Bollywood star. I do. But you are not one of them!

And do you know, why around a dozen more I know, do not like you? Because, girl, you don't belong here! You do not belong to the Indian Film Industry. You should be where you are right now! And you should have done that long ago!

With a lot of apprehensions, I did chance upon the first episode of Quantico. And I was surprised, that I found it very very interesting. Not the episode, but how easily you fit in there. Your acting was effortless. Less makeup and more realistic attitude towards portraying a character made it watchable. You looked like you were doing what you knew best. Talk in an accent you were most comfortable in. It did not seem like a show off!

And I loved the way you looked. Your stylist needs a huge applause for making you look so amazingly natural and bright on the screen. Your close-ups are intense, you rendering of emotions - impeccable and your screen presence - something which I think no other Indian could pull off in an American TV show along with International Actors!

I don’t find you fit for the Indian Film Industry. Or Perhaps, that role which would edify your abilities has not been written yet! Mary Kom was supposedly your best work. I disagree. I never liked you in any other movie other than Aitraaz.

But Quantico has me glued. Not because of any other reason, but you! And it’s strange, that I like it! You were never meant Bollywood, but a lot more. You’ve found your calling. Finally! Do not settle for less!