Thursday, August 12, 2010

Hot, Humid and Wet!

When you are loaded (over-loaded) with work, it’s obvious to skip the thought of home. But when you do, and you know you can (‘cause it’s time!), a heavy-laden cloud strikes the chord.

There is no mystery here. It’s simple. I was late to the University today (I slept late the last night because of work obviously). Entered the classroom after 15 minutes past the start of class, so without a doubt, was treated with rude, impolite words, “Be on time, or don’t come at all!” Grrrr…What a start to the day, I wondered. To everyone’s surprise in the class, the teacher was in no mood to speak. He made us present case studies. Separated the friends (you know how, the same ol’ tricks) - “Com’ on count 1, 2, 3…all the 1s come together", and so on. As if we didn’t understand, he went on to explain why he made us count. Yawn! All this was ok until he wrote Robot as “Roboat”. My stomach was itching to explode. He must have taken three round “boat” trips of the platform he stands on, to realise his “mistake”. I was still in the Boat! Then Group 1 presented the case study - poor guys couldn’t finish discussing. So, an incomplete presentation. It was my group’s turn next. They forced me to present. We needed two to present, so I dragged one along. Anyway, we did well, which obviously didn’t go well with the teacher (“She is the late-comer,” he might have thought!). Asked us question1, 2, 3, 4, 5… The period was over. We tried our best to answer. I’m pretty sure I made expressions of extreme dislike for him all along! Group 3 was called and then it was all over. Or was it? The class was still discussing the Boat!

“Sun on the head, but I still headed office!” Reached to discover that the work I did last night was approved and in the process of being sent as the final copy for yet another project. Sigh! 1 down, 2 to go. I worked, worked and worked till it was 6 p.m. (that’s the time I am “allowed” to leave office). Thunder struck! It was raining cats and dogs! And I was stranded in the office. Making a wild call, I told my colleagues, “we must leave now or else we’ll be stuck here for the night!” Good enough for me. They accompanied me to the bus stop. We sped for life…naa autos! Couldn’t get any. Had to board the bus. Not one…two. That’s how it is in Delhi. My brother Robin called to tell that the news is reading “Dilli doob gaya” (Delhi drowned). The bus took 2 hours to reach my destination, which is 45 minutes normally. I could see traffic on the footpaths too, can you beat that? The ladies seats were occupied by men, who were also busy pretending as if they were asleep or unwell! I approached to one of them, who looked at me and gave me those “you dare suggest me it is a ladies seat!” looks. Before I could say anything at all, a man standing on my right warned me, “sab ko mana kar rahe hai, koyi nahi uth raha hai” (they are refusing all, no one's getting up) . I jokingly said, “Kya baat hai aaj sabhi ko baithna hai!( what's is it, everyone wants to sit today!)” He smiled and minded his business: I don’t know what that was! Mission accomplished without a pain. Folded my jeans, boarded a cycle rickshaw and headed home. Sweet home!