through the streets of Bengaluru...

Day 4: 11th june 2010


“A large courtyard…crimson rays of the setting sun falling in the beautiful marble mosaic flooring…a man playing santoor….a little boy of 14 or so playing tabla and a young girl dressed in red n yellow lehenga dancing to its tune…I cant remember the tune…then some horsemen….sands….a huge fort…a big white wall with mirrors embedded in it…I look into my face through 1 of those mirrors and smile….some broken glass bangles…fire….a boy drowning in water n fumbling for breath…huge waterfall…………..stop!”
……………………I wake up…….!
I can’t exactly say since what age I’m having this very same dream but it occurs at this ghastly hour of the day….I sit up all in sweat…look for my mobile and then see the time…
Its exactly 10 mins to 4 am…Is my body biologically designed for this dream plot and timing?. I really wanted to do research on this. I look to my side….kakima and Aneesha sleeping quietly. All I hear is the fan above rotating with some rhythmic sound. I feel it raining outside. Looking out of the window, I stare at the sky. Its not morning yet. Some birds r already up while luxury buses ,noisily plying through the road. I look out and as usual try to remember something related to this dream. Its useless. I have no problem with the whole plot, neither repetition of the cast and crew year after year,but the question is what am I doing in those mirrors?Did I watch some Ekta kapoor stuff?or no no…I cant be…kono serial ei toh erom dekhay ni..!....I imagine some re-incarnation theory upon which I myself do not believe. Is it so?...i was born before?...as human?... does that mean I dint get any promotion this birth??...how irritating?...i dint get promotion in terms of birth even?...This is not fair. !!! I drink some water n tiptoe back.
Returning to my bed , I retry for another nap before its morning. I lay wide awake. Have you ever counted success and failures?.... I am sure u dint…Its not possible…ab sab cheeso ki hisab toh nahi laga sakte…isn’t it? Lying so far away from home when I had almost forgotten all joy n sorrow coz of this IISc stuff, miraculously,I don’t skip this dream. I feel so sad n think of calling someone… shud I call maa?...or maybe my sis?....no no…they must be sleeping…it shall be a mean thing to do so. Restlessly taking turns and twists in my bed, ultimately I switch off my phone to delete my thoughts [ I wish my brain was formatable and re-programmable]. Sleep is kind enough to rescue me at this miserable state….thanx to God….

This time m back 2 my Lazy-ritu form. Its 9 n everyone’s up . I pull myself off the bed and decide today’s plan with kakima. Last night me and kakima went to the market and got some b’ful gajra before dinner. Since I stepped in Bangalore, I wanted to wear a gajra but due to lack of traditional wear, time and most importantly my mood…I couldn’t get one. I swore to wear one before I leave. Kakima had well bargained it with some “amma” last evening in a kanadda tone n she gave in. We divided the gajra in 3:2 ratio coz of our hair lengths n somehow adjusted it to our hairs. No clips, hairpins….but as u know” necessity is the mother of invention”…we somehow beautifully adore it. This time I scrutinized myself at the mirror. I team it up with my interview kurti which was carrying sour memory of the interview with it. Flaunting a South Indian look, we gladly click sum pics at the hotel balcony…
Plan A: Breakfast at the street corner dhaba
Plan B: Sri Sai Mandali
Plan C: shopping
Plan D: lunch
Plan E: Swathi gardens or Mantri Square at Malleshwaram.
This was our plan serially without skipping any of it. It should work out like some metabolic pathway seriously coz this was our last day at Bangalore.
Doesn’t that sound great?
We headed towards the dhaba at some what 10 am or so…
I ordered Idli-samvar, kakima n aneesha shared a dosa [ aneesha just nibbled].Then we had coffee. I cant do without this morning dose of coffee or tea, neither kakima while Aneesha being a cute starer. Well…I had become a show stopper that day…reason???
Reason is I spoke fluent Bengali….ate south Indian dish peculiarly n looked like a south Indian girl [ too thin to be 1 I guess] . Yesterday, on the way to nandi hills, swapratim pointed out that only married women wore gajra just like kumkum among Hindus. So it was my main job to spot unmarried gals with gajras. That guy had just made me a fool to shun my uncontrollable urge for buying a gajra..maybe. While eating our food we enquired a nearby fellow customer about the direction of the the sai mandali [ it was shameless me who asked the auto fare also, in case they charge tourists more]…
Walking out of the dhaba, we caught an auto….as usual I bargained and dropped at the temple. It was a serene place in comparison to the hustle bustle of the street outside. What I liked was the people’s maintenance of order. They were reciting verses in Sanskrit. We spent a few religious moments and had halwa as Prasad there. It was sooooooo tasty. It reminded me of manikaran gurudwara ka Prasad. .. outside the temple we bought some sri sai framed pics. The women who sold knic-knaks were native…only spoke kanadda…how we explained them what we wanted is a story in itself….
“Excuse me…wud u please translate hindi or English to them….???’...I smartly caught a well dressed woman who looked resident. She helped happily.

Next plan C….shopping. I am addicted to shopping. When m sad or worried, its just an escapism but other than that m an impulsive shopper. This time I had to control my urge as I swore 2 control my budget, as it is it has become an useless visit…! 
We walked down the street back towards Sheshadripuram along Sampige road, Malleshwaram. A very orderly set market place with all types of shops. Banana chips was the main target but we got more than that in our bags. Suddenly kakima complained of her loosening sandal n then it gave……basss!!! A bewildered kakima looked at me and Aneesha. Her Bata had betrayed !
In the middle of the streets when there were only souvenier shops , we searched for shoe store!…ultimately we found one after asking shopkeepers. BATA…it read. We got inside spending 1 hr on shoe selection and quality differences with price satisfaction. we came out ‘happily’ spending 500 bucks and leaving kakima’s shoe behind at the store door.

For men: let me mention one thing u shoud remember all ur lives.

“ Either u have a wife..or u have a life..
Coz if u have a wife…u have no life..
If u hate shopping, u wud soon know its consequences..
If ur wife loves it….u wud soon land up into monetary absences..
When she is out to buy biscuits and she chooses to go to the mall..
Don’t be shocked…ur bank will soon give u a credit card call…
And when its end of the month…n she pines for more..
Be a man!!!!…and show her the door….”



Ladies, no offences [ I myself is an avid shopper but I do save] and gentlemen, try this..it works wonder.
By the way…back to OUR shoping spree, we head towards the market. I spot a souvenier shop selling sandalwood and rosewood showpieces.
‘ how much is that for?”
Madam 5,000.
Well guys, ummm….. I was pointing at a sandalwood frame-carving used to place gods…It was just the size of a gift-box. Don’t panic. I dint buy.
I looked through many things and ended up buying a rosewood piece to place my Krishna. Suddenly it came to my mind I dint take the sai baba frame while I paid for it…Oh no!!!
I and aneesha made kakima sit near a mehendi shop and ran back.Guess what???
They had already closed down the shop and had gone for lunch. Enquiring a few florists nearby …we sadly headed back. Ominous me considered it a bad omen . I thought of returning after lunch and getting that frame. We bought many other things and searched for lunch.
“Hallimana”…..that was the place suggested by some shopkeepers to us…
It was a beautiful 3 storeyed cottage-shaped restaurant. The whole Bangalore met there to have lunch as if. It was so busy and crowded. We went upstairs. All meals were served. Pure South Indian dishes….served in banana leaves…and men and women dressed in their best sat eating in groups while many families waited. It reminded me of some Bengali marriage party …. I rushed downstairs. Aneesha n I decide to have food their some other time if we visit Bangalore. I really want 2 eat there if I visit again. We end up eating at Krishna Bhavan, and then treat us with mitha paan…..
It was 3 in the afternoon. Swathi gardens was still closed…oho…abar dekha holona, dhokaholona…..uffffffff…!
Instead we get inside Mantri square. Aneesha wanted icecream. Kakima prefers to wait outside n sit with our huge shopping bags. It was like any other kolkata malls. When we return, kakima relates her sleep-saga to us. She fell asleep and some woman was kind enough to tell her that her bags were falling off…Thank God she didn’t….coz in the place she was sitting, rather sleeping, on the other side there was a small artificial fountain.
Now stop laughing!!!!... Its not funny if she would have fallen….
We return to that shop to get my frame back. Then, returning to the hotel, with kakima being hell tired ,Aneesha n I decide to sneak peek Bangalore again in late evening. At 7 we went to mantri mall again, this time Aneesha sporting a west- Indies look .

Aneesha: “Ritu give one more rubber band…pls…”
Me: “No way aneesha….u r not going to do this…”
Aneesha: Pls pls pls pls…………
Her peculiarity increased with her no. of pony tails…and so did my anxiety…she was to sport that look that evening as well as the next day at the airport.
Since it was Bangalore…I dint have any prob. I was just worried with the post effect of opening her hair after loosening those pony tails…which my dear calcuttans have to visually suffer.
When her numerous pony tailing was done [maybe her hand started to ache, that’s why she stopped!!!]…me n kakima stared in awe at her…. Oh My God….!!!! We were spell-bound. Since kakima was already shockproof by now, she related her more peculiar incidents…
Anyways….we stepped out of the hotel for some more girlie time….!
When we returned it was already 9. Long lusted noodles was our dinner that day while we also got cakes for tomorrow’s early brkfst.
Huh….it was the last day at Bangalore..2morow I wud be in kolkata talking to my parents about my trip n silently missing Bangalore. Sometimes, we don’t realize the value of certain things in our lives until we loose it. It must have happened with all of us…But do we need to loose that valuable thing to know its value??...what crap…!! Who decides?..
Sitting in the hotel balcony I felt melancholic…I have traveled miles from home and I still feel homely. The monsoon winds blows in my face and the cloud laden sky asks in dismay..” Are u leaving something behind?....” I really don’t know myself…what do I answer…! I write a short verse in memory..

Sometimes distance cant degrade..
Or time wont dare intervene…
Such memories are preserved
And questions unanswered…!
May thoughts do defy..
While uselessly I try/
………………..ummmmmmmm….bass! that’s it…Its 10.30 pm almost. The caretaker will switch off the balcony lights. Me,the budding poetess must retreat to her room. If u guys are interested u can complete this verse… . I am feeling sleepy n tired.
I pack my things and all of us talk about our experiences in Bangalore in the last few days…I set my suitcase-trolley and put my bed to go to sleep. I felt so sad. Whether it was for not getting through IISc or leaving this place or what, I cudnt make out…. Aneesha switches on the TV and sets the channel for a cartoon movie. I fall asleep unable to concentrate on the movie. Today I don’t pray to bed. He cant always planfully set pains for me…again mother Sleep rescues me from this entangling feelings…

…………………………………………………………………………………………the last issue day 5 will soon come up…!!! Happy reading..

We ran like kids in search of the right bus. It was useless. I feared I don’t meet Rishaan again .After 15 mins of running throughout KRSTC, we came to know that the direct bus had already left at 7.30 am….wow…n that’s the only bus for the day.
Now we have to catch a connecting bus to Chikbalpura n then from there 2 Nandi hills.
We got into a bus… no breakfast yet. My stomach giving signals like UPS during power cuts.
I can’t stand hunger n hence always carry food.
“Biscuits?...anyone?..”
Linz: uff dara ritu…bus e toh utheni…!!!
I kept quiet. We caught a bus to Chikbalpura n occupied 3 adjacent seats. Bengalis make a lot of noise no matter wherever they are, whatever age group they are…..we all started sharing our colg incidents loudly being 100% sure nobody cant make out a single Bengali word. After a few minutes my goodies were over. We enjoyed our journey a lot. Linz even played the world cup song in the bus loudly. No wonder people were staring at us…coz of many reasons…1 of them being my dress, maybe! I fell asleep listening 2 my MP3.
We reached Chikbalpura at 10.35 am n hoped 4 sum real food. Me n linz were searching a proper restaurant when swapratim shouted from behind…” oi…taratari aay…ei bus ta jabe…!” we ran according 2 direction n boarded the bus forgetting breakfast …
After 10 mins or so ,sum kannada native women informed us by hand signs that this buss wont go 2 nandi hills…….!!!!!
Nahiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn………………………..

I felt angry upon swapratim…
ki re??? tui bolli jabe?...i asked the conductor myself directly…,a worried linz staring from behind…!
Conductor assured me that it wud drop us at the foot of Nandi hills from where we have to catch another bus for 8km uphill…..!!!
Shit……abar bus???.....adventure was becoming irritating now…!!!
Jaai hok…..r toh kichhu korar nei…..we had already wasted a lot of time…n money!!..
rs. 38 + 15= 53 /-
We reached the said place in 20 mins or so….
Ami r ekta poisao khorcha korbona bus bhara te..!….i sweared 2 myself.
We were told we will find food n resturants there….
But 2 our luck…it was as clean n clear as Maidan after Bookfair. Only a few thatch-roofed shops selling coffee n chips….[ n cigarettes 4 ppl like swapratim]…we rested a bit n had coffee..
Thank god there was no bsnl tower. I like to be disconnected at times. Linz dad called…maybe 4 the nth time that day. We then had alu ka paratha at a restaurant which we spotted later.
Guess wot??.... it was extremely hot.
I wud have corporally penalized Anindya ..for informing about the pseudo-cold weather of Nandi hills. So I took off 1 set of clothes at the wash wash room in the restaurant. Thank god there was at least abathroom…linz dearie was also expecting a flush inside the the toilet…!!! :P We started our journey walking uphill.

Anindya’s intro: swapratim’s classmate cum best frnd at rajabazar campus, molbio. He was here too for the interview. Was supposed 2 join us but dint due 2 some other important engagement.
The scenery was awesome…we clicked a lot of pics. After 3 kms or so…I n linz sat down.. The gold medalist trekker[swapratim] suggested sitting wont be a gud idea…
This guy was trying his best 2 enter into my bad books by different ways…
1st he remarked me south Indian …then about my feeble health n that I walked 3 kms…wow..!
Then he actually succeeded by leaving 2 gals behind and climbing uphill through a short route…. God…I wish I cud have penned down the slangs I had given him that time…only linz knows… !
Linz received some gud news via phn when we were 4n half km or so…
“what?....dont tell me!!!...really???”………….
She was selected at neuroscience dept. too happy she gave a penny 2 a beggar nearby.n then started her calling sequences… at every halt she called up different ppl 2 make sure it was her name that was in the list at no. 1…….
I was happy…at least some CU candidate got through.
After 6 kms…I gave way…linz took out her puff n used it. We tried some shortcuts n it worked.. Reaching the gates of Nandi hills we were relived.!!!.just then some monkeys welcomed us..

“How did u come?”.. the gatekeeper at the entry point of nandi hilltop asked.
“By foot…I mean walking”
He stared at us… 2 hald dead ladies n a lucky guy..[ they thought maybe]…lucky u know y!!!
Swapratim bought a frooti which he n I quarreled over…n then a very funny incident happened…
He was carrying the drink in his hand when a young monkey tried 2 snatch it…he shoved his hand violently n it ran away…all other tourist who saw was laughing..
He turned around n remarked..” I thought it was u ritu!!..”
Well…I dint find it funny…

We climbed the top by passing through a forest. It was beautiful. I love forests…we reached the bare rock area where we rested a bit n then linz sat down permanently making more calls…a Nandi temple was there…in the mean time faithful bsnl made my dad call who was happy 2 hear that I dint get through but aghast at the knowledge that I climed 8km uphill.
Note: In the year 2008 I was hospitalized n sent directly to ICU after suffering hypoxia after my return form excursion from north Bengal. There I had trekked uphill n rest my physiopals knows better than me…. !!! coz I lost my senses n was also loosing my breathing capability.

Swapratim n I surveyed the place around…we reached the edge n clicked some funny pics…there were only couples around….God knows what they were doing at suicide point.!
Me n swapratim returned…maybe 2 prove that we were not amongst the lot.
We had time stringency… 3.25 pm we had 2 make it to the ticket counter from bus wud leave for Chibalpura.i made a fast visit inside the temple n we headed downwards through the forest towards the gate…
We heard that the 3.30 bus had left n another bus was waiting which wud leave at 4…
There was time… me n swapratim left linz inside the bus 2 occupy seats n once again looked around…the whole Bangalore cud be seen…it was beautiful……..
At least kuch toh achha hua!!!…had I made through the interview, I wud have making rounds inside the campus….missing all this natural beauty…

We boarded the bus n reached chikbalpura n again boarded another bus to KRSTC.

It rained on our way back. Some bong guy inside the bus tried hard 2 impress linz by shouting over the phn in Bengali but 2 no avail. Swapratim slept like a dead log…I bet even if he was molested by some South Indian aunty, he wud not have known in his sleep…
Jokes apart..he is a sweet guy…he carried mine n linz’s bags during our trekking uphill …I declare publicly…!!
I had that minimum energy 2 bargain with an autowala back 2 hotel…n as I reached I fell back 2 bed…
This is a real adventure……………I loved it…!!!
Had dinner n assured my maa that it was nothing serious n m fine with the journey…
Falling asleep to bed , I thanked God for all his plans [n mine too….]

Next issue : day 4 will release next week coz I shall be a bit busy.

day3: My Escapade to Nandi hills

Day 3: 10th June 2010


My Escapade to Nandi hills.

Anger is something embedded in my genes. It controls my blood pressure, behaviour, appetite and even critical decisions in my life. I don’t know whether its gud or bad but I know it has long lasting impact in my surroundings as well. Whether I was angry with these IISc people or myself,it is difficult to conclude but I just wanted a break…[sometimes these breaks being dangerous!!! ]
Time : 6.14 am
A half asleep Aneesha : ritu…ritu…..kire jabina???
Fully asleep Me: hmm…
As I told u guys before….geting up in the early morning is not me at all. I missed a lot of 10’o clock classes [no wonder…my frnz know] n always had excellent excuses to provide to the proffesors….[its been 5 yrs I am always late n I really cant care more ]…I love sleeping…be it a noon nap or the night’s beauty sleep!

Ritu….kire??...uthli???...........aneesha called out…
Now completely in the real world ,it took some time for me to understand the settings.
Ok…this is Bangalore…hotel room…I was ditched by IISc yesterday n ..oh yes…m angry..!!!
Back to form…..i called up linz
Zaalim bsnl toh yahan chalta hi nahi hai…..damn it…no tower!
I texted her…thinking she is lying lazy at bed…[we shared this not-so-gud habbit  ]
An instant reply stunned me…” get ready n reach campus by 8. bus 2 leave for Nandi hills at 8.30. We need to reach KRSTC bus stand”
I washed n dressed . aneesha got up too. Really dint want to disturb aunty.suddenly another call…..linz
Listen it wud be hell cold over there…carry winter clothes…!
Winter clothes???...........i don’t hav any!!!
I don’t want to die of cold at nandi hills..but I also wanted 2 go…
I stared at my 4 sets of clothes that I had brought 4 the 5-day stay…n tried 2 permutate n combinate sumthing….
At last a solution was found… I wore 2 sets of clothes.
According to primary physics ,air is a good insulater of heat n wearing 2 thin clothes can prove to be more effective than a sweater…!
A black top [black absorbs heat] covered by a silver one!..a Capri covered by a cargo!!
This was my mix n match attirement. I was looking funny n had 2 abandon the thought of being gazed ……,if not gazed for my abnormality!
Have u guys seen foreigners?...horribly dressed!! I often used 2 laugh to myself as I spotted them in kolkata streets. Carrying pouch bags n eye-piercing combination of clothes?? Today I wud be payed for making such fun…
“How am I luking?”...i asked aunty n aneesha with a sad face..
Nice…smart…!!!..was all they said..
I knew I was luking like a hippy! ….its better I don’t scrutinize myself in the mirror…I walked out of the hotel .it was already 7.45.who would notice?..
Luckily I met an auto downstairs…..
Madam, rs.40 to KRSTC….
No way….i came by 25 yesterday.., “I lied blatanly
No madam….rate is rs. 40
It cant be. You people charge tourists so much extra. Leave it I will take a bus…
Attitude was a characteristic I used as weapon till date n guesss wot??...it worked wonders.
Ok madam…rs. 30…
After making faces, I got into the auto. It took 10 mins from there to KRSTC. I felt cheated. The fare shud have been no less than 20 bucks. When I got down I shouted at him again n made peace with Rs. 25. He fled ,in case I create more scene n people consider him sum tourist-kidnapper. I waited for linz n swapratim. We three were supposed to go.
Swapratim’s intro:
A presidensian ,zoology dept. I knew him since graduation days..now at molbio dept. here came for interviews n is as unlucky as me…!
There were more people but it has now summed up to 3 of us. Linz called me b4 n told me 2 be at KRSTC as it wud be more late if I go 2 campus. I went 2 the bus stand and enquired about the buses. All they spoke was kanada. I spotted a policeman with a cowboy hat.
“which bus goes to nandi hill?”
There r some buses. You have to ask madam.i think 1 bus has already left.
“Ok.”
Then I met with a disaster……
I just turned around to return to the stand when a voice called me from somewhere nearby… “Rituparna…rituparna..!”
I stared everywhere…even upwards…! N then spotted to my shock….
A dimpled lad of about 23 or 24,tall enuf, shortly copped hairs, non-bengali guy…with a rucksack sumwot running towards me…he was dressed in a red T –shirt n three quaters
Oh no…shit……….its Rishaan Rastogi…!
Rishaan’s intro: we studied in the same tuition in std 11. During AIEEE counseling, he proposed me [ maybe solely due to my rank].its been 5 yrs I rejected him. Now he is aVIT passout and must be working sumwhere as fresher..!

I thanked my stars coz I was dressed like that. No make up ,no jewellry ..nothing …n to add spices, my peculiar dressing sence…,Looks enuf to drive away any male species. I tried to smile.
He reached me n smiled back. “how r u??...n wot r u doing in bangalore??”
Me : I had come for an interview at IISc for PHd. I dint get selected..!
Ris : Wow….u got thru the written?....gr8!...
[ jale pe namak chhirak diya bande ne subah subah…..i tried 2 remember all the slangs I knew n then murmur it 2 myself]
Me: Yeah…I mean…that’s not the difficult part…I guess!
Ris: c’mmon rituparna…u were always a better student…So…?...u’ve completed ur MSc??..
[another filling if salts…my mercury rising the limits in this cool fresh morning!]
Me: Yeah…almost…waiting 4 the 4th sem results…
Ris: Looking cool!
If this was not an outstation bus stand n the time gap was not 5 yrs, I wud have slapped him for such cruel mockery…!
I held myself n answered politely ,….thanx…actually m going to nandi hills with frnz…!
Ris: boyfrnd?...no boyfrnd?...or u dint inform him?
Me: umm….I am single.
Ris: what???....cant be….! U cant be so cruel 2 this world…! Still sticking to ur principles n ideas …plz….well…,,.am single too!
[suru hogaya Bandar ka firse line marna!!]
Me: oh… bad luck!
Ris: what?
Me: nothing…! N u?...kaha jaa raha hai?
Ris: arre yaar baap ne ghar se nikaal diya. I work here. Right now going to mysore for some office work.
[I forgot what he said the name of his company….sum Canter… sumthing like that…wotever…who cares!]
Me: well rishaan…my frnz r waiting….[thank god… linz called] I shud be leaving…tata cya again…
Ris: arre suno…ur phn no. ?
Me: This is not my phn…I will mail u.. take care dear…tata…
I ran out of that place….pagal hu kya??...who will give him phn no…!!
He looked depressed as I left. But the words “take care” n “dear” sounded soothing to him. I fled to the other side of the bus stand where linz n swapratim was waiting…n made sure not 2 utter a word about this incident 2 anyone.

stay at bengaluru

DAY 1: 8^th June 2010

“om bhu bhuvaswaha tatshavitur varenyam,vargodevasyadhimahi dhiyoyonahprachodayaa…..”rang the alarm….Oh my God…I have 2 catch a flight…I jumped out of the bed…it was 3 in the morning.last nyt I went 2 sleep at 12.just 3 hrs of tension[wont call that sleep]….washed n dressed by 4…mom was already up. The first streak of dawn welcoming the new day n wishing me luck b4 I leave kolkata….the car whizzed away through the road…hardly a life cud b noticed. as the sun rose slowly I realized the beauty I miss everyday as I lie lazy in my bed till 8. muching few biscuits n a bread I headed 2 the airport. Till I entered the main gate their were showers of advices from maa especially…”check ticket..pan card…voter I card…take care of ur hand bag….dont talk 2 strangers…drink water…don’t eat cold food …don’t stray away from frnz..stay in a group…keep calling…don’t stay awake late nyt….dont keep the phn switch off…n so on n on n on…..[mothers u know!]…I checked in…..

People were staring at me in the Dumdum airport. God knows y…maybe coz I ws traveling alone.. especially those newly wedded gals who were heading off 2 their honeymoons…..[sorry…no tym 4 luv….i said 2 myself]…n moved ahead…………………………………………………………….

“I wud like 2 have a window seat”…

“sorry ma’am…they r all filled, m arranging a middle seat. I hope sum1 wud adjust with u..”

Adjust with me???...i thought 2 myself…who???...

I took the boarding pass n headed 2wards the security check..

2 scissors n a penknife was found in my handbag….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plz step aside ma’am…r u carrying restricted items?

Whattttt?????????kya restricted items?...........................2 my shock..

I had 2 leave my “restricted” things behind imagining ke shampoo r packet kise kaatbo…!!!!...hay rabba…. LL!!

Waiting in the boarding lounge I felt sleepy…..floated into past …memories of childhood when I hated going 2 school..i hated teachers..homework…just 30 mins of break…n all that has swept me away of wot I wanted 2 be…n wot m I 2day…!!

“Passengers for JET AIRWAYS flight no. 9W 2451 plz head towards gate no 4 for boarding…”…My phn rang…oh God…maa again…

“take care…remember wot I’ve said…don’t fall asleep in plane…be alert…”…ok..ok..ok…fine..gr8 ofcoures…n so on..

I grabbed my handbag n headed 2 wards the boarding gate 4 the 14^th time in my life….”oh no…I hate flying….i feel nauseatic….but I had to…don’t ask y..!

Plz switch off ur mobile phones n all other electronic items for safety during the take off….

I called my dad n switched off b4 leaving kolkata’s soil…as I flew above,my heart raced faster than the speeding aircraft…aasata ki thik holo? is this a correct decision?...still in dilemma..,I fall asleep..[without tying the safety belt..],only 2 be woken up by sum vibration[airbumpers]… I opened my eyes n 1^st thing I saw was clouds….like huge icecreams…I smiled…is this heaven?...then y am wasting tym on earth?...

I looked at my fellow passengers….a cute chinky couple lying on each other’s shoulder asleep…”Love is in the Air”..i remarked..!

“We have reached a place 90 kms from Hyderabad …10,000 metres above sea level n the outside temperature is 3 degrees…hope 2 reach Bangalore in an hour. This is Proloy Sen ,Senior Pilot reporting…thank u”….

After hearing the announcement..i called 4 an airhostess…”do u serve cookies?..”…yes ma’am..

She got me a packet…

Oh shit…chocolate cookies…!!.i put it inside my bag thinking of handing it over 2 swadhin when I meet him….instead I handed it over 2 a kid behind my seat..

Closing my eyes ..i listened 2 MP3…..Enrique n Ride it..

I layed awake..n alert…sum evil thought of plane crash came 2 my mind…n suddenly there were more bumpers…

“Passengers plz be seated.The weather outside has thundery development so we need to change route..Plz bear with us n do not panic…’

Bear with u???ofcourse…what else cud be done?…..in the middle of the air…no idea of how far we were from earth…where wud we land up even if we jumped…outside temperature wud be sufficient enuf 2 kill us…leave apart the oxygen scarcity n height phobia….

After reaching the airport…I received a cal immediately as I switched on my phone…Swadhin…:”pouchhechhs…?

M waiting….’

Swadhin’s intro:

My school frnd…now working at Infosys, Mysore,started at 4’o clock from offc jus 2 receive me at Bengaluru airport…[NB: his gf used 2 b my best frnd]…J JJ!!!.....wotever…He proved a real frnd..

Swadhin received me at the airport n we headed 2wards Majestic in a cab.. I offered him the left cookies…he hadent had food…he busily munched inside the cab n enquired about the whole WPA students…ppl whose faces I have even forgotten J…5 yrs n wot do u expect?

Had brkfast there at Volga…n he vented his heart out 2 me…all that was trunked n lockered for 5 yrs…”huh…love’s labour lost”….hope he gets his love..!

Then we headed 2 IISc campus…wot a campus…??

I thought it was some restricted forest area from outside…the campus temperature was 5 degrees less than the main city becoz of its uncountable trees…..

Aneesha greeted me near the MCBL dept.. I was 2 stay with her at Bangalore. She had already had an interview that day. 4 of us[me annesa swadhin n aneesa’s mom] had heavy brkfast at the campus canteen… dosa samvar chutney..at ‘admura’ [that’s Rs.13 in kannadiga]…waving goodbye 2 a sad swadhin who had 2 catch a train 4 pune at 8 that evening,I came bak 2 the campus…met my frnz who has already arrived b4…went 2 departments 2 library…my God, wot collection of books they had….pages like papyrus…n librarians like warriors…I dare not enter again!

In the evening I came 2 the hotel where they stayed..Hotel swathi, sheshadripuram near swathi gardens n mantri mall.i was 2 put up there…spacious rooms…there was sum bedding prob which was sorted later.. in the evening we went out 2 look around…at the back of my mind I knew I had my interview the next day…tensed to the D….,I hardly noticed anything! L

Aneesa’s intro:

She studies MSC with me in the same colg..biochem department, agni’s frnd…n I talked with her hell lot of times..she too qualified 4 written IISc n is here 4 the interviews..

I had a sound sleep that nyt…I felt so gud as if this place was mine…as if returning 2 motherland after a long tym…b’ful weather n emotional people…closing my eyes I thanked God 2 bring me here by fate.. J

……………

...................................................................................................................................................................

DAY 2: 9^th June 2010

THE D DAY…..

Interview was scheduled at 2 in the afternoon but I left early along with aneesha coz she had an interview in the morning. Scarcity of sleep made me feel sleepy even after a warm bath n I wished I cud cuddle in my bedroom at kolkta. Aneesha entered the MRDG dept at 8.30 n I n her mom[aunty] waited 4 her 2 return…me revising through Chapmann n reiss[ a book as new as it was when sold]….

Note: I am completely unfaithful 2 books. All I study is from internet. This has already landed me up into trouble n will keep doing so in future…..but I will remain as I am….!!!!...hence cut it out..no point discussing.. !!!

I flipped through the books n collected facts…made up my mind how to chanellise my interview questions n how cunningly 2 answer them…

Man…I was planning a battle…’ felt like Alexander huh!!

Free tea was served n I felt warm n fresh….It was a cold morning.

I already got a good idea about the bulls roaming inside the campus..n me a butterfly…!!!

Bulls: Mtech in production engineering from Nagpur ,Mtech in Biotech from Maharastra university, some more Btechs from kerela…some pune university toppers, Delhi University toppers ….n so on…even some MBBS were also spotted...most of them seniors by age n experience…

CONCLUSION: MY GOD………………I shudnt hav come…!!!.........

Kya yaar….itne paise mein ghar mein ek split AC lag jati….wot a fool am i!!!....now I hv 2 fight with bulls… no weapons no training…nothing…!

I gulped down my fear n waited plainly for me 2 be beheaded…

Time: 12.23 pm

“wot do u serve in rice?...”…I fumbled at the south Indian mess counter .

A dark fat girl hair adored with marigold looked down n answered..’plz chek the board” n then she uttered sumthing in her native tongue…who cares?....but I dint get her idea of using marigold for adornment…!!!???!@#$%

“next”……

I stepped aside…

“may I help u?’…sum1 one called from behind…

I turned around 2 see a south Indian fellow with a receit pad in his hand…[he reminded me of R Madhavan]

“wot do u want 2 hav?”

Rice…I replied…”can I get rice here?”…any kind of rice chalega!

“u can hav pongal rice…

“wot is pongal rice?...i mean …constituents???”………..i asked with hope n hunger…

He thought for a while …………”khichdi”….his bulb glowed!

Wow….i love khichdi….that will do…how much?

“admura…I mean 13 rs…”

By then I already know wot is admura…..almost all the items cost admura….!

I collected my “pongal rice” n ran 2 a table where aneesha n aunty was sitting…

It was a heavy atmosphere…..aneesha was sad n I was tensed….she dint hav much luck with the questions…sum immunoflorescence flaw she had!

I gobbled down the rice…it was wow….or maybe it tasted so at that moment….

I beliv homemade food has sumthing 2 do with my luck thing….i felt uneasy n nervous…

Rice I chose 2 make me feel at home…being a bengali,this was a way 2 make myself at ease…

Thank God I dint puke…..tension almost killed me…

I reached CES dept….5 ppl had already arrived…we signed the register n I was the 1^st 1 to be ragged..sory interviewed…!

A guy from Indore MSc Biotech spoke abt his colg n syllabus…my heart sank all the more..

Then like a warrior I collected all courage n said 2 myself…”Do or Die”

“Rituparna Mandal…..shouted the receptionist…

“Its me…..”

“plz go inside..”

As I entered the room ,I felt so light n carefree…2 sikhs n a Christian lady were seated…

They were in a holiday mood…

We were served tea…

Renee M. Borges…the lady n the head…started…

“ritu…rituparna??...thats ur name..

Dressed in white kurti n just kaajal as make up…I beamed…”Right ma’am…”

U r from Bengal?

Yes ma’am…

From the land of rassogollas n beautiful women…..

….arre yaar ….wots going on?........patri dekhte eschhe naki?

Yes ma’am…..i answered [ ofcourse bong gals r the best]

She asked more such light questions n then entered for critical bowling….

The 1^st one was a spin : ecological sciences is indebted 2 physiology…why do u think so?

…<<

“Well ma’am….physiology is a more denser platform n is serving ecology at some higher level. But the basic balance is surveyed and decided by ecology itself…everything needs 2 be equally balanced in nature..that’s the main criteria goverened by ecology but physiology is an arena working according 2 ecological criteria and magnifies certain aspects of ecology.”

Her eyes beamed with my sentence construction power…I bet she wud have appointed me her child’s English teacher if we had not met the way we did…

Gaana yaad aya….

………….soche ye …hum the mile ,tum se najaane kyu?…anjaane hain silsile tumse najaane kyu?”

“ok…ritu…..wot do u like?”

Without even thinking for a split second I answered..”chocolates!...shit….!...i murmured..

No ma’am….i mean phylogeny is an an area of my interest…

They heard me n had already started laughing at my former answer…oh God ,wot was I thinking…

“aha…chocolates???...i will arrange sum 4 u…”

‘no ma’am…its fine…

Ok …phylogeny…….

…………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………

…………………..wot?? u guys r waiting 2 read the whole ragging session???...no way…!!!

But things worked out roughly according 2 my plan…

Sudhu last questionta boli…

“suppose ritu…u r going 2 get married in a family n u have heard that ur wud-be-husband’s family has a X- linked recessive genetic disorder….how wud u prefer 2 find out theoretically”…I want u 2 use the board….

Bassssss!!!!...................raam naam satya ho…!!!

These ppl[my parents, interviewers ] has no other job but 2 discuss about my marriage n bury me alive with related topics…!!

I took up a new fresh chalk n started drawing a pedigree chart…

My darling husband had an asteric mark in his X-chromosome[diseased] n I was normal[witout disease]…!!!....solely according 2 the question…

I drew the possibilities n then gave 3 options of my answer….

Renee. M Borges wanted me 2 have sum tea….

I returned 2 the table….

1 of the sikh asked…wot did u decide?

‘about wot sir?

About marrying this guy?...”..interviewers broke into a laughter!

I was bewildered………n gave a fearful look…pulling my biodata file 2wards me.

…”no no…..oh ragavendra….no dear u don’t have 2 marry such a man with X-linked disorder…”..renne borges assured…

That’s it…u can leave….

“thank u ma’am thank u sir…

I flew out from there….

2.10 I entered n 3.05 I came out…

Topics that I was chaatafied on:

Phylogeny…maps…relations..sequence arrangement…database…software…genbank…Physiology…endocrinology..signalling…neuroscience…brain dieseses…congenital disease..placental differences…reproductive biology…altruism…scientific names…heredity…genes affected n detected..candidate gene approach…mapping…markers n genetic query based questions…

“tide ki dhulai was done…”

I felt as if my weight was lessened by kilos….

I felt hungry again……the sky was thundering n it was a pleasant weather….i walked 2wards the biochem dept where aunty was waiting 4 me…

I called linz n met her…we were eating at the canteen when it began 2 pour down…

An open canteen made us gobble down our food n run till sum shade..

It began 2 rain cats n dogs….its beautiful when it rains in bangalore….especially at IISc ‘forest’….

‘barso re megha megha….’

I felt the need of winter clothers which I haven’t brought at all…

Baba rebuked…he was also worried thinking if I get through wot wud he do alone at kolkata with maa!!!

The cold air pieced my bare arms n I don’t know y …I felt sad….sad as it rained more heavily…!...i looked at the dark sky n really wanted 2 see the sun…that streak of light when I left kolkata……I felt nostalgic..and the absence of a warm shawl made me more lonely and miserable…

We left the campus at 6…rain had already stopped n sum emotional auto driver wud not listen coz aunty dint pay attension 2 him…

After aneesha’s request..he gave in…

Before leaving I went 2 see my selection list…

“interview candidates for 9^th june for 1^st round”

“NIL”

I felt devastated………I cant take failures…I just cant take it…………in the same way I cant handle happiness………………

I felt worst…………I cant explain how exactly……………

Returned 2 the hotel quietly n lay cursing IISc….aneesha was a good companion…

She too suffered the same fate…

Frustrated…I headed 4 shopping…………….n ended up buying some raw silk from a nearby shop…..”its another thing that now I hate the colour “

Common ritu…get up…they don’t deserve u…1 damn interview cant brk ur confidence u’ve nurtured for years…u’ve fought a lot..there r more to fight…gear up..…--I said 2 myself….i got up from the bed n called up linz…”kal jabi ghurte kothao?”

Hya….mane oi swapratim bolchhilo…ami sure na…toke rate Janie debo..”

Ok…

So we planed 4 sum adventure journey the next day…nandi hills was the place!

Curd rice in dinner felt more sour…..i returned 2 the bed n fell asleep immediately…

I dint inform my family nor swadhin….i myself needed time 2 digest it…

If they dint want 2 take me…y did they asked me so many questions n held me for an hour?

May god deal with the sinners…was my prayer 2 bed!!!

Coming up…day 3,4 n 5……..!!

• correction: in my last mail I wrote Enrique: ride it…[a grave mistake I suppose 2 music lovers]
• it will be…enrique[may be I m addicted] & ride it[jay shaun]