Unconditional apologies to friends who were silenced by me for complaining against Bangalore traffic. My chauvinistic remarks defending Bangalore traffic are mocking at me when I traverse a stretch of 3 KMs between Kundanhalli & Marathalli. My average speed during this motorwalk has been approximately 1feet/minute. It had however been a memorable drive(?) and here comes why:
The otherwise unruly traffic today seemed so disciplined. In my rear-view mirror, a cute SardarJi appeared for an hour who had joined the rally barging in at opportune moment. I drive close to the lane separator on right and was led by a relatively dry Project Manager type professional attending a team conference call(for sure).
My dear father who observes austerity in his life but strongly asks us to go to our workplaces ठाठ से [with royal touch] (driving car in expensive suit) has no idea (for obvious reasons) of the pinch to see fuel meter dropping from (3/4) to (1/2) in a single trip.
At times I wish to be working in my father's tiny town having 2 main road & no traffic signals and meeting his criteria of going to office ठाठ से।
Oops, there is one more character(neighbour) to be introduced who is on my left & it would Only be gentle on my part to say that this pretty lady shouldn't be penalized with such a rigorous drive. At every victorious advancement of our respective vehicles, she smiles at me and I return it suitably. As if,we had known each other for ages and our smiles are not just talking of the traffic but everything under the sun (& beyond).
SardarJi, who had a hanky wrapped on his bathed beard was in hurry but the situation would not let him escape from my mirror. This depiction of our zero relative movement was spectacular as well as uncalled for.
All this traffic hotch potch delayed my arrival at an important Technology Focus Group (Gyan) session by 40 minutes.
I was marching towards the conference room on the tunes of the preserved smiles. I had knocked the door with genuinely apologetic expression on my face. This expression & calculated use of words to explain the reason for delay however failed to convince the facilitator.
At several occasions during my school days I was asked to stand outside the classroom for various reasons. During college, expulsion was considered not less than a boon. Facilitator's words today were more piercing though.
Professionalism teaches you to fake expressions and I too have mastered it. Routine chores had alternate interruptions from the echo -"You May Try For Next Session" and the SMILES earned today.
I must confess that my eyes were turning leftward in search of the pretty lady on my return journey. I was less fortunate this time and could Only find Demonic Rickshaw drivers or stressed IT guys.
With a mixed feeling of missing an important session, wasting litres of petrol, treasuring priceless techniques of conversing through Smiles, yet another complicated day among professionals; I reached home and received with a puzzle from my wife----- "How Was It?"..
Couldn't stop patting her and whisper-- "U must be James Bond to ask me the question which is answered only by unfolding every event without faking or tampering with facts".
