It has been exactly one month and 5 days since I have arrived Chennai, a slightly longer break than my previous breaks. And my life has a slow pace. And the slow pace has given me ample time to observe and study everything around me.
1. Men – Most of them are so ungentlemanly. How sad! Perhaps I should recommend the Govt. to provide some sort of awareness programme to teach to be gentlemen. It was two days after I arrived. I was onto my home town with not less than 30 kg of baggage and whatever. I had to miss two buses because I couldn’t transfer the bags! And the bus conductor was so unfriendly and inhumane to think of helping me. Having said that, I have to agree that there are very few good souls still alive and that’s why it is still raining?! A co passenger helped me.
It was an over bridge in Nanganallur railway station. An old man of approximately seventy was climbing up the stairs with a brief case in his hand while a young man was climbing down the stairs. They bumped into each other; one has to move in order for the two of them to reach their destinations. The old man was waiting for the young man to move and give some way but the other one was so stubborn and arrogant enough to stand and block the whole stairs creating inconvenience for the rest of the people. Realizing the waste of time and energy in expecting the young chap to move, the old man managed to get some way and left the place with a weak walk. Where is the empathy? I felt bad.
2. Married men: What a pity! One particular day, I called four of my friends who are married. And none of them picked up my call or calls. They called me after a while. They explained the reason why they couldn't pick up the call. Very unreliable. What are they afraid of? Good, they are neither my college mates nor my child hood friends. Anu akka, Mitch and I had a good laugh.
3. The system: Three days back in Chrompet, Akshay and I was waiting at city railway station ticket counter. And the queue was long that it started from the counter and to the stairs. The ladies in the counter took their own time to change duties and one of them started chanting some mantras before she started issuing the tickets while the passengers were creating unrest. Knowing the increasing population of the City, why can't the govt open few more counters at least at the peak hours? With this system we learn an important virtue – Patience. Otherwise, we lose a lot of things the way I do. Who has the time to waste?
I went to Education Department to collect hall ticket for my niece. The officer pretended to be busy looking at his file ignoring my niece’s query. He answered her briefly looking at his file. And I was losing my patience. I asked him and he had no choice but to answer me. Are they not paid? And where have they lost their smile? I am pretty sure that the Govt is giving them a lot of perks and allowances. The bank staff at CIMB had a badge "Serve with smile". Another officer whom we met on the same day was busy taking over the phone about his personal trip that they were planning. And this time, Nandhu, my niece lost her patience. She asked me, "Ma, are you not going to tell him to put the phone down and attend to us? if you are not then I will" We were attended shortly. The officer did not even say sorry. Manners?
It was Indian Bank, Kollidam Branch. My sister and I reached the bank around 11.30 in the morning in order to wind up the pension process of my dad. I started explain to the senior officer and with a grim face he answered, "Oh, you should come after 3.00 in the afternoon. Now we are busy with transaction and attending to customers”. Without a second of hesitation, I replied him that we would be back around 3.00 pm collecting the papers from the officer. Unexpected of my reaction, he cooled down a bit and said, "Oh wait, ma'm. Don't be upset, we are here to help you..blaw ..blaw..and blaw with a slight smile on his face. "My sister later told me that the officer might have expected me to request him with a pleading tone. And the officer looked at me irritantly when I acknowledged him for something with a double syllable Oh oh. Lolz..I realized I am in India.
One morning, I called a notary public to get his appointment since I wanted some documents signed. While I was explaining to him on the phone, he cut short the conversation with a line, "come to my office". My cousin took me to his office only to find out that the lawyer has to go another office to sign which could be done only in the evening and we came back home in the hot weather. Up and down 35 kilometres in the bike exposed to the hot sun made me sick with fever the same evening. Can I not sue the lawyer for not listening to me properly to what I was saying on the phone?
4. The weather: It is hot. When I used to say Malaysia was hot, I was countered with a question, “Is it not India hot either?” I defended India so much. It’s not just the heat. The hot weather comes with a package. The heat, dust, dirt and the sweat. Alost all the places are congested. I cancelled my plans few days. (the brighter side - watched few nice movies at home) And most important of all is buying books. I was sick with fever and other sorts of discomforts. My friend who is in Kuching commented that I needed to reacclimatize. Oh man!
5. On a positive note: It has been almost seven years since I travelled in local buses, all these trips, I always took cabs are autos and once in a while train. For one good reason; my dad. Now....well. I changed to bus with a rare auto or car ride. Some of the city buses have been upgraded. The ticketing system has been changed, the conductors have a small device and they print ticket. Most of the buses are in good condition, some even remind me travelling in KL, not Kuching, Not bad. I forgot lot of routes and the fares. Some passengers are too good to believe, they helped me with seats, tickets and routes. I lost touch with base. I lost balance in the bus. My nephew was making fun of me that I don’t know how to travel by bus and since then he is taking me in his bike, Suzuki.
6. Life Style: A considerable Americanization. Dress code, eateries, cars, electronic gadgets, shopping malls, lifestyles and whatnots. A lot of partying. Eat and be merry. Who cares, its my life kind of attitude. There seems to be a double layer of life. Well, may be multilayer. Life known and unknown. Dark and bright side of a person, family. I should stop here. There is one important aspect of Americanization is missing; mentality. Open mindedness or broad mindedness. Cleanliness, civic discipline, system, manners and all sorts of etiquettes need to be to be followed too. How convenient we are! We filter out the things that we want. The mentality doesn’t match the outfit. There are exceptions, not to forget and not to deny. The gap is too wide to balance.
When I make a comment about all these, I was told, rather, I was reminded with a laugh “Don’t forget that you are born and brought up here”. I replied them with the same laugh, “So what?"
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