How to live in Bangalore with Rs 10 in hand

As usual it was month end. No money in bank and no money in hand also. Well its the last day of the month, the day we used to get salary. I've got Rs 20 with me. How do I cater to my expenses for the day?

I usually used to go by auto rickshaw. That day i cant afford going by rick. I got into a BMTC bus to Lal bagh (gottu pay Rs 8). My office is about two kilo meters away from lalbagh. Took out my mobile head set, switch own my music player in my mobile and started walking. In 18 minutes i reached my office...Wow pretty good 2 kms and 18 minutes.

Reaching office, my first activity is to go to the petty shop. I cant start a day in office with out a good smoke..I just threw my eyes to find my friends there. Yes, I can see one of my colleague enjoying his smoke. I joined him, one cigarette was burned off. And my generous friend paid for my cigarette.

Well we used to come down from our office atleast 5 times for smoking. All the time I managed to get it paid by my friends.

It was lunch time. Lunch at our cafeteria would cost Rs 30. What was left with me? 12 Rs. I decided to go out with my friends. They used to go out. And as I was seldom out side goer, my friends paid for my lunch too.

Well with Rs 12, I gottu return home. I waited for my friend who goes my route on bike. Well I used to give him a company every day in evenings. Thus I saved my bus / auto fare for that day.

Reaching my place, I usually used to have tea from a bakery. I got Rs 12 with me. I had one tea and Paid Rs 2 for that. What left with me is Rs 10.

I manage to live with Rs 10, in Bangalore for the first time. Usually it used to be 100 - 200 a day. We used to prepare dinner at our home, nothing to bother about it.

A day with Rs 10 and that too in Bangalore is the biggest achievement.

Beware!!! Gals are big time pranksters

Guys always fall victims to sweet talks by gals. However tough the guys are; they are prone to all kind of blarney by gals. Well gals are you in agreement with me. Hear from me, a real incident, this happened in my early days in Bangalore.

I used to stay in Indira Nagar, this particular day I went to meet my friend in Madiwala. BMTC buses were my only commuting medium in those days. Well am returning back to my adda in Indira Nagar. I boarded on to a 201M bus. While in initial days, I used to get confused with these 201 busses. It took long time for me to understand those route codes. Well some of the 201 almost takes you for a full sightseeing trip around Bangalore. 201M would directly take me to Indira Nagar.

It was a weekend and there was no much rush in the bus. Almost all the seats were empty. From Koramangala water tank, two gorgeous gals got into the bus and they sat behind me. They started talking, (A universal fact, when two gals meet, they would be having lot to gossip), they were talking my language; Malayalam. Ooops, I was eager to see their faces and turned back. Hmm they never looked like mallus. Yeah the Bangalore effect, they've become polished. As I was sitting alone and I don't have anything else to do in the bus, I started overhearing their conversation.

Let me call them as Lakshmi and Meenakshi. And their subject was a guy and let me call him Gopalan.

Meenakshi: "You know, this guy Gopalan is giving me tough time at work. He always overloads me with work."

Laskshmi: "He is you team leader, how can you expect him to be lenient?"

Meenakshi: "Am a gal, he could at least consider that."

Lakshmi: "Well, let's give him a big treat. You do a sweet talk with him."

Meenakshi: "What? To him? He is hard hearted..I don't think he would fall in that. He thinks he is the only person who works in XYZ Company"

Lakshmi: "Lets give a try meenu"

Meenakshi: "OK, let me call him"

Meenakshi: "Hi, Gopal..this is Meenakshi here. How are you doing?"

Break…

"Well, I got some queries regarding the assignment you gave me last day"

Break

"Ha ha ha, we also used to spend some time on our official works in weekends"

Break

"Ok..wassup? wats going on this weekend"

Break

"So u r cooking now..I know what you bachelors cook…it must be 'Kanji and payar' (rice soup / rice pudding and cerals)"

Break

"Well, ask us…we are experts in that…a mutual deal…u help us in our work and we would give you expert on cooking"

Break

"ha ha ha…can we meet sometime in evening for a coffee…if you are not busy…well I know am not in your good books…excuse me if I over said something"…

Break…

"wow…that's cool…can we meet at 100 ft road Coffee Day.. "

Break

"Yeah in Indira Nagar..at 5'O clock.."

Break..

"Thank you thank you gopal..so sweet of you..then we will meet in coffee day.."

Break..

"bye..take care"

Lakshmi: "I said, he would fall…well I know guys.."

Meenakshi: "Hey, u've to come with me…am scared of this guy.."

Lakshmi: "Don't worry, we will manage it"…

And the conversation is goin on on and on

Well the devil in me got disturbed. I should do something. I pull out my phone and send a message to my roommate saying 'Pick my call and you just hear to what am saying. Don't cut unless I hang up the call'. After a moment I called him. My voice is raised enough to get these gals attention....and the whole conversation is in malayalam..he is not Gopalan anyways

"Hello, Gopalan…why no news from you these days"

Break

"Well..Is your kanji and Payar cooking completed?"

Break…he he he I realized, the gals have stopped talking and were hearing me.

"Well I know it buddy.."

Break

"By the way, you got a date today isn't it?"

Break

"Ha ha ha…I know it man…"

Break

"I donno her.."

Break…

"I've got extra sense buddy…meet me before you go for the date.."

Break…

"Well…We have to discuss before you go for date"

Break…

"ok maaan…I'll meet you in ur room".

Now am listening to the gals. Well no sound from them. Nothing…but big silence..I just kept my posture up..Never tried to turn around or look at them..

Bus has reached Domlur, and the gals have to get down here. They could've gone towards the back door, it was near for them. Instead they were heading to the front door. Reaching the door, they turned at me. I was wearing a devilish smile. They were also smiling, but it's not a smile though. They got down from the bus with puzzled look.

He he he, I could also play pranks.

I donno what happened after that. But one thing for sure, Meenakshi would had a tough time and obviously our poor Gopalan would have been in his heaven.

Well…another important tip for the guys.

If you find any of the gals collapsing in a meeting, go rush to them and do the required help. But bear in mind, this should not develop any kind of sympathy towards them. I heard, gals could easily fake illness just to get attention and sympathy. Thanks to my friend for educating me with these tips.

Two minutes blackout

I really don't know what happened to those two minutes in my life.

It was a Sunday evening and I was supposed to catch a bus to Bangalore at 8.30 PM. Though was busy with the whole days happenings I somehow managed to reach the bus station at 8.20 PM. Thanks to my bro-in-law. He drove the car very skillfully to take me to the bus station on time. All went in vain.

Well the bus is KSRTC Airavath Volvo. And usually the conductor would be scrutinizing the tickets before we board in the bus. On this particular day, I didn't find the conductor at the door steps. Its already 8.25, so I thought of finding my seat first and then show my tickets to the conductor. Mine was seat no 14. I put my baggage in the rack above the seat. I made myself comfortable in my seat.

There comes another guy. He also claims the seat is his. Whaat???. We started arguing. The conductor came and asked us to show the tickets. He examined the other guy's ticket and just returned it back. He then looked at my ticket. A wicked smile appeared on his face. He said, 'Buddy, the seat no is correct and the bus no is the same. But your journey date is tomorrow'.

I just clinched the ticket from him and looked at the date. 'Oh Maaan'…He is right. I really donno what happened next? The baggage was with me and I found myself standing out of the bus station with the tickets in hand. What all can I remember is the laughter of the people inside the bus.

I tried to recall what happened in those two minutes. I really can't get what happened. Two minutes are blank in my life. How I grabbed my bag? How I sallied out of the bus? I really don't know.

Now I called my manager. The worst part was to convince him. He happened to read my blog on morning blues. When I called him, the first question came was 'Did u miss the buss?' Well well am in deep trouble. I was cursing that moment which made me write the post on morning blues. You can't be honest enough on a public blog!!!. Well I somehow convinced him what really happened.

When I reach my home, all were looking at me. I can see the 'wonder' expression on their faces. I explained them the whole happenings. They started laughing. My mamma was concerned whether it would affect my job. My sisters were pacifying me and convincing me that it happens sometimes. My kid nephew was not happy, coz he got to hear me saying 'Write 5 properly on your work book'. (He can't write 5, instead he draws a star).