Reporter's Diary

City Reporter

Reporter's Diary
My First Week In Bangalore

I am not going back home. It's barely been a week and I already love Bangalore. I didn't expect to.
Growing up in the economic hub of the country, I had always found life outside Mumbai slow. I first experienced the blues of sluggish life in Delhi, where I spent a long winter in a college internship. Things moved at a snail's pace; no hurry to go anywhere, neither any to arrive.
And Bangalore felt no different. It seemed dull; I saw no one rushing about in a hurry. Not even that first day when my train swept into the station, and as a welcome gift, the city thrust upon me its un-co-operative auto drivers. Dragging my bags alongside, one soul felt some pity and offered to help me out - for a little over the double fare!
My mind raced, while my eyes hunted for a landmark to locate my new nest. On my quest for home hunting, the auto rickshaw provided me the sights and sounds of the city. Everything was written in Kannada. Signboards appeared like a computer code, a string of 0s (guess that’s the Silicon Valley effect).
Now, I’m a week-old. And the first question that arises is: What’s with these one way roads? Driving 15 minutes to get across the street! Better than a stinky massage in the train every morning, I suppose.
As my week draws to a close, its dawned on me – Bangalore is far from laid-back. Things move swiftly and quietly, and hence efficiently. There is no jostling and pushing, but no one is working at a snail’s pace either.
They might speak a different tongue here, but unlike Mumbai, the people are not hostile. Witnessing a clueless traveller, some have even offered to walk me till my doorstep.
Each morning the RJ declares cloudy weather and showers. I stroll out of home each day looking expectantly at the sky. As I was getting out of office in the evening today, it began to pour. Leaves glistened. Water streamed down the roofed tiles. There was a sweet smell of moist soil. I stood still for a minute soaking it all in. It was a radically different experience from the mucky puddles and sticky windcheaters of Mumbai.
Acchhoo! I should have heed that advise about not getting caught in a shower. But I think its all worth it.