Lady

It's Sunday evening and I'm travelling by bus from Cochin to Bangalore .

I like my solitude, and I appreciate it whenever I get it. So naturally I prefer travelling alone because I get to read a wonderful book and eat whatever I want without someone constantly nagging/harping/making me feel guilty about it.

However, the lady next to me is not going to let me off easy. She is a Tamil Brahmin, settled in Cochin/Bangalore/Chennai. Her constant chatter seems alright in the beginning but it quickly spirals quickly into a whirlwind of of words and I'm less than happy with the transition.

Conversation more or less goes along as follows:

Gran: "So what were you doing in Cochin?"
Me: "Umm... I was visiting friends."
Gran: "Oh. So where do you live?"
Me: "Bangalore."
Gran: "Are you from Bangalore?"
Me: *Deep sigh* "No, I'm from Kerala."
Gran: "From Cochin?"
Me: "No."
Gran: "Where are your parents?"
Me: "They're from Tiruvalla."
Gran: "So you live in Bangalore."
Me: "Yes."
Gran: "And your parents are in Tiruvalla now?"

At this point, I suspect her having a sixth sense about my parents. I hate mentioning the fact that my parents live abroad. Don't ask me why. Maybe it's the constant teasing or the presumptions, but I try as much I can to avoid mentioning that tidbit about my family.

Me: "No, they're not in Kerala now."
Gran: "Then?"
Me: "My parents live abroad."
Gran: "Ok. Where?"

Let's just say that Interpol should have hired her. You can fathom that I'm least interested in the conversation.

We quickly get to where we stay in Bangalore and we find out that we're next door neighbours. So she asks "Let's share an auto, shall we?" I ask her gently, "You do know the proper address, right?" She retorts back, "Of course I do!" **

To cut the story short... we retire to sleep after she establishes the facts that her son works in an American Software company and that her Cochin house is so large that she can't handle the entire household.

It's Monday morning. As we get off the bus, the auto drivers all start screaming out ridiculous prices to take us to our homes. One guy quotes Rs 150. I shoot back "Do you know that it's barely Rs 50 to my house?" And then the lady intervenes and speaks in Kannada to the driver, settling on Rs 100. She beams at me saying "Oh, I know Chennai rates. That's why I was able to bargain." I look at her speechless, because I know for a fact that I could have reduced the rates to Rs 60 (Oh alright, Rs 70).

I follow her quietly, saying to myself that it's ok since I'm paying only half-rate. I have three heavy bags (filled with books I had taken from my friends' place), and I refuse to let the auto driver even touch the bags because that would mean an automatic increase of Rs 50 in the final fare.

I shovel my bags into the auto and we finally set off to our common destination. During this ride, while I'm shivering in the cold, the lady rants about her American Software son who's studied MBA in US and her other son who's currently in UK...

Why is it that old ladies think that we're remotely interested in knowing crap like that? Do I look like I have a grown son I can boast about? Or am I to fall in love with her dashing, American-educated son? Or is it that I'm to feel humble about my own scholastic achievements? It's not like as though he studied in Harvard or MIT or something. Seriously, sometimes people just rattle off names like US and UK expecting others to get impressed. I, however, do not get easily impressed.

When we near my home, I lean over to ask the driver to take a left turn when the old lady says to me 'I'm not familiar with these roads. So you can get off now.' (Refer sentence marked '**') I'm like, 'Umm, didn't I pay equal--' She cuts me off with a 'please'. So there I am, thrown off (ok, exaggeration) the auto with my heavy bags. I give her one look and start the trek (ok, fine, another exaggerated point) with my bags.

It's rather unfortunate that I live in the first storey of a building. I have to lug everything upstairs.

I imagined the lady to be a stereotype of a 'sweet old grandmother'?

But I got duped.

And hence my bad mood *scowl*.

Trip

My weekend trip was exactly what I thought it would be: Lots and Lots of Fun.

It's true that I was very lazy to go back to Cochin and pick up some of my stuff from the flat. But once I made up my mind, nothing could stop me... granted it was after 6 months ;)

I spent Saturday catching up with my ex college room mate, Nims, and bridal shopping with Monkey-ma & Roopster afterward.

Monkey-ma's family were in town to pick out clothes for the wedding. You know how crazy a family gets. By afternoon, the kids were tired and refusing to try on new clothes, the elders were squabbling, Monkey-ma was frustrated beyond belief... it was so VERY familiar and incredibly endearing. :) It also made me appreciate the fact that I do NOT have any younger siblings. *Thank God for small miracles*

We had dinner and got back home by 9:30. I was beyond exhausted by then, but you know it was a good feeling- Being tired mingled with a sense of having accomplished something (We found Monkey-ma's sister the perfect bridesmaid dress and trust me, that WAS an accomplishment).

I woke up next day at 8am, read in bed... Talked to my flatmates (Rachu was there too!)... Lazed around till I couldnt postpone going to DJ's house <-- That was where my next meeting with friends would take place. Talking to my friends was as usual fun. We swapped gossip and stories. We laughed and ate good food... After that we headed into town, where we lunched at our favorite cafe- Cocoa Tree.

I got back home by 5pm, which was when I started what I actually came to Cochin for - packing. Anyway, by 7pm, I was out the door with my flat mates.

My bus was on time, but before that I was able to talk privately with the girls... And our feelings were mutual. I felt as though I belonged in Cochin. Monkey-ma told me that (after Chalu got married) I complete our group of flatmates. Roopster said that the best times she had was with me and the others. It was all so bitter sweet. But life moves on. And deep down, I can't shake off the feeling that I wouldn't be completely happy in Cochin.

And even being lonely in Bangalore won't change that fact. :)