Coward

I remember well, I was wearing a crisp white salwar with pink thrown in; that day. As every other day, I was waiting to board one of the route buses to office. I did not know about this particular bus number until that day; I did not see it after that day also. The bus was not empty, it was not crowded as well.

I did not find a seat, but it was more than enough that I could stand freely. There was someone behind me who I thought was close enough. You guessed it right, a guy. I moved away and there was nothing eventful until a row of seat was empty. I occupied the window and this guy the aisle. He was dressed like an executive, formals and all that. I sensed he was trying something but couldn't. I don't mind sharing the seat with men; as long as they are well behaved. This fellow was not doing anything so that I could raise an alarm and slap him hard. But at the same time, he was not quiet.

Fortunately, my stop arrived; I alighted from the bus and started crossing the melee of vehicles and started walking. It was a traffic signal; and before I knew he caught up with me. Now, I don't think this was his destination as well, but I never knew. I was walking fast and he was trying to catch up. Once he was walking beside me, he gave a sloppy compliments that I looked great. When I turned around to look at him, he was sweating like a pig.

I was more flummoxed than being angry. Now what was this guy wanting, whatever it was, he seemed so scared. I felt poor for his attire now soiled with sweat. I was near the office almost, he still seemed to be walking with me. Fed up, I just stopped and said "Do you want to talk over a cup of coffee?"

Well, I did not know why I said that, but I knew he was a coward to accept the offer. He just walked away after that. This happened 6 years ago; dont ask me why I got reminded of this incident today.

Heritage

Last couple of weekends, I went on a photo walk on the streets of Bangalore. Well, talking about mundane routines and various ways to beat them, photo walk seemed to be a good option. Folks who are familiar with Bangalore know the bunch of heritage colonial structures adorning the city. They are a feast to look at. As with any other developmental works, a bane is the fear of losing these structures.

For instance, one of the castles right on MG road lies encroached by Metro station and a tall glass facade on the other. I thought of capturing some of them since who knows, what happens to them tomorrow? Here are few; I will go for photo walks more often and capture such gems :)

A vintage window. I was stumped to see these huge bungalow right on MG road - Bangalore's financial and fashion district.

Mayo Hall - again on MG road; built in 1883. 

MG road vicinity has lot of heritage buildings. Their beauty is mostly shielded by garish billboards. The police station on Kasturba road is housed in a heritage building, believe it? The below building is the State Central Library in Cubbon park. I am glad the Cubbon park has been left alone. Acres of greenery admits the city is so rare; the real estate sharks have somehow not got their hands on it. 

Originally called as Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall; this one is built in 1915 in a classical European style with Tuscan and Carinthian columns.

This one is Attara Kacheri built in 1864. Now the High Court. The style is Gothic. It housed the Mysore Secretariat until 1956; they are now moved to the opposite building the Vidhana Soudha.

The opposite building - The State Administrative office - offices of the most corrupt men; sad to say this. The crane in the foreground is the metro work in progress underground.

One of the towers of St. Patrick's church on Brigade Road. Its more than 150 years old. 

What it means to Die

Oh yeah! How inappropriate. How would one know what it means to die until one dies and how can the aftermath be expressed :)

Well, what I am going to talk here is the hearsay. Death means an end to problems, events, situations, freedom from all. "Go die!" is something we say to an irritating person. So in short death means peace? I think I am close even if I am not right.

This evening at around 5:15 PM, I left office so that I could escape the traffic. I am commuting by scooter since 2 weeks; with all these fuel hikes and the irate attitude of the auto drivers; I decided enough is enough. Anyway; today there was a pile of vehicles on the road, moving slowly feet by feet in snail's pace. The traffic was piled for a km.

My fingers were aching by applying frequent brakes. It was so frustrating; to make matters worse a Mallu guy driving a Volkswagen Vento behind me was constantly honking!!! How do I know he was a Mallu? The car was KL registered. Anyway, it was not that I was having a party on the road. The road was choc-a-bloc, where will I find a path to move? After few minutes, I thought I should do something about it.

I turned behind and asked gestured what was the problem? That guy gave a smile, loser! I just asked him to wait and continued at snail's place. So after those horrible pushing the vehicle for one km, noticed flowers strewn on the road. Not another party procession! But the HC ruled out any party meetings within the city radius! So this must be something else. Any festive procession? What's special today? No festivities. Then I see a policeman helping streamline the traffic. A hearse van ahead of him.

It was the final procession of a dead person. As in some of the customs, they were celebrating his/her final journey. Bulbs of flowers strewn on the road, music band playing the standard music, a couple of drunk men dancing while remaining oblivious to the traffic pile up they created. The road is busy from 5 to 8; there are 2 major Business Parks hosting around 30+ MNCs having 50,000+ people working. Everyone rushes home during these peak hours.

My thoughts were about the dead person. How would he/she have been? Quality? Would that person have liked celebrating any event at the cost of causing trouble to others? Or was that person a trouble all the time that he/she is living(dead) up to the expectations?

Die in peace but leave others in trouble? I hope whoever that person was would have hated the trouble this event has caused; poor thing was helpless.

My tryst with Amma

Its not only the feeling of love or pain; even helplessness and frustration can bring out the poet in you. 

A damsel; with security galore

made a trip to Bangalore.

Make shift court was our central prison

Security concern was the reason

Silvers and sarees, diamonds and footwear

Among all her other wealth

Austerity; and so she no longer wears.

But she arrived; surrounded by human sheath

But why do I care? I wouldnt have I swear

Only if I left my work; bit early but hard luck

Stuck with neck deep task; and a conversation to bask

I missed my time; so here I chime

Cops blocked the stretch, all did wretch

They seemed to ignore; did they just maneuver

Civilians cursed; cops cussed

Hectic long day my dear; damsel's security is all clear

Common man at pity; politician's apathy.

Her convoy of 25 did zoom,

I think I saw the vehicle that was her room

You may ask; how was I sure?

See did I; police hanging outside; with a support mere

Scary at the lack of their safety

Their job of protecting the 'Mother' was lofty.

Waste of taxpayer's money

To attend court for alleged crimes honey!

Thousands of police personnel,

Charter plane for arrival,

Can India afford such luxury?

When millions are living in penury

Well, what happened to me?

Lost so much time; let it be!

Did not get a rick or a bus

Walked kilometers to find one

Frustrated and desperate; found a crowded bus

Pushed and jostled and stamped; I prefer to tell less

Hopped off to find no rick; I began to feel sick

3 kms to go; laden with bags; I did walk

Found a rick; hundred bucks? Was it a mock?

No it wasnt; I was tired;

Hopped on to it; all fried.

And thus ended my tryst with Amma :-/

Let's swap jobs

Yeah, such a simple statement - innocent and serious.

More often than not, I get into a conversation with the auto drivers when I commute to office. Its the usual ordeal, bunch of guys chatting away to glory, you are at their mercy and the look on their faces when you approach them makes you feel so awkward that I dont want to describe the gross visual I have on my mind right now. You dont even get a disapproving look; they just behave as if you didnt exist.

Anyway, the other day, this driver just demanded "meter mele 20 rupayee" - 20 bucks extra on meter charges. I did not have any other go so had to budge. He put forth a question - Why do you have to be at the mercy of others? Get a 2 wheeler. Made sense! To which I said, I sold off my 2 wheeler and I have a car which I am scare to drive in this chaos. Its so scary to see people lacking traffic sense.

So thats how the conversation progressed and their usual Compooter Engineeru have their life so easy that everything is served on a golden platter to them. I always wonder how did these auto guys get the opinion that IT folks get truck loads of money and they 'can' afford to do some generous charity by parting with their money. "You might get some 80,000 Rs per month, what goes if you give us 40 Rs extra". Such statement calls for a detailed explanation about the kind of work we do, our job environment, the pressure to perform and the hefty tax amount we part with at the end of the year and more than anything else, the salary assumption is way too exaggerated. 

But there is no use to provide that justification, there is no way I can change the mindset of the herd by explaining to just one guy isnt it? Yeah, we debated about whose job is better or worse - there were the usual - sit under a fan or a AC, tap random keys or sign some documents and you get wads of money while we sweat it out; you never even have to use your brain or think! Then the invite for job swap - you take my job and I take yours. Now! I just thought it was wiser to keep my mouth shut than try to explain in vain.

My thoughts wandered to how I started my career in IT - how everyone else starts - just as me. While in college - you have an ambiguous  aim - to be a software engineer and we all know just one profile - programmer. I want to be a programmer - the GEEK GOD. Then you are absorbed by some cool and famous 'blue' organization who are out there in most countries and they have R&D operations in India outside USA. Thats freaking cool isnt it?

You are not sure what is your domain - systems? network? storage? or some banking? You are also not sure what would be the profile? Is there anything else other than 'THE programmer'? If so, are they good enough as the programming? Analyst...tester...developer...build engineer...tools developer...duh!!

Beggars cannot be choosers eh! You either take the MNC offer or regret for life! Your first few months as a freshmen is super-cool; free beverages, health drinks, fruits, snacks, outings, lunch....Then you get your actual domain of work and the profile. You WANTED to be a PROGRAMMER! but lo! they put you to TEST a product! I wanna fix bug and not find one!!Weep! Yell! the world is doomed. Was I not good enough to be programmer? What was it did I lack? Later you accept the fact and try to do your best.

Image at http://netgautam.com/tumblr/post/1104/

Until someone explains you how important each role is and how intelligent and equally skilled you must be as each has its own important role to play in the software business. The freshmen are still delusional,  they are still not sure if what they are doing right now is what they wanted to do....but for others .......

They are Software Engineers minting easy money and having good life :-)

Anyone wanna swap jobs eh?

Do you like Bangalore now?

Amidst a conversation with a friend that started with a "One night stand and women"; the conversation digressed when I was unexpectedly asked "Do you like Bangalore now?"

A rooted Bangalorean or Bengaluru-ean now by heart and soul; who has ditched career opportunities that could have worked my way outside the city and the country, i was mulling over this unexpected question. I was not born in Bangalore; I was born in Mumbai when my parents went there on a vacation. But my connection with Mumbai just ends there - I have not visited the city even once. Been raised in Bangalore; my school, college, job, first love, marriage.......Bangalore has witnessed every important event in my life. I am a true blue Bangalorean who wears that pride high above.


It would be Bangalore for me throughout - sad that they wanted to do away with the anglicized name and vouched for Bengaluru. But take this - its even more funny when Robin Jackman pronounces Bengaluru :-P
My earliest memories of Bangalore are the deserted but narrow roads, rows of trees, lots of shade, blood red painted BTS (Bangalore Transport Service) buses, few double-deckers, very few vehicles on the road - one could count their numbers.

A couple of snaps of double deckers and the traffic then on http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=69283921

That pleasant weather- freezing for my relatives visiting from Chennai who would not stop shivering. I still remember the weather news on Doordarshan when Bangalore's temperature didnt go beyond 26 C on a summer day!. Wow! those were the days.......Those days the municipality were planting saplings of Mayflower tree or Gulmohar( Delonix Regia) They are the most colorful trees with flaming red flowers. When you see those trees in full bloom all around Bangalore, you know they did such a wonderful job by planting them 25 years ago :)


Shopping meant Kidskemp on serene MG road; with few people and even fewer shops. Outing meant Ulsoor Lake - pristine and clean, Lalbagh or Cubbon Park or a movie at Plaza theater - now razed out to make way for MG Road Metro Transit Terminal :-( 

Bangalore Urban had villages - the rustic villages with fields and cattle. The unique aroma coming from the cowshed - of dung and milk, the dry scent of the hay stacked besides, the aroma of wet soil in a ragi field, men lazing around, women gossiping. While industries cropped up slowly but steadily. The BEML, HAL, BEL, ISRO, BHEL had all started their operations few years ago or they were just beginning during the early 80s.

Yeah so do I like Bangalore now? Without a doubt yes! Why wouldn't I? Agree that Bangalore has undergone lotta changes, some for good, some for bad. The growth explosion had pushed Bangalore beyond its capacity with respect to infrastructure, civic issues, commute and cost of living. People....well...people are not relaxed anymore; they are all busy. Happens with any other city right? They are here today and gone 'blip' tomorrow ;-)  The charm of the city still lingers if you are ready to look beyond the malls and the multiplexes and the food joints. When I roam around this city, I can feel the old charm lurking in which only the privilege would get to see it and experience................

The spirit of Bangalore...err...Bengaluru :-)

PS : I am wondering why I did not think of writing about my city all these days. :-/

They deserve dignity and respect

What if a a group of people raid your home, hijack your space, beat you up and take control over you and deny any basic right? What if someone snatches your food and shoos you away from your home where you have grown up and hold sweet memories of your home and your people? And then, someone comes in and decides you must be beaten up and thrown away so that the person can live thence in peace. When all this is happening, imagine that you do not have any means to communicate to express your anguish and helplessness and that you are being tortured in a living hell.

Few weeks ago on a lazy Saturday noon, my mom called me up. I sensed that her voice quivered. She told me that few of her neighbors beat up a group of monkeys which ventured into the neighborhood in search of food. She recently relocated to an area which had newly constructed apartment blocks. The jungle there was cleared to make way for this concrete jungles. The animals had lost their natural home and nowhere to go. The monkeys came each noon in search of food, few good souls offered them food and thus got habitual and would visit the neighborhood every noon. The others in the surroundings deemed these monkeys to be a menace and so one day just decided to beat them to death. That noon as these monkeys came for food as usual, few men beat them up with iron rods; bleeding them. My mom said few of them were fractured and baby monkeys were running helter-skelter helplessly. One of the baby was yearning for some food - in my mom's words "The baby is begging me for care and food. I cant stand this scene"

My mom seemed very disturbed and did not know what to do. She was abusing those guys who committed this heinous crime. I am a very sensitive person who has more affinity to animals than humans. I could hear no more of that and disconnected the call. But I was deeply disturbed and decided to do something about it. I searched for organizations for animal rescue and such other groups on internet and got some contacts. Private organizations informed me that they dont tackle monkeys as they are wild and asked me to contact Bangalore's municipal authority. I begged and somehow got contact numbers which didnt go through; even if I was able to reach them; the response was not encouraging.

Finally I got through an executive who gave me the contact number of the head for department of forest. I called him and explained the situation and pleaded him to rescue those monkeys. He even seemed to be supportive and mentioned how humans encroach their natural habitats and then shoo them away; denying them their rightful place. He asked me to email my complaint with contact details. When I asked him his email id he shared his gmail id. I was apprehensive as to why should I email to his personal id and why not his official id. He promised to look into this matter. Even when I was in doubt about his response, I went ahead and lodged a formal complaint and mailed it to his id. NO RESPONSE. Tried calling him and no response.

We talk lengths about discrimination, racism and all that crap. Is this not racism? Why are we inhuman and prejudiced? What happened to our moral values? Is that a life worth living by destructing someone else's home? We take pride as the superior beings; are we not responsible enough for weaker species? Maybe animals are not on par with this "superior beings"; but they do suffer; they feel pain, sorrow, joy just like the way we feel.

We fight for women's rights, children rights, rights for minorities. Is this not applicable to dogs, cats, cows, monkeys, snakes? Religion says God created man out of his own form, does that mean we are superior and so we can dominate? We do have a greater degree of reasoning capacity and hence more responsible towards our actions. What prevents this superior being to act sensibility with morality? Every other species on earth lives in harmony but humans. We are digging our own grave.

I strongly believe we have snatched their rights and freedom and living as if we are worth it. We are a species of uncivilized heartless rogues.  Shame on us!

The Adventures of Ms.Commuterix

Its been 2 years since I commuted by the public bus service. Though every 4th day of the month is Bus Day in Bangalore; when everyone are encouraged to use the bus service; I shudder thinking about the experience. Bus was my in my essential check list for years; from the time I went to kindergarten to work; until two years ago. Commuting 30 km either ways was a nightmare each day; hanging around for most part of the journey; half the time sharing a foot of space with 3 other foot; hanging on the foot board with laptop bag and shoulder bag was not a pleasant experience. Jostling and pushing around; and the fashionable me would not compromise on my choice of footwear; that ranged from 1" to 6" heels such that they complimented my attire more than the comfort in a crowded bus.

Last week; I had to take the bus. All these memories flooded me and gradually ebbed away. I have quite forgotten the knack of pushing through the crowd and finding a seat or the smartness to stand farther away from the actual designated bus stop. When has the bus driver ever stopped the bus right in front of the bus stop? My sense in center of gravity seems to have deteriorated as I was finding it difficult to find balance with one foot or to jostle around and push everyone to find my way out. 

I had written about the experiences much earlier and thought let me share it once again. Enjoy :)

Adventure!!!
Para-sailing? Bungee jumping? Rock climbing? Trekking? Skiing? River rafting? Para-gliding?

If these are what your idea of adventure is; which of course I am sure is expensive in terms of time and money, then read along to find a sport more adventurous than any of the above. You would be jealous if I say Ms Commuterix( New term coined for a female commuter - copyright held by Insignia) gets an adrenalin rush going on an adventure each day.

So hear it from the horse's mouth. This is what Ms Commuterix has to say...

I don't have any better word than "adventure" to describe the journey on the mass transport system - metropolitan bus service. They say a country's progress is determined by how efficient the mass transit system is. As such, all major cities in India boast of a good connectivity. People are being advised to take the public transport - the metro rail and bus to commute. They are called the most efficient and convenient way to travel, yeah it is......if taken with a pinch of salt, sugar and any other favorite spice of yours to give it the sweet but salty and a tangy experience!

It begins with the basic job of finding the right bus. Its not easy as they claim - Buses available at regular intervals and all those. You have to pray that the bus has not left yet; no - its not that you are late in arriving to the bus stop. Its just that most times, the bus is either very early or too late but never on time. Poor them, what would they do? With all these traffic, newly planned one-way and no-way rules which change frequently as our government; coupled with infrastructure development - flyovers, underpass, sky bridge and subways to ease traffic congestion. Hoping that the bus has not left already, one waits at the stop amidst loud jarring honking, traffic at peak hour when the two-wheels use the footpath/side-walks as substitute to regular roads so that they can zoom without delay; without any concern for the folks using the footpaths; while you keep walking to and fro as each bus stops to see if you can take the bus. Other disturbances like people rushing helter-skelter, chaotic, to reach their destination on time.

Even if you are on time for the bus, you might miss it for many other reasons. The bus stopped behind a couple of other buses, you didn't either notice it or by the time you noticed, the bus moved away. Sometimes, the bus does not have a proper name board - the destination mentioned is not legible. Or the bus stopped 300 metres away from the designated stop and by the time you run carrying your bags and stuff; as if you are practicing for Olympics, the driver takes off. I have always observed that such drivers get a wicked pleasure in seeing people run behind the bus and rushing in while breathing hard. Or sometimes simply the driver decides in all his authority NOT to stop at this particular stop. After all, its HIS bus!!

For people who regularly commute at a particular time like office-goers would choose to travel by same bus each day. It might be pretty easy for them if they share a good rapport with driver or conductor. A friendly chat each day with them would ensure that you don't miss the bus.

Alright, after undergoing any one of the above ordeal, I manage to hop onto a bus. There are more amusing experiences waiting in there. Push your way through only to find the men folks having occupied the entire bus, with maybe some space left for ladies to stick in. You find the seats reserved for women(4 seats on each side) has been occupied by ignorant men. So you reach them by straining you way jostling and pushing around and then ask them politely to vacate the seat. Its a nightmare. This is what one can hear - "Why? I cant". "Its not a Ladies seat". You show them the signboard and they ignore. Ask the conductor to help you, he either tells them to vacate for the sake of it which is ignored or he too walks away unheard. Few people indulge in wicked things like scraping out the notice that says "Ladies". They confront women who ask them to vacate, in fact bully them in such a way that it makes the lady who is asking for her right to actually think if she has done anything wrong.

I came across an amusing incident when a guy who didn't know the local language was asked to vacate the ladies seat. The bus co-incidentally had the signboard in local language but there was a pictorial representation with it. He picked up a fight when asked to vacate and was stubborn to say it was not a Ladies seat.

Men are very inconsiderate yeah!. but the worst offenders are the women.No pity to offer a seat if someone is sick, lame, old or pregnant. They continue to sit like a lifeless rock. So having discovered that asking to vacate wont make any difference but would create a uncomfortable scene, I generally stick to the safe-zone and remain standing.

Image from www.karbonjournal.org/.../detail.php?ID_focus=29

One can come across several interesting characters while on the bus. A passenger who stands by the foot board and dons the role of a conductor and throws instructions to people on the bus as if he is the appointed one. There's the guy who has opted to switch on the speaker of his cellphone while hearing to music. Radio-Jockey or is it Phone Jockey? Community service. So everyone has no other choice but to listen to his choice of music. And then the teenage college girls who laugh out loud to any silly jokes to grab attention. The girl in salwar who has lost track of where she is and doesn't mind whispering sweet-nothings to her boyfriend on phone while middle-aged women stare at her in horror and then continue with their gossips. Elderly gentlemen who complain how world has changed for bad and how youngsters lack discipline and respect.

With all these, the bus driver swearing at the car driver who overtook him and the conductor hastily pushes past you and way through the crowded bus to have a friendly chat with his female commuters while ignoring the constant plead of a commuter to return the remaining money that he is supposed to give back. As I witness this silently oblivious to the conversation around me, yeah with my iPod on volume loud enough to mute things around me, the driver realizes that he is approaching a speed breaker or just late enough to avoid a pothole, one finds thrown off balance.

Image at malibucola.ricjo.org/2008/09/18/crowded-bus/

And lo! hands emerge from nowhere to help you stand balanced only to linger around trying to steady you for longer than required. When you want to turn around and say "Thank you, I am fine.", you realize there's no point actually trying to confront as he would have disappeared among the crowd of men. Just as you thought its going to be fine, a fight is picked up by a lady who feels a guy behind her is standing too close and the guy confronting her to "buy a car and commute by car" if she is finding it tough to commute in a crowded bus.

I can make myself deaf; but how can I stop my nose from picking up the smells? A girl chewing mint gum or the man behind who smells as if he has bundled himself with 100s of cigarettes. Also found are men who are yet to get out of their hangover and paan chewing ladies or the ones who could never be caught -  who silently fart.

If you are lucky that day, you do manage to get a place to sit only to be vacated when a lady with a kid hops on at the next stop. Even if you retain the seat, just pray that your rest of the journey is uneventful. Probably it might turn out to be bad one if in case a guy chooses to sit beside you and has tough time to keep his hands idle!!

Image from www.karbonjournal.org/.../detail.php?ID_focus=29

It requires lots of patience to remain calm while giving a go-by to the wailing child or an old man looking for a seat - ladies seat always; thereby, whatever remaining seats that is spared after being hijacked by guys is also gone.

And after hanging on for your life and your mood, with all these ruckus; you'll find yourself jubilant and satisfied to have finished this adventure!!!

Image at www.ballina.nsw.gov.au/.../vdoc.asp?id=866

A wonderful gesture

I am in a mood to write today. Sometime back, I had written about the harsh and corrupt behaviour of auto rickshaw drivers in Bangalore. You can find the post here.

Well, you know there are lots of good people around. I encountered one such person today morning. The rickshaw driver was polite in asking for an extra 10 Rs(unlike the usual harsh bashing "10 Rs extra kodi madam") as he had to go further 2 kms before finding someone who would hire the rickshaw. I told him that I would give only Rs 5 and as I alighted from the rickshaw and gave him the money, he was so happy.

He gushed with a broad grin "Thank you madam. Have a nice day!"

Wooohhooo, did I hear that right? There were so many days when my mood was down due to their behaviour. But today was different. Hmm....happy happy.

Hiring an Auto rickshaw in Bangalore

Me : Domalur, DELL office ಹತ್ರ(Near DELL office)

No sooner do i mention my destination to the auto rickshaw guys, their expression changes. Its always intimidating for me to approach a group of rickshaws. The drivers surround anyone trying to hire a rickshaw. Let me tell you, I don't know about other cities, but at least in Bangalore, its not the commuters who hire the rickshaw, but the drivers who hire the commuters!

They choose which place they want to go. Its an unpleasant experience to negotiate with them. My everyday commute to and from office goes thus-

SCENE 1:
=======
Me : Domalur, DELL office.

Now the various responses. It could be

An indifferent head shake(Meaning NO)
or
A dirty look (as if they are looking at Shit!)
or
Just ignore as if I didn't exist(I stand there for 5-10 seconds and then it comes to my senses that they guy heard me but he doesn't want to go that route)
or
20 Rs extra होगा madam.(They assume me to be a non-local)
I go about the routine of asking them to justify.

One thing I observed is that they speak in Hindi or broken English with me always. It seems I don't look like a local. I have to start my negotiation.

ಯಾಕ್ರೀ ೨೦ Rs ಎಕ್ಸ್ಟ್ರಾ? main area ತಾನೇ, ಒಳಗೆ ಇಲ್ವಲ್ಲ?
(Why is it 20 Rs extra? Its main place, not interior that you wont get a hire)

ಕನ್ನಡ ಬರುತ ಮೇಡಂ. ಇಲ್ಲ ಮೇಡಂ, ಮುಂದೆ ೨ km ಹೋಗ್ಬೇಕು, ಇಲ್ಲ U turn ತಗೊಳ್ಬೇಕು. ಕೋರಮಂಗಲ ಗೆ.
(Do you speak Kannada madam...No madam, I need to go further 2 kms or a U turn to get next hire)

ಆಗಲ್ಲ ರೀ.
(No way)

This continues further on. As these guys are an unison, no one would agree for an hire without that extra money - "meter ಮೇಲೆ" meaning over the meter as they say. Sometimes I lose and agree to pay extra 10 Rs.

SCENE 2:
=======
My destination arrives. The meter reading shows at least 30 Rs more than the normal rate as its been rigged. I confront.

ಯಾಕ್ರೀ, meter ಇಷ್ಟು ತ್ಹೊರಿಸ್ಥ ಇದೆ. 1 1/2 ಆಯ್ತಲ್ಲ.
(Why is the rate so much? Its 1 and 1/2)

(They get defensive) ಯಾಕೆ. ಅದೆಲ್ಲ ಇಲ್ಲ. correct ಇದೆ
(Who said so? Its perfect!)

I shell out double as I have already agreed to pay extra! :-(
No use arguing with them as you tend to spoil your whole day.

SCENE 3:
=======
Observe the meter reading going haywire and confront the driver in the middle of the journey. Lo! He stops on the road and asks you to get down. The place would be such that one cant get any transportation.

ಮೀಟರ್ ಏನ್ರಿ ಇಷ್ಟು ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಆಯಿತು
(Why is the meter reading high)

ಆಗಲ್ಲ, ಇಲ್ಕೊಲ್ಲಿ
(Not possible. Get down)

(Me - shocked) ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಇಲ್ಕೊಳಕ್ಕೆ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರೆ, ಬೇರೆ auto ಸಿಗುತಾ? ಬುದ್ದಿ ಇಲ್ವೆನ್ರಿ , ಬೆಳೆಗ್ಗೆ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗವ್ರ್ಣ, ಹೀಗಾ ತೊಂದರೆ ಮಾಡೋತು?
(If you ask me to get down, I would not get another auto. Are you out of your senses? Is this how you treat a lady who is on her way to office)

SCENE 4:
=======
This time, the issue is they realize this is not the destination they want to go!!

ಇಲ್ಲೀಗ? 20 Rs extra ಕೊಡ್ರಿ
(Is this the place you want to go? give me 20 Rs extra)

Petrified! ಯಾಕೆ, ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರೆ. ನಾನ್ ಹತ್ಹ್ಥೈರ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ.
(Why so? You should have told me while I hopped in. I would not have agreed)

ನನಿಗೆ ಈ ಜಾಗ ಅಂಥ ಗೊತ್ಹಿರ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನೀವು ಇಲ್ಕೊಂದ್ಬಿಡಿ.
(I did not realize this was the place you want to go. Get down)

Phew!!

When such incidents happen day in and day out, how do we go about managing these?
The rickshaw guys have a festive time when it rains or if it is late evening. They ask "double". It means, twice the amount the meter logs in. Now a days, its triple actually. They don't budge!

I had a terrible experience when I left office by 7 PM. The road my office campus is in is outer ring road, and is not safe for pedestrians after 6 PM. My destination is a central place and the meter does not log more than 50 Rs if I were to take an auto. It was raining heavily. I approached an auto and guess what how much he quoted? 150 Rs!!!!!

I walked 2 kms to the nearest bus stop drenching in rain on potholed roads and open drains!

This is one example of how people take advantage. And the advantage becomes a day-light robbery;

- when you don't know the local language.I have always been mistaken for someone who has landed in Bangalore just recently from some other part of the country and hence don't know the local ಲಂಗುಅಗೆ. People end up paying the quoted amount ಫಾರ್.

- You are a techie. As they call Software engineers. My oh my!!! Its absurd to hear the idea these guys have about techies.

Taste this

- I think you will get not less than 40000, isn't it? Why cant you pay me what I ask?
- You guys get so much money, whats the harm in giving me 20 bucks extra! - As if we have trees that shed currencies.

Some time back, Times of India brought out top 10 interesting things to do before one dies. One of them was top 10 public transport you must take around the world.

Guess what? India's auto rickshaw was among top 5. Well, most of us would not agree with that survey!

The final nail in your coffin.
This happened to a friend. She was traveling after-work hours to her home and hired a rickshaw. The route she has to take is unfriendly after dusk and is risky. Once she reached her destination, she noticed that the reading was almost double and when she asked the drive, his response was -

ಏನು ತೊಂದರೆ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿ ತಂದ್ಬಿತ್ತಿಧಿನಿ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂತೋಷವಾಗಿರಿ,
(I have brought you to your destination safely through that dangerous area. Be happy about that)

But there are few good men, as everywhere else; who are honest and sincere. Kudos to them and pray that these men are not polluted with such dirty ideas as others.

People often say, instead of complaining, take actions. If its handful who are corrupted, fine; how about each and everyone of them? Your day goes in filing complaints and no one takes any actions!

(PS : The guy in that snap above is my friend - for pictorial representation only :-)