A taste of Biriyani

Had recently been to Hyderabad on a short trip, due to a series of unfortunate events(wait for a another blog).

My last visit to this place was some ten years ago. I didn't have sweet memories about it. Maybe I didn't see the good part of it. Or maybe it never had a good one.

At around 7:30 AM on a Thursday morning was woken up by a guy saying "Ameerpur osthi". I deciphered that my destination had arrived. Got down from the APSRTC bus which I boarded from Pune. Was invited by a swarm of ric drivers who were trying to get a "boni" (no ill meanings please !!!). Brushed apart their offers, so that I could while-away some time.
Had a flight at 11:45 AM.

Slowing started walking down the road which looked like a bit posh. Was searching for an ATM.
To my surprise all I could find was cyber centres !!! Cyber centres everywhere but not a single ATM. Anyways did come across one after a brisk walk.

Well to say about the city... Wow !!! It has developed amazingly. We used to tease people who had an acquaintance with this place. They would justify that its not the same, as we thought it was. Guess they were right..Kudos to the guys who have made this possible.

When some one talks about Hyderabad, all we think about is the filth and dirt of Golconda fort or the Charminar area or people who speak caustic. Clearly a prejudice. No wonder the Titans of the software world were impressed. Leaving apart the climate (nothing less than that of a desert) there is nothing to complain about this place.

Learnt I was in the Secunderabad part (correct me if I am wrong). Clean roads. Not a spec of dirt. Looked very impressive. Spoke in broken Telugu with some localites, enquiring about the location of the airport. Surprisingly they sounded friendly. I could figure out the route from some key words used by them. I didn't continue the conversation, clearly at loss of words (pun not intended).

Boarded a public bus, which actually was a bit clean. My yardstick had reduced after looking at the PMT buses. Reached the airport in no time.

As I was boarding the flight to Chennai, I sent a silent apology to all the people who were trying glorify Hyderabad. How I had literally shunned them off when they were trying to describe about the place.

Now, it does seem, that the Biriyani comes in different flavours...

Note : Another apology to all the Hyderabadis, if I have missed the others greats of the city. This is what I could capture in a short span of time.

An eye-opener

Date : Somewhere in april 2006
Time : 3:05 PM
Mood : Tensed.

Me: Boss, got to leave now. Have a flight at 4:00 PM
Boss(trying hard to think): teek hain…call me once you touch down Bangalore.
Me: Ok…

That sounded like freedom. Had to rush. Was of course short of time. Picked up my luggage, and was literally sprinting to the exit, amusing the onlooker
Did Manage to find a lone rickshaw. Shouted at the driver- “airport… jaldi boss”. He shot back- “180 sir”. I was like…”what the…???”
Anyways was in a hurry, agreed for a lesser amount and jumped in.

Now comes the interesting part. As far as I can remember, I think I had one of the best conversations with a rickshaw driver.
First he was all silent, trying to keep up the traffic.(You can imagine traffic at that hour in Pune !!!)
He was maybe 50 or odd and obese.
I was poking him-.”Jaldi karo”.

He then looked back and started the conversation

Driver: Which flight ??
Me: Spice-jet.
Driver: I think kingfisher is better.
Me: Ya I know (surprised by now cos of his flawless English)
Driver: See I how fast I can drive.
Me: Ya thanks.
Driver: For which company do you work at sharda Center.
(Told him the damn name !!)
Driver: I think Infosys is good. You can try there
Me: Ya sure (Angry with myself now)

He went on to ask some personal and professional questions. All of this, in near to perfect English.
It took just 20 minutes to reach the airport, thanks to his amazing speed !!!. Reminded me of Alonso for once. There were some near misses which made me feel something in my mouth (you know whats that !!!).

As I was walking into the security-check area, the driver’s words were ringing in my ears.I was just telling myself- NEVER under-estimate anyone.
Looked like a learned guy. Don’t know under circumstances he ended up as a rickshaw driver.

Maybe that’s how life is. Being unfair sometime. Like there’s guy whose a cashier in a super-market. But is a MSc in CS !!!
Pretty sad, thanks to unemployment.

Im just happy that I have job that pays me and something that I like………Hey wait a minute….Do I really like my job ???? A question worth pondering about !!!!
I sometime really think, that I am no less than that rickshaw guy…..

RDB@TechM

Everyone knows why the cubicles @ TechM are deserted on Friday evenings. All the jobless ones are there to catch up a movie at the cafeteria.

Any crap movie... theres always a crowd. But today was kinda different. They were playing RDB. Believe me...it was packed to the max....was literally suffocating...A tent was much better...

But people were having all the fun they needed. The only ones who had a surprised look on their faces were some bunch of firangis.

Well did catch up some bit of the movie....Just the JOSH part of it...

Be a Rebel !!!!!

Romeo ya Shravan ??

Well college time is fun time…. In and out of relationships…most of them light, but some DEAD serious….People who make it all the way to marriage….
I don’t know, haven’t been there completely to know how it feels to be in a relationship (Though being in innumerable platonic ones).

We had this love-pair in college, dubbed as Jodi No.1.Both being my close acquaintances. They surely looked like they were in serious love. Making all vows that they are going to make it all the way.

Being in college was fun for them…Nothing stopping them in the nearest future and not worrying about the ultimatum.
A finger snap and college was done. Both got placed via campus. Still going strong…meeting everyday at lunch. Until both were finally caught. Both their parents were red-faced about their court-ship..

Oh! Forgot to mention, both are from strict religions not allowing conversions. It seems silly but not for the family members. One person marries out of the religion, the whole family is banished from the religious house. Didn’t sound palatable, but was supposed be a ground reality. (Typical filmi ishtyle )

But what the heck … what age are we living in. Religion, caste or whatever - Stuff that are perishing by the day. Religion just can’t be the reason for someone not to make his or her own choice.

Now they are on a detour, trying to make it work from both ways. They just can’t shun their parents just for their love or whatever they call it.
You can call this a catch 22… Weighing the love of your life with someone who has shaped half your life.(Though the choice looked simple for me)

Eventually it is the parents who give in, or compromise to whatever that is coming up. Sometime this compromise works or sometime it doesn’t.
But in this case there is no word of compromise. They are not really interested in one.
From my friends’ point of view, they are in a point of no return. Not ready to break up for good. 3 years was, “sometime” in a relationship. Well all the best budds. There’s nothing that we can do from the ringside.

No suggestions or advice from my side… Do you have any????

What the novice blogger says

Thanks to avid bloggers like Viky, and now the keen one, santu, here I am plunging into the world of blogging.
Frankly speaking not knowing much of this religion that has crept into the internet world, was wondering what is it that excites people to blog, big time. Did realise in due time...this is serious fun. A window to vent your feelings. Whether you want to swear at your boss, or rather leave out your frustation or express your true feelings about someone. I think it does work......
Having read innumerable blogs, that float around, found out some really great ones... People with dark humour, The MCPs or the romantic ones.....People who would have made great authors or tried getting there !!!!

Well all said and done, lets see where I get, in this world of avid blogging !!!!