Inside Kingfisher airlines, travelling from Bangalore to Kolkata.

“Sir, which seat do you want to take, the rear or the middle,the ground staff of King-fisher enquired. “I will take the aisle” I replied. No wonder,i was pretending as if i knew how the seats in a planes were arranged. She typed in my request,while her colleague looked at her very carefully. I thought there was a little hitch on their side in hearing “aisle” in their airport terminology.The most commonly seems to be Rear, Middle and Front.

Why am i talking about the aisle? Well, I recently went through some airplane disaster videos in “YouTube” where choosing the aisle increased the chance of survival during accidents. Smart am “I”, coming planned with safety regulations, so when i boarded the plane here, I was a little relived by seeing that the exit doors were just one row after me. The aisle idea had splendidly worked. Thanks to “YouTube “again.

The time is 2:oo am in the morning at Bangalore International Airport, left at around 9:30 last night from my place(Adugodi, Bangalore).After quite an enquiry,got to the nearest station(Shantinagar) to catch a Volvo Bus which regularly plies towards Bangalore International Airport(BIA)at Devanahalli. 

This is my first flight, just my first flight. Expecting some good reception in my maiden flight with good aerial view of  some parts of the Indian States along my Jounrey. My laptop battery is already on caution, signalling low battery. Quickly, I will reach Kolkata on 18th by 9:00am, than the second lap of my journey begins. I have two options, either i take the bus or the train. Lets see, how my my plan unfolds…

 

Left: Hemant Gairola( Sub-Editor- Indian Express), Right: Tenzing Theckpa Bhutia (Unemployed)

Where would find such woman. Who would coyly listen and still not complain!!!

Hemant in a meaningful way

Front: Thinley(My Room mate) and his younger sister Mingma Tsamchoe

A simple morning, not much of an unusual.Thinley’s sister( Migmar tsamchoe) is here to add to our isolation. Feels good to have someone during a lonesome day when there is no activity and the inevitable stress of working with NGO in Bangalore(I have my reasons). 

Apparently had a fine day with Hemant, a friend during my Intern in Hindu last yeat. Currently,he holds a respectable position as a Sub-Editor with The New Indian Express(Newspaper) in Bangalore. I remember how he during those months, somewhere last year struggled(not quite the right word, lets say he managed successfully to attract seniors in his ability) and of course he did well. We were occasionally in touch by mobile and he would tell me his tales about how he actually went about searching for a job in The Hindu(Newspaper). How he came to The new Indian Express will need a lot of time and words.

So, today after joining The New Indian Express. Hemant threw a small duo party(amongst us, we were only two). Ate some delicious Cheese pizza in a pizza corner(Dominos) here in Brigade road. What better way could it be for him to give me a treat, he would tell me. “Mujhe Job Mila Hai”( I got a job). He prefered to pay, but it was also one humanity from my side that I wouldn’t let his money go around.

There,we were eating the cheesy pizza, in fact this was my first touch with a pizza. Quite Slimy, the cheese would still not leave the portion after I would pull it as a piece(I might be talking very naive) but learnt how actually pulling the pizza piece from the whole was not funny, it was acceptable.”Ok Ok”…. It happens with very pizza.Particularly reminds me of Turtle Ninja.  

Hemant  even got this new looks, there was a stark contrast with what he appeared last year. Now, he has more generated looks, thanks to his dream girl( I am using dream girl, because he is still pursuing). In fact he already has a pierced ears and was determined to pierce his eye brows too. WOW, looks cool for today’s Journalist.” Live life to the fullest”.

Fresh breeze at last, something very close to the air of Darjeeling. The clouds are rumbling and the strong winds blowing at our faces is such a sigh of relief. At such circumstances, who wouldn’t want to take a breezy ride. I ask namdak(My roommates friend)  to take me in his Scooty to scout me around Bangalore’s favourite place for a refreshment. Namda was hesitant with my plan and of course he wouldn’t say no.

There, we were in Forum( Bangalore’s popular meet up and a shopping extravaganza). We hit the BOSE Showroom for some demonstration( We can’t buy those sets, it costs around Rs 2 lakhs) but we did manage to throw some gentleman show so that we were served under the impression of genteel class. It just doesn’t end here, we went to the Samsung Show room, where i asked for portable A/C’s. The seller opened his eye to the moment of fact, “portable AC’s”. He answered “We at Samsung, don’t have portable AC’s but may be LG must be having those Portable AC’s.

Mosquitoes and Cockroaches

The mosquitoes in my room have found a common feeding ground.Last night i was bittten a couple of times, i never imagined. These red bumps around my arms is a grim testimony to those blood suckers!! I have acted very friendly with them, never ever hit them or tried to persuade them. On moral grounds i would never kill them but alleast try to minimize their activity. So, thanks god that i have these mosquito repellents. Its “ON” today. I can just feel how they might be suffocating..hahahahahah…I feel good!! Take this as a revenge.  

The cockroaches are stalking me, they are also here to taste my patience. There are quite the smaller ones, tinny winny, fast moving ones. They have a huge recruit in our Kitchen especially the corners where they find warmth( I believe). My Laptop seems to attracting them from the distance i.e shoe stands and Cupboards. These cockroaches are just stubborn. I always push them away further, but to my astonishment to find that “they come back again”. They don’t seem to divert their course, even knowing the consequences i.e death.

I started my work late(just a training) as usual. Took an expensive Auto-ride again around Rs 60 till Hutchins Road, this time promising myself that this is, not going to happen next time and it might be the last. I am already with my heart and mind to leave this work(Internships) anytime. I am waiting for a response and a suitable time to make a proper departure from Bangalore to Sikkim. WWF has offered me a two months Internship in Sikkim. I am excited to see Sikkim and do something which i never felt before, not something against the law but something which will make me feel i have done it. Till something happens within the next 24 hours, I cannot declare my forthcomings.

 

Home and away

Not in an agreeable situation in Oxfam, Bangalore.It is though a privilege to convince people, but door to door knocking is quite unacceptable. Therefore, Oxfam people calls it in a better way “Social Marketing”. It is however a pity to remark these against an organisation where i have for the past few days built a strong relationship. They are just too good and they handle newcomers proficiently and why not since they are “social marketeers”. Today was Saturday and the activity compared to weekdays was different. The same script, “Hello sir/Madam, we are a group of youngsters carrying out a social campaign. Could you spare us 2 minutes. “Sir, have you heard about Oxfam? Oxford University, yes it was started by a few students of Oxford University. In India we are focusing on underprivileged Children and woman empowerment.”Sir/Madam” have you heard about the ban on Child Labour………it just goes on until, we reach the final close for asking participation or contribution in the form of Cheque or credit card.

Food seems to be a problem for me. Never felt this unhungry at these period of working days. I hope it will recover soon. Infact, i got to savour a good chicken and dal for Dinner prepared by thinley’s elder brother(Naghden Yeshi). He is here till tommorow and  on the same day kunga will be leaving for his summer vacations towards Sikkim. There is little bit of uneasiness, since the room is going to turn quite inactive for the next two months. Even i might leave for my holidays, which includes my Intern(Training in Sikkim,if possible).

I am definately going to post more blogs from Sikkim  and throughout  my journey from Bangalore to the hills. I am so excited to write and click some good pictures.

‘We guys are carrying out a social drive” Have you heard about Oxfam India’?

I am not telling this, but this is how we were told to talk while dealing with probable donors. Those sentences doesn’t end here. There was a slight planning glitch between the speakers regarding what should be told first and after. So a plump lady( don’t remeber her name) intervenes to add a few list of what we need to know and do on the behalf of the organisation. It was a short Introduction, where minds were being tamed to wilfully work effortlessly. After a brief session, we went downstairs and to my surprise we get to meet a bunch of employees. I never imagined that a not so good looking building with cemented staircase could hold such prim and trim enthusiasts. This was my third time, the last time i was here, was for my acceptance request with the organisation. The Building doesn’t look like a workplace instead it is like an old government residence, but some do agree that NGO do have this habit of living shabby. But not like long beards, wet arm t-shirts or a red saree. The reality just slapped on my face(No Sarcasms).

 

Above: Sunday Meal prepared by Thinley and his company.

Below:  Kunga along with his classmates, here in our room.Both of them were from Malda(West Bengal). Since it was in the midst of our special sunday meal, we wouldn’t let guest just stare at us. We asked them if they would prefer beef. They promptly replied “NO”(No for beef). So,there was nothing much to explain here. The dinner just remains among us. 

Below: This is thinley who works with Hewlett Packard( Spelled right)even our room mate. He was the chef for the day.

If i hold it straight, the keyboard pops out. This is how it looks. I just have to push it again.

Nothing unusual happened today. It was Kunga who suddenly steps out to borrow Playstation 2 from our neighbours. When it comes to borrowing or lending something from someone, there is always a hesitation. Keeping this in mind. I could see a spectacle by kunga. It was called the ” The fear factor”. All he had to do was get into our neighbours room and cat purr or meow for it. Infact he did it. Our inclinations are not deluded it is for the sake of the game. 

Finally, Kunga comes in with a plate of Playstation 2. He plugs in and starts playing our regular contended game,”Take Down: Revenge”. It has only one remote, so its always that we dont get to play arch rivals but for the sake of making it interesting we calculate time. So here i am always winning. We have become couch gamers, and sometimes our neighbour “fatty” is supportive of the fact about us. He says,” We dont go out most of the time, thats why we play games”. So i could call him like minded people and i share this same idea with him. We call ourselves average gamers not very professional.I call him”fatty” but not directly at him. His name is Tsundu and he actually takes cares of the Playstation 2. I believe it doesn’t belong to him too. So as events unfold there could be lot of gaming to happen. Let see…. 

So….Thinley, our room mate was here today.We never see him during our sleep since he works in the night, so in his presence there is always a good treat. “A good food to eat, after all its sunday and he is free. His younger sister Mingma Tsamchoe left for her college today.She seems to have lost some weight but it actually doesn’t matter when you are healthy and doing fine. This is away from home. 

The time is ticking and i am still not much prepared with my exams tommorow. I am worried if i think about it.Lets see what happens tommorow.

Facebooking and Studying. Since this MTS(DIY(Do it yourself..check google)mobile Internet connection has come to my boring schedule. It has added a glamour to my fingers. It has been some few days that i have been very facebookish browsing to see friends picture without their consent and those swanky and cavernous places they go which i never realized. This is suggestive to my one of my friend in facebook but it relates to all. I am alone right now, but doesn’t really feel like when i am online especially when i am blogging. My room mate studies in St Joseph’s College, he is doing his BA in HEP..quite odd abbreviation. HEP means History,Economics and Political science. I think there must be a square root for E, because he takes english as well.