Prove the following - In Mumbai : Rains + Trains = Strains + Pains

Prove the following:

In Mumbai : Rains + Trains = Strains + Pains 
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Rains in Mumbai has lost its vigour, it had during the initial two weeks. Mumbai had welcomed me (who had came in here for the 'Water' course) with 40% of the total average rainfall, clouds bursting out in the first few days of the monsoon itself. After that havoc, its strength has reduced considerably. But that doesn't mean it has lost its ability to slow down the usual pace of the city for a day or two. Last Friday was one such a day. It had started raining from early morning. It was gloomy outside when I woke up in the morning and I was sure that I will have to carry umbrella. I hate carrying umbrella(even during my school/college days in Kerala and mild drizzles of Bangalore, I seldom carried it), unless it is really needed. It is difficult to carry it, difficult to keep it and easy to forget it. The thought of travelling in local trains with umbrella makes it more haunting, here in Mumbai. I prefer getting drenched in rain, than carrying this cumbersome device. I could sense the rain's "ability to slow down" Mumbai during morning train commuting itself. The crowd was much less in the stations and I got a seat in two out of three trains, I travelled during the morning rush hours. This was first such instance over the last one month. Thus it was a travel in the "Business Class" and I had felt blessed. 

Soon after the classes, there was a fun event organized by the TISS Counselling Team "Celebrating Mumbaiya Rains", where in there was a Mela, some games and also a Rain DJ. Most of the students enjoyed the concept of rain dance with many dancing to the tunes of the DJ drenching themselves in the rain and others viewing it from the balconies. It was a very well organized event, though I felt the selection of the songs could have been better. There were usual "Balma", "Munni Badnam Huyi", "Ringa Ringa" and few Punjabi beats, which kept on boringly repeating. Dinesh, Deepesh, Anubha, Vivek, Akhil, Apoorva were some of the fellow dancers. "Tip Tip Barsa Pani" was the only song related to rains, which was un-danceable number for an "below par dancer" like me. I too tried my usual steps(Jai Salim Kumar) in what in Kerala we call it as a "Koothara" event. After "celebrating" the rain, I decided to return back to Malad. My aunt had called me in the afternoon and had informed me that many trains had got cancelled due to heavy rains and hence to start early from TISS. I forgot that warning as I got too involved in the event. Now the question popped up as to "How to reach back to Malad?" It was around 7pm. Called up Elizabeth and asked her whether she is planning to leave. She accompanies me to Govandi railway station last few days, from where she catches a train to Nerul. Elizabeth was relishing the Kulfi (another Mela product) along with Nidheesh and her other friends(Anupa, Brinda, Aswati). Soon Nidheesh, Elizabeth and me left from there. Elizabeth and Nidheesh are from Public Health course and both are jovial Malayalees(conspiring regionalism :-)). Nidheesh stays in TISS hostel and before parting ways, three of us got involved in a discussion. The discussion was on the topic "Caste Reservation" with each having interesting(controversial?) views, that we stood there on the side of the main road under the umbrellas(yes, it was raining still) for around half an hour and debating on the topic. Elizabeth put an end to the discussion stating it's almost 8pm and that it is getting late. After saying bye bye to Nidheesh, we walked our way to Govandi station, got tickets to Nerul and Malad respectively. I was eager to check whether trains are running in the "Harbour Line", which is usually the one which is worst affected and the service gets cancelled in this route, in case it rains heavily in Mumbai. While on the ticket queue, found a train plying and I had a sigh of relief. My mobile had 2% charge. Called up my aunt and conveyed to her that I will be boarding the train and my mobile is about to switch off. She said as it was 8 pm and she will expect me to reach by 10 pm. Another train came just after getting the ticket, as the ladders were wet and slippery (and since the trains were aplenty) decided not to rush to catch it(Ahankaaram). Elizabeth's train came soon (train to the opposite direction) and she was fortunate to get into the less crowded ladies compartment sandwiched between fully packed "gentleman's" coaches. Usually there will be a digital time table of the next train as to where it is going and the expected time in all the stations and it works efficiently on all "normal" days. But whenever there is a delay or cancellation of services, this digital device always shows the timing as 00:00 which in a way states you are doomed and the train could arrive at any time or even not arrive. I got a non-wet seat after some search in the platform and waited for the train to come. My phone had dead and there was nothing much to be done rather than waiting for the train. Rain was pouring outside and the railway station speakers blared something in Marathi. From the message I could only sense the apology from the railway authorities, which I assumed to be because of the late running or cancellation of trains. The railway station slowly began to get crowded and I started to feel restless partly for not risking to catch the previous train. To make matters worse, 4-5 trains went past in the opposite direction. . At last after about half an hour wait, a train came moderately packed. The crowd outside was enough to make it fully jam packed. Got down at Kurla station and the situation was similar in the "Central Line" too. Trains were cancelled and the digital clock time table showed 00:00. Waited there again for 15 minutes. Train to Dadar was a relief and I got a seat to sit. Now the last part of my daily train expedition, the "Western Line". Here too trains had been cancelled. Here the digital time tables were not 00:00, but it showed a time one hour back. This digital time table also shows whether the next train is a Fast or Slow train. All the trains were showing up towards Virar that too Fast trains. Few of these trains stop in malad, where I need to get out. It was getting late and taking my chance I rushed into a Virar Fast and thought even if the train doesn't stop in Malad, will go and get out at Borivali, two stations after Malad and come back from there. I got a seat in the train and thought the drama for the day has unfolded. The train reached Andheri station. From here the train has to go slow(means have to stop in the minor stations, of which Malad is one), in case I want to get down at Malad. But soon the speaker blared that the next stop is Borivali. 

Moments after this, there was some sort of confusion in the entrance, where in I saw a person coming in to the train and getting out with a bag from the baggage section of the train. The train just about at the same time started moving and another person rushed towards the door exit crying that it was his baggage. People standing near the door prevented him from jumping from the moving train. He tried to pull the chain but the fellow passengers said there is no use getting out as the person who took his baggage had disappeared into the crowd. The next stop being Borivali, the passengers began to circle round the "victim". I too went near to the person trying to console him and discuss what could be done. Some said to check the other person's baggage. All the passengers took their baggage and the one that was left behind was a pink plastic cover. I got particularly afraid while they were searching the baggage as two day's back I had that "Bomb"ay incident and aftermaths. 

Two or three searched the bag and found that it has some spinach in it. Soon the discussions followed. 

Pass 1: Arey, woh tho yahin pe khada tha. Door ke aas paas. 
Pass 2: Woh chalke phir aaya, aur bag leke nikal gaya.
Victim: Mera purse, company id aur laptop uspe hein . (Frustrated, busy trying to call someone through his mobile, but couldn't get them) 
Pass 3: Ab kya kare. 
Me: RPF ko phone laga sakthe hein na?
Pass 1, 2 and 3: Usse kya hone wala hein. Woh chala gaya hoga.
Pass 2 to Victim: Chehra dekha aapne?
Victim: Nahin.
Pass 1: Meine dekha tha. Woh yahin pe khada tha. 
Pass 1: Aap bhi na. Kyun yeh purse, id card sab uspe rakhe the? 
Pass 2: Laptop bhi hein. Aur kyon baggage vaha pe rakhe. 
Victim: Meine andhar he rakha tha. Kisko patha kein ki utaake le jaayega wahaan se?
Pass 2 to victim:(Trying to console) Bale aadmi hein tho call karega. Uske andhar thera number hein na?
Victim: Haan. Sab kuch hein us mei.
Pass 1: Nahin tho samjho gaya. Lekin woh kyun bag leke baagega? Uski tho yahaan pe ek cover hein.

This conversation continued and Borivali station came where I got out. (Hope that guy got his baggage back). 

Borivali station was again crowd sea. So many people waiting for trains. The effect of delayed and cancelled trains was clearly seen as the clock struck 10:00. Here too the digital time table was running 1 hour late. Soon I realised that the same problem which I faced in Dadar was in here too. All the trains that were coming were Fast trains, means they wont stop at Malad. Miser in me prevented from going in an Auto to Malad from Borivali. I had crossed the deadline given to my aunt, ie of 10:00 pm and with no mobile charge to call her up, I was sure about wrath There was another person who seems like a food vendor, an old man who also wanted to go to Malad. He was conversing to me in Marathi as he found me also bound to Malad. Though I couldn't understand anything he said, I just nodded my head to everything he was saying. Two or three fast trains went past. I was getting restless and decided to board the next train whatever it may be. 

In the digital notice board, for the next train it was mentioned as it will stop in Malad in one side and it won't stop in Malad in the other side. This added to the confusion. I decided to try my luck once again. Boarded into the train. The old man kept on asking me whether it will stop at Malad, but I didnt had an answer. I just said to him: "Dekh lethe hein, nahin tho Andheri jaakar, wahan se vaapas aa jaayenge." He rubbished me in Marathi and went on to ask others the same. Later I recognised that he had his vessels with him which would be difficult to carry if in case he had to get down and board another train. The train was not going to stop in Malad only for me and thus, I shuttled back to Andheri. I had to wait another 10 minutes there. There were many dogs lying around and I fondled it caringly. It was almost 10:40 pm and atlast a slow train came to Borivali. Slowly but surely, it reached Malad at around 10:55pm. There was a shared auto waiting for a person. Got into that and I reached my aunt's home at 11:15pm. They were surely tensed and I didn't describe all this to them to make matters worse . Was feeling horribly hungry after all this ordeal and hence gobbled up the delicious, home made dinner and went to bed.

Thus In Mumbai:
Rains + Trains = Strains + Pains 
Hence proved.

"Bomb"ay...

The class got over early today and as a result was returning back to Malad before the rush hours begin. As a result could see the spacious interiors of the train and also got the rare opportunity to rest my weight on my buttocks in the train seats(I travel in 3 trains, remember). After a smooth ride from Govandi to Kurla and Kurla to Dadar, I took the third train to Malad. It was a Virar Fast and got a seat in spite of a crowd, thanks to an empty train. The train left Bandra and Andheri and the un-embodied lady voice in the speaker said "Poodil station Borivali". Borivali station comes two stations after the Malad station. Being a fast train, this train was not going to stop at Malad, just for my sake. Cursing myself for not getting down at Andheri to get another slow train, I hoped that TTE(have not seen him in local trains till date) wont find me in Borivali. Soon after the train left Andheri, suddenly there was a blast. People standing near the door as well as few sitting panicked and started to run towards the other side saying "BOMB". I too thought something has went wrong, though didn't get up from my precious seat(chathalum vidilla(wont give the seat, even if dead) :-)). Soon there was an alcoholic smell all around. :-) Somebody was carrying a Beer bottle and it had broke due to pressure. Everyone started to laugh around realizing this and one mockingly said this is not allowed in train and we should call 1311(RPF number). Soon there were discussions and comedies regarding the same.

Passenger 1(a middle aged man): Arey, mein tho socha bomb phat gaya?
Passenger 2(another middle aged): Haan bhai, mein bhi tho dar gaya thaa.
Passenger 3(an old man drenched one side with beer): yadhi bomb hua ho tho mera sar phat gaya hotha.
Passenger 1: aap hee nahin sabhi ke sar phat gaya hotha.
Passenger 1 to Passenger 4(the one with a broken beer bottle and seemingly broken heart): RPF ko phone laga dhoom? Beer train pe laana mana hein. Patha hein naa.
Passenger 4:
Passenger 2: Chalne dho yaar.
Passenger 1 to Passenger 3(the old man): Aapse, beer ki badhbhu aa rahi hein, aapki biwi aaj daandegi aapko.
All passengers including me

Soon Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Malad and Kandivali stations pass through, and people including me started to move towards the door to get down at Borivali. The whole place was full of Beer and there was an intoxicating smell all around.

Passenger 5: Arey kissi police ya TTE aaye tho kya bolenge?
Passenger 2: Bol denge ki dharu ka bhaarish aaya thaa...

Everyone including me laughed once again and all got down at Borivali... :-)

Thank God I am alive. After all laughter improves longevity of life :-)

Escaped from the TTE(if there is any) at Borivali station and took another train back to Malad.

Trains, trains come again…

Mumbai local train lines are divided into mainly three - Western, Central and Harbour lines. These are parallel lines and to reach a destination in another line, we need to change trains at few of the common stations. Malad comes in the Western Line, while Govandi, the stop near to TISS comes in Harbour Line. So to go from Malad to Govandi in train means I will have to change trains twice and thus travel in 3 trains. I usually get a train from Malad to Dadar(Western Line), then Dadar to Kurla(Central Line) and from there again another train to Govandi (Harbour Line). There is another way the number of trains traveled can be reduced to two, but that doesn't seem to be time efficient. Hence I usually take this three train approach. This non availability of a straight train had compelled me stay at a place near to TISS, though the expenses are more. I had been in Malad at my aunt's house last whole week owing to the need of Internet to do my IBM work. This made me travel to and fro TISS in the local trains of Mumbai and experience the rush hours, both in the morning and in the evening. Trains come and leave almost every 5 minutes at any station, up country or down. People bulging out of the trains are a usual scene during these hours. Some seem to love this as it is airy than the suffocating insides.

Mumbai train commuting has made me spell bound, to say the least. Mumbai is the densest city in over populated India and the local trains in here are even denser. By far it might be the most efficient public transport system available in this world. Not only because these trains run on time and ticket charges are less but also because of the fact that it is used to its maximum capacity by the people. The train charges and nil blocks are perhaps the main reason why people opt this service even if they need to fight it out everyday with other people. Rains do reduce the time efficiency, with cancellation of services especially in the Harbour Line, but that doesn’t dent these services being the life line of Mumbai. All varieties of crowd can be seen in a jam packed train if we go at 9:00am. From college/school students, fish sellers, IT professionals, Bank Staffs, blind, deaf, differently-abled, wannabe directors, actors, all have made this part of their life. There are two types of services – Fast and Slow. Fast trains stop in few of the main stations, while slow trains stop in all stations. During rush hours, there is a heavy demand for faster trains. Each train has compartments meant for ladies, differently abled, first class and general. There are 12 compartment trains as well as 9 compartment ones. Moreover there are some trains exclusive for ladies.

All railway stations I felt as neat and tidy, as per our Indian standards. All the railway stations have food joints, where they serve all Pav varieties, Lime, Orange, Kokam juices and other namkeens. The next train timing can be seen in the platforms and also the speaker blare moments before any train come, as to which time it is of and where it is bound to.

You need to be fast, furious and more over physically and mentally agile in case you need to get into a crowded train. I am more of a safe traveler, who prefers to miss the train rather than clunging on to it. Being a bit fat commuter in Mumbai is a crime, especially if you are traveling in the local train. Anyways even if you are fat and manage to get inside, you will be squeezed to the portion allotted to you. Carrying a baggage again is considered an offense and in case you have one, it has to be within the space allotted to you by others. Most compartments have the station indicator installed, which blare out before every station reached. “Poodil station Malad followed by Agala station Malad“. The train stops for roughly 20 seconds in each of the stations. But as a matter of fact, it is advisable to make your way to the exit 2 stations before, in case you want to get down. Twice or thrice I have missed the station, simply because I had not prepared to get out well in advance. In any case verbal abuse is sure. Verbal abuse in various languages, you will get to learn in a crowded train. There is virtually no regards to people who are differently abled kid or a woman, but better I don’t generalize all.

Rains + Trains = Pains in Mumbai. As mentioned above, trains run late in case there is heavy rain. Moreover people become more frenzy and aggressive. Even if it is an empty train, the crowd has developed the habit of mad-rushing into the train.
Just mentioning a recent “decent” conversation between two fellow commuters to give an idea of how the trains are interconnected to the everyday life (& perhaps death) of people in here. Though I couldn't see any of them, found the conversation interesting. It was the one which I heard as the train started from Malad. It was raining and I too rushed inside the train from Malad railway station like many others. A person was hanging out of the train, getting drenched in rain outside and this conversation was between him and a sympathetic person inside.

Man Inside: Arrey, kyun aise latak ke aa rahe ho? Agale train pakad saktha tha naa, thu?
Man Hanging: Kaam keliye dher ho rahi hein. Is train choot gaya tho, late ho jayegi… Kaam choot jaayegi phir…
Man Inside: Train choot gaya tho, late ho jayega ya kaam choot jaayegi, uthna hi, yadhi thera hath choot gaya tho zindagi choot jayegi…

"Zara hatke! zara bachke! yeh hein Mumbai meri jaan... "

Sorry for the delay in posting my whereabouts...

Still in the transition phase, so traversing safely and slowly here in Mumbai... ( "Zara hatke! zara bachke! yeh hein Mumbai meri jaan... " :-))

Lazy Calm Bangalore to Speedy Crazy Mumbai... IT City to City of Dreams... Boring IT work to interesting Water lectures. Namma Bengaluru to Aamchi Mumbai... Salubrious drizzles to Torrential cloud bursts... Guro to Bhau... Bisi Bele Bath & Khara Bath to Vada Pav & Pav Bhaji... City Volvos & BMTC buses to Local trains & BEST Buses... Employee to Student... Salaried spend thrift to Unemployed judicious spender...

TISS life going great, so far. Water Policy and Governance course comes under School of Habitat Studies. Thus after 7 years, back to school, with the same eagerness cum nervousness of a Kinder Garden student in the month of June. Heavy monsoon, new umbrella, sitting in class with drenched clothes, French Open and Wimbledon makes things even more eerie and similar. TISS campus has a lots of trees. Birds like bulbuls, magpie robins, sparrows, mynahs, crows, cuckoos have made it their home.

Bonnet macaques, dogs, cats and squirrels roam freely in the campus. They too have their rights in here and should not be shooed away. But few Homo Sapiens do murmur/feel irritated when these four legged friends try to socialize with them in the canteens.

I am the lone South Indian in the class of 12 (4 engineers, 2 BCAs, 1 Law Graduate, 1 Geologist, 1 architect, 2 Science Graduates -> 3 girls, rest all boys). About 12 classes each week, but lots to read before the lectures. Over last 2 weeks, introductory classes of Science, Law, Policy, Development, Financial, Philosophical aspects of water, were taught. Development, Science, Policy and Law classes are interesting. Financial course a bit tough. The class room strength varies from 800 students (when the whole batch is taught Philosophy, Research Methodologies at the Convention Centre), 100 students (Policy aspects taught along with other courses like Urban Policy, Regulatory Governance under the Habitat school) or 30 (Law taught along with Regulatory Governance course). This gives an insight of the inter-disciplinarity these courses offer. Plenty of people from varied streams and background.

A film by Sanjay Kak "Red Ant Dream" was screened last week. The director was present after the film for a talk. Had a small talk with Dr. Binayak Sen (had met him in Bangalore some 1 year back at Bangalore, so shared that experience), while both of us were searching for the room where this film was being screened.

The accommodation is quite near the campus. To make some sense as to how near, the TISS Wifi reaches our home . At Deonar Farm Road. Couldn't see any farm in and around. Seems the farms have been converted into apartments. The owner is one Sunil from Irinjalakuda. Rent: whopping 31000 per month. This will be divided among 6 of us. Out of 6 room mates, 3 dentists (who are into School of Health, out of whom one is an Angamalikkaran, one from Chandigarh, another from Jaipur). 2 others from Pune (one into Disaster Management course and another a TISS passout, working in Mumbai). Yet to get the rental agreement. Net connection needs to be installed(The TISS Wifi is too feeble and only one laptop can connect, at a time). Yet to take a Mumbai telephone connection.

IBM work is in tatters. Finding it difficult to sail with legs in "Randu Thonis"... Hope last day of my employment, July 30th comes soon and without much wrath from office.

Food: From TISS Dining Halls. As it is at any other educational place canteens, here too food taste varies from moderate to horrible. Curd/Buttermilk seems haraam in here. Soya curry which I ate yesterday was more of eraser put in some curry. Hope to influence my room mates with the idea of cooking food at least at night. Mani Chithappa/Pushpa Chithi prepared food provides reprieve during the weekends.

TISS surely is a social science paradise with its 40+ different disciplines. Have made friends with fellow students of Media and Culture, HR, Disability Studies, Disaster, Hospital Management, Women Studies, Tribal Studies, Social Work and of course many from my own Habitat school. A healthy population of people with varied background, from almost all states in India and also few from abroad.

WiFi....then Wi Not??

Traveled in a compartment (perhaps a train) with about 80% software professionals. WiFi in trains may be an opportunity to utilize the idle wo(man) hours for perhaps nations good. I feel majority of them carry their laptops with them too. Just as we can mention whether a doctor or not, in irctc website, while booking (oops after booking, considering the booking rush), it could be mentioned whether a IT professional or not. Work could be perhaps utilized for rural development activities and rewards could be a free IRCTC train ticket for every 40 hrs worked. There is a sense of satisfaction and also huge loads of team work involved I suppose, if we have such a venture.

Dear MBA friends of mine, get some business plan for the same and add on with your views.

Politically tense!!

Travelling alone in a bus, I always think of weird things...

Two politically sensitive issues have their prototypes in long distance semi sleeper buses...

Prerequisite: Window seat and aisle seat passengers could be regarded as two different states...

A. The window seat passenger always has the upper hand in controlling the incoming air flow. This could affect the aisle seat passenger. Relate this with the kaveri water problem, mullaperiyar issue or Indo-China water diplomacy. There have been strains between me and my co passengers on numerous occasions. So no wonder the states quarrel each other over the natural resources...

B. The common hand rest for the window seater and aisle seater also provides another interesting political scenario. It is very difficult to partition it and there usually will be silent fights over this piece of 'land' particularly at night between the right hand of one and left hand of the other passenger. No marks for guessing where I am going to relate this to... :)

Fighting continues between me and my aisle co mate...

Breakfast with a Chef:

Bangalore is (in)famous for its IT professionals. The population of IT and ITES professionals is so much that there are even quotes stating:

"If you throw a stone randomly, there is every chance that it will hit a dog or a Software Engineer. While the dog may or may not have a strap around its neck, the Software Engineer will definitely have one."

(This doesn't imply you can throw a stone on a dog or a Software Engineer, to check if it is valid. Furthermore sorry to poor dogs for being compared to Software Engineers and moreover dogs are much worthier than Software Engineers. )

But Bangalore does have many other non software professionals too who come from far and away the globe to make a living. Yesterday I had a rendezvous with one such non-Software professional working in Bangalore.
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There are many ways to go to office in Bangalore. From your own private vehicles to public transport and semi public transport vehicles. Semi public are otherwise known as cabs and ply taking charge >= the public transport charge. They are mostly sought by the office goers at peak hours, since they are comfortable, less crowded, fast and can squeeze through the crazy Bangalore traffic.

As usual on a cool, winter,lazy late morning(11 am), I got into such a cab yesterday and was sitting at the last row browsing FB in my smart phone. I was deeply into the posts, likes and comments, when the person next to me excused me and asked whether I will give him my mobile to make a call to his superior. Though I usually decline such requests when at a walk, I thought it was safe enough to give my mobile to him in a moving vehicle. The man had a North Eastern look(not being racist) and seemed genuine. He said his mobile had been switched off and wanted to inform his superior that he will be late to work. I gave him the mobile and he called his senior and informed him. After the call he promptly gave me back the mobile and conveyed his thanks.

As usual we got stuck in the traffic and were snailing past Maruthi Nagar. I decided to have a chat with my North Eastern friend.

Me: "Aap kahaan pe kaam kar rahe hein?"
NorthEastFriend: "Mein Leela Palace mein kaam kar raha hoon"
NEF: "Wahaan pe khaana bhanaatha hoon mein."
Me: "Acha aap wahaan pe chef hein?"
NEF: Haan
NEF: Wahaan pe head chef hein. Unko hi phone kiya tha mein.

I was amused to get an interesting co passenger to chat for the rest of the journey.

Me: Aap kahaan se hein?
NEF: Mein Darjeeling se hoon.
Me: Tik hein
NEF: Aap kahaan pe kaam karthe hein?
Me: Mein IBM me... Software Engineer(yuck!! his stone hit me.)
NEF: Tik hein.
Me: Aap yahaam pe kithne saal se kaam kar rahe hein?
NEF: Che maheene se kaam kar rahaa hoon. Darjiling me padaa tha usse pahele.
Me: Acha, aap hotel management pade the?
NEF: Haan.. Diploma ek saal ke.
Me: Oh.. Baarah(12th) ke baad join kiye the kya?
NEF: Haan.

It came to my mind that I had not asked him his name.

Me: Aapka naam?
NEF: Vijay Rana.
Me: Mein hoon Sridhar.
Me: Acha, tho aap kya kya banaathe hein?
VR: Mein Chinese, Korean aur Japanese.
Me: Oh bhahuth acha.
VR: Head chef bhahuth ghussa vaala hein. Is liye hi phone karke bholna pada.
Me: No problem.
VR: Khaana banana hein naa. is liye hee
Me: Acha. Yeh Chinese, Korean aur Japanese aap college mein pade the kya?
VR: Haan.
Me: Whaan pe specialisation kiye?
VR: Haan wahaan pe hamare interest ke hisaab se chun sakthe hein.
Me: Tik hein
VR: Head Chef daant the hein sabko khoob. German wala hein.
Me: Acha, Germany se hein? Naam kya hein?
VR: Rrrudf. Couldnt hear him properly due to the honking of the vehicles in the infectious

TB(traffic block).
Me: Kyaa?
VR: Rudolf
Me: Achaa. Baahar ke log hein kya head chef?
VR: Haa. Indian log bhi hein.
Me: Tik hein.

Me: Aapko Head chef ban ne keliye kithne saal lagega
VR: Smiles...
Me: Kam se kam.
VR: Baarah saal lagega.
Me: Tho abhi se 11 1/2 years?
VR: Smiles again.
Me: Aaap aur head chef ke beech mein kithne sections hothe hein.
VR: He says some official bands which I couldnt hear as we had reached the next TB and

honks.
Me: Acha. Experience se ho jaaye ga
VR: Haan. Experience aur education bhi.
Me: oh. Tho Kaam ke saath padaayi bhi kar sakthe hein?
VR: Haan. Training hotha hein. Mein bhi gaya thaa Chennai training lene.
Me: Chennai mein. South Indian food ke?
VR: Nahin. Wahaan ke Leela Palace mein. Chinese, Korean aur Japanese ka hi.
Me: Oh training keliye bhi jaana hein?
Me: Aap Chinese, Korean aur Japanese hi banaathe hein?
VR: Haan.
Me: Iske siva, Indian nahin banaathe hein?
VR: Uskeliye alag se log hein.
Me: Oh sab keliye alag se group hotha hein?
VR: Haan.

VR: Trainings hotha rahtha hein, Chennai, Kerala, Mumbai..
Me: Mein Kerala se hoon. :-)
VR: Acha mein bhi gaya hoon Kerala.
Me: Oh
VR: Kovalam.
Me: Haan Vahaan ke Leela mein?
VR: haan vahin.
VR: Hamaare boss bhi Kerala ka hein.
Me: haan patha hein. :-)
Me: dekha hein ka aapne unko?
VR: Haan ek baar dekha hoon.
Me: Yahaan pe aaye the?
VR: Haan Bangalore Leela me aaye the.

Me: Achaa aapko Chinese, Korean aur Japanese mein kaunsa acha lagtha hein?
VR: VR: Korean.
Me: Yeh Korean Sushi vagera hotha hein naa?
VR: Sushi tho Japanese hein.
Me; Acha.. Woh bhi banaathe hein?
VR: Haan.
Me: Lekin bhahuth expensive hotha hein naa?
VR: Mainly vahaan pe bhahar vaalaa he aathey hein.
Me: Oh. Diplomats, Corporates, vagera...
VR: Haan. Five star hein na.
Me: Achaa yeh bathaayiye yeh 5 star aur 4 star mein kya phark hotha hein?
VR: Woh tho service aur comfort ke hisab se hotha hein. Rooms vagera.
Me: Mein food ke bhaare mein puch rahaa hoon. Kya alag hotha hein 5 star aur 4 star mein?
VR: Aisa tho nahin.
Me: Aap chaay vagera bhi banaathe hein naa?
VR: Uskeliye alag se pantry section hothe hein.
Me: Phir kithna hotha hein ek tea keliye :-)
VR: He smiles.
Me: 150 Rs hotha hein kya?
VR:
Me: tik hein.

Me: Aapke number dhe dhijiye. :-)

He provides me his number.

Me: Mein bulaaunga aapko. Abhi tho switched off hein naa?
VR: Haan.


Me: Aap BTM mein rahthe hein kya?
VR: Nahin wahin Leela mein he.
Me: Tho kuch saamaan gareedhne gaye the BTM?
VR: Haan..
VR: Mera kaam subah 11 se 3 tak aur phir 8 se 11:30 tak hein.
Me: Oh. Tho 3 baje ke baadh?
VR: ROom jaa saktha hoon.
Me: Oh lunch aur dinner banaane ka time.
VR: Haan.

Soon I reach my stop.

Me: Tik hein Rana ji. Milthe hei kabhi. Jab kabhi mein Leela mein aaya tho. :-)
VR: Tik hein. Milthe hein.
Me: Phone karoonga mein.
VR: Tik hein. lekin kaam ke vakth mobile mana kein. Security le lethe hein mobile.
Me: Oh. phir 3pm se 8pm thak to kar sakthe hein naa?
VR: Haan.
Me: Bye bye.

I give the money to the cab driver and get into the usual monotony with other tag worn Software colleagues. But loads of memories and info from our non Software, interesting, professional chef friend with whom I had a sumptuous chat feast.