The “Queue Theory” of Bangalore

(Written on August 15 2007 in a crowded street of Bangalore)

Bangalore is “toooo” crowded. I don’t know if adding more o’s to the word “too” increase its extremity but that’s what the intention is. There’s a huge demand and supply gap for virtually anything and everything you need in that city. Especially in the areas that have seen a recent population burst (read as Koramangala) thanks to the IT boom. And the local folks there blame the Northies and the IT people for it. Well (being judgmental again) in a way they are right but then isn’t that how economies develop? There comes a hell lot of junta who has lots of earning (and thus spending) potential, and it converts a sleepy garden city to a buzzing metropolis. Come ‘on Bangalorites, you cannot have the pros of something without bearing its cons.

For example, there are only 4 multiplexes in the city. And the movie goers are huge in number (obviously people like me and my roomie Amit exist everywhere). Result – long queues at the movies. It’s virtually impossible to see a new release on a weekend, with or without advance booking.

Every sat-sun the whole city lands up in a place called Forum. As a result there’s a queue at every outlet. (For people who don’t know, Forum is a shopping plaza or Mall or something of that sort). Interestingly (being judgmental – it’s a finding!) it’s the only place in India where I feel the salespersons tacitly praying to you – Sir, please leave, we don’t want to sell to so many people! A second interesting thing about Forum is that you walk up and down its length once.. twice.. thrice, and chances are you meet someone whom you already know. Look up what I wrote in the first line of the paragraph… the whole city is there! You just have to call them up to surprise – Hey buddy I know that you are in Forum, tell me which level are you on?

The longest queues are on the roads. Between 6-8 pm you get to enjoy what’s called Bumper-to-Bumper driving. Quiz for you - When traveling shorter distances, people sometimes reach the destination faster when on foot than when on a vehicle. Why?? Because you can always walk on the footpath but obviously can’t drive on it. (Another judgment… hmmm!)

Restaurants, parking, auto rickshaws – there’s a queue everywhere. Even at the local grocery shop that you visit in the morning, you find that you are at the end of a queue.

Frustrated my roomie Amit would say, “F*** !”

I candidly reply, “For that too you have to be in a queue in Bangalore!”

(My apologies for not using the new name of Bangalore. Reason – I am not sure of the spellings – whether it’s Bengalooru or Bengaluroo!)

My Female Room Partner

(Written on 29 April 2007, a day before I left IIT Kanpur)

Unknown to many, I actually shared my room with a female during my hostel stay in IIT Kanpur. The female in this case was a lizard, and I called her Lizy!

It was a hot august night when I heard the creepy sound in my wardrobe. My slumber disturbed, I got out of bed. Hesitantly I opened the door and lo… there she was staring right into me. Certainly her territory had been invaded by an outsider, and certainly she was not pleased by it. But she was quick to withdraw and slithered out of the window before I could move my eyelids.

The following few nights were guarded for both of us as we were conscious of each other’s presence. I would occasionally see Lizy staring with her eyes wide open at me, and the next moment she would disappear.

Things started to change in the following month. Lizy would now take the risk of coming deep into the room to feed on the insects that had gathered around my tubelight. Perhaps she had realized that there’s no gain without a risk or perhaps she had figured it out that I am harmless. Now Lizy wandered in the room for hours... making excursions to the deepest parts of the room which were her territory once upon a time. She was in a way happy to regain the lost control over that space. As for me, I wouldn’t now jump at the odd noise from the wardrobe or from under my study table. And during exam days she would be my silent companion in the night outs.

She used to be exceptionally happy whenever I went out of IIT during holidays, sometimes for weeks. This was the time when Lizy would live her life like her old days - Meandering endlessly on the room walls.

And today when I am leaving this Room no. 315 of Hall 4 at IIT Kanpur, I feel sad that I am leaving behind someone… she is Lizy… my female room partner.

There's a difference between Laziness and Lack of Motivation!

I know I am writing on my blog after a long long time. It's bad to start a blog and then not to write there. But does that mean I am lazy?

I am not lazy. I get up late in the day. Still I am not lazy. I dont pull out of bed for hours. I barely manage to have breakfast once in a month. Still I am not lazy.

Why should I be running in full enthu to the classes when many of them are actually boring. Just because IITs are wonderful institutions to study in is not a reason compelling enough to push me out of my room towards the classroom. What is it that I would learn today that I have not learnt in many years. Sometimes the instructor does make a course interesting and you feel like being in the class. Here I wonder why cant they all be like that and then my problem is gone altogether. And then there's this question of motivation. What motivates you? Very difficult to answer.. Different people may get motivated by different things. As my instructor in HRM course says, "I may get motivated by watching peacocks in the campus. That is motivation for me." So many a times one does'nt even know what motivates him. All I know is that I may get motivated by different things at different times. And I dont know what that would be.

So the next time someone calls you lazy, just snap back that you are not lazy.. This world is just not motivating enough for you!