On the way back from my office, the cab drops me about 1.5 KM away from the where I live. Now in most cities, you would say this is not a problem at all and start telling me about options… but hold your horses, we are talking about Chennai.
I went to the bus stop. All the buses had sign boards in Tamil. I tried asking people standing at the bus stop which bus to take. Most could not understand my English. I knew what to do. I asked “go-a straight-a which-a bus-a” (which bus route should I take to go straight). Instantly some people realized what I was asking and told me to board “Yum Thurdeen” or “Yes Fifdeen” (M13 or S15). I thanked them and waited. The buses came and there was a bee hive of people hanging out from its gates. I decided not to “board”.
Then I asked a local guy if I should take an auto or a shared auto. This guy told me that auto would not oblige since this is a short distance. And then he told me shared auto is anyway a better option as I can save money. I told him it’s not all that big a saving. He then explained that it’s not about the money… I should take a shared auto because men and women share it and you get to rub shoulders with ladies. He was shaking his shoulders up and down while telling me this and I could tell he almost had a mental orgasm.
Finally I found a shared auto. There is no color coding between regular and shared autos in Chennai but after a while you can guess by looking at the make of the auto. I tried explaining the driver where I wanted to go but since I don’t know Tamil, it was a problem. Soon a lady sitting in the shared auto obliged and explained the driver where I wanted to go. Thanking her, I boarded the shared auto to notice this was an educated professional lady. She immediately asked me “No Tamil? What are you doing in Chennai?” to which I said “I am working here in Chennai”.
She had a sympathetic look on her face. So had I…
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4 comments:
Dear Friend,
Chennai is a much better place when compared to any other part of India since they at least have the bus number and the route in which they ply in English. I am a chennaite and have extensively travelled in North India and Kolkata which are pathetic. I agree with you with the autowallahs in Chennai.
Vasu Again!
Bus routes are displayed in english in many other cities.
Just for the record I don't think Chennai is pathetic. I like some aspects of it. I enjoyed the music festival here. Pongal was fun too, and most of my friends here are "Southies", not by compulsion but by choice.
You need to lighten up a little. Have a sense of humor about yourself and life will be easier. Would love to see your comments on other posts that do not pertain to Chennai.
Yours
"Northie"
"Mental Orgasm" - Really a fine selection of words...I cant stop laughing :)
Nice one dude.. u explained the misery of non Tamilians aptly..
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