Bangalore Roller Coaster

I have read about numerous incidents reported on the cyber space about bribes in Bangalore. In one statistic, it was reported that Bangaloreans pay the most bribes. I do not think that Bangalore city is the most corrupt city in India. I have seen worse, but I find that the people here are extremely impatient. Hence the need to get things done quickly and out of turn, encourages bribes. I also started impatiently and wanted a driving license without any hassle. I looked around for touts and agents, but two of my friends convinced me to just go and apply for the same. They told me it was simple and it really turned out to be a no hassle deal. On 21st October, I went to Electronics City , RTO and took my learners license test. While there was a hitch in the online application form, I picked up another form there, filled it up and took the exam. I scored the requisite marks and they asked me to pick up the learners license in 4-5 days . I could take the driving test a month later. T

I have been off blogging for quite sometime. I have thought of various things to write about, but my other projects and hobbies have kept me away. So has Facebook.. which is an easy way to write your status updates and thoughts without much proof-reading . The feedback is quick and the comments are almost interactive. Sometime my and my husband comment and converse through the comments section, sitting in two different rooms in the same house. But today something happened, which I did not want to just comment upon. I wanted to write in detail and blog in detail. So I am back and will try to be regular. I am making this resolution much before the NY 2014, so that it doesn't become a fad. So folks who do read my blog (single digit number), I'll write some more and not always 'Facebook'. With that I'll write my next post, about my wonderful experience at the Electronics City RTO office. Stay tuned.

Every disaster affects real people.. and there is real pain. Yesterday, I heard a plane had crashed and my first reaction was 'Where ?' But when I heard it was in Pakistan, I  just reacted with an 'Oh !' and didn't bother too much about it. As I browsed the net today, I read about it and the people it had affected. A father lost his two daughters, 18 and 20 !! He slumped at the airport unable to rouse himself. A brother lost his newly married sister and brother-in-law. No survivors.. no bodies even. No closure for some people. While it is destiny and some lucky folks missed that flight while others like the sisters actually changed a later flight to get onto this  plane. While some may never be able to forget this flight and others may never recollect it. But as I read about the suffering and the pain, I couldn't just say 'Oh !' and dismiss it anymore. It was real now,  no matter where it was !! It was painful especially as I imagined that fathe

I have a lot of ' what if ' moments. When after a day is done, I revisit some gone by moments in my mind and keep wondering ' what if '. I am sure there must be others who also do this, but my ' what ifs ' actually don't let me sleep or think and I go crazy replaying the events in my mind. My latest ' what if ' happened when I dropped my watch in the mall yesterday. Jahnavi asked me to pick her up and put her down so many times that at one point the watch came undone and probably fell down. I noticed my bare wrist soon enough but then I was wondering if I had put on my watch in the morning ? So instead of looking for my watch there, I assumed that I hadn't. Of course as you must have deduced by now, I did put it on and now it is gone. ' What if ' I had just looked around at the time !! ' What if ' I hadn't just taken the easy way out and kept walking !! The whole scenario has been gnawing at me and I am unable to sleep. I jus

I have been thinking about writing this for a long time, but things have been kind of crazy at my end. I have been traveling and it has been really hectic. But now that I get the time, I want to write about an emotion that I felt.. an emotion that I had not felt for a long time.. an emotion of utter loss. At the helplessness of an individual against the forces of nature, the will of God if you would call it !! For quite sometime, I have been grateful for the health and prosperity my near and dear ones have been blessed with. But the cycle of life and death does not spare anyone. I have been lucky to have been blessed with two healthy daughters and beautiful and healthy nephews and nieces.. I have rejoiced in the miracle of life. Having children truly makes one believe there is a God out there, who takes care of all this.. the incredulity of a perfect child, ten fingers, ten toes.. those tiny features.. all chiselled to perfection!! But the loss.. the end of a life is so final. Losing s

I always keep wondering, when will people in India learn some civic sense. I have seen a lot of cities around the world, but none come anywhere close to what Indian cities can offer in the lack of civic sense. But then with many people struggling to even make ends meet, this might be the last thing on their minds. So I would excuse that strata, but what does the middle class and the upper middle class have to say for itself ? Even the so called cream of the society totally lacks any sense of responsibility of the community. Chauffeur driven Mercedes cars, and at the traffic light the driver opens the door and spits out the paan. The children and adults, roll down the window and throw out the wrappers and tissue papers. Is the city except for their own cars and houses a huge dustbin ? One would think so. Elevators.. in my own office. I have seen people not wait for me when they knew I was approaching the lift. All it takes is to lift a finger and press the Door-Open switch, or just tell