13 april-and something else goes wrong!

I had a lovely interaction with an auto driver this morning that restored my faith in the goodness of people (after the personal conflict discussion of yesterday). After breakfast I stepped outside the building as usual to hail a rickshaw. There is always a slight possibility that I won't find one in time who is willing to take me all the way to work, but thus far I've been very lucky

Today, as usual, an auto stopped in front of me and I asked if the driver was willing to go to Indiranagar. He said "madam, don't you remember, I took you a few days ago. I know where it is". I was impressed that out of all his rides he remembered me and how to get to where I was going (I couldn't recall his face and I am awful with directions). He asked if I went the same way every day and I gave my affirmation, so he suggested that he be the one to drive me in the mornings.

This was amazing timing as just yesterday my friend at work had suggested I find a regular driver. I can't remember his name, so I'll look tomorrow on his little card...anyways, today he didn't turn on the meter. I noticed when we were about halfway to Indiranagar and had a moment of panic. What if he demanded more money than I had with me?! I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed.

But when we arrived, he just sat and waited for me to decide how much to pay him. When I asked the rate, he shrugged and told me he drops his son nearby for school (not entirely sure what the relevance was...). So I gave him slightly more than normal, 120 Rs, and he accepted. I'm not sure yet if the arrangement will work out (in any case it doesn't matter all that much, I can easily find an auto) but I hope it does. [NOTE: his name is Azathmulla- I checked today!]

After a quick lunch, my friend the other intern and I decided to take a walk to stretch our legs. We walked to the nearby shop (right next to the juice stand) and I wanted to buy biscuits because I needed change for a 500 Rs note so I could pay the auto home. I picked up packets of parle G and Good Day biscuit, and when we got to the counter the salesman smiled oh so sweetly and told me he didn't have change. So I told him I wasn't buying anything then, and miraculously he opened his drawer to find plenty of change.

The two of us treated ourselves to packaged chocolate ice cream bars - they were SO good in the heat! Then my boss and I planned out how the rest of my time here will go. I have a presentation to give in the next two weeks or so, so I have to make sure all my data is in order soon.

On a very brief tangent, I found this amazing Bulgarian proverb today:

At birth we cry, at death we see why.

At first I thought it was so sad, weeping from first breath to last, at the very end becoming unshakingly aware of total misery. But then I re-evaluated. And I've decided it has a positive bent, though sad. It reminds me of how I went through this phase some years back where the thought of age and death terrified me into tears, as if it was so close... Or how at the beginning of last term I was so excited for everything that on day 1, I was sad that it was almost over.

At birth we cry at the brevity of life, the small amount of time we have to enjoy its wonder. But only at death, once we have had a chance to experience love and laughter and joy, bliss, true happiness do we sense how lucky we have been and we know why we are sad life is short. Fortunately there don't need to be many tears in the middle...we can just enjoy.

I have been told lately that I'm a positive person, and I guess that is true. I hope it is true! I like optimism, in its practice I remember how happy I am.

At the end of the day, I hailed an auto outside work. The driver that pulled up did not know South End Circle, or Vijaya College or any of my usual landmarks. Luckily the guard in front of the office spoke to him in Kannada and he appeared to understand where we should go. So off we went, puttering along until barely 15 minutes away, the auto died.

Just broke down, wouldn't turn on, wouldn't move. He got out and pulled it to the side of the road. I tried to tell him it would be easier if I got out and helped but he wasn't having any of it. Now here I was on the side of some busy stretch of roads, only one measly shop in sight. How on earth I was going to get home, I had no clue.

At this cheery moment, my mama called from the States to make sure I was okay. I reassured her, then hung up to figure out what my next step should be. The driver was kind, and hailed other passing autos to see if they would take me home. They all refused. One driver finally told him about an auto repair shop nearby.

The auto literally moved slower than walking speed but we finally inched up to this shack in a small bazaar of narrow streets, and it died. The driver (I wanted to know his name, but the card in his auto only said "Lose/Gain Weight? Call ______" an interesting commentary on perpetual human dissatisfaction) bought some 'oil' for the auto. I'm not sure if it is actually oil but that's what everyone called it. And after a few minutes of fiddling about, he got back in and off we went.

We were in a neighborhood called Shivajinagar, somewhere near Bazaar Street, I think. It was this bazaar, or market, with narrow streets and colourful shops on either side, people chatting and children playing and only a few autos rolling by. It kind of reminded me of the souk we visited in Morocco. I want to go back but probably with someone safe.

There was a sign by the road near the bazaar detailing traffic violations and their corresponding fines. The sign was entirely in English and printed in small script so I'm not sure for whose benefit it was erected. No fine was above 300 rupees and offenses ranged from Drunken Driving to Charging Inappropriate Fare to Gentleman Sitting in Ladies Section. There was no fine for Ladies Sitting in Gents though.

The problem with our little breakdown and detour is that wherever that narrow maze spat us out, I had no idea where we were. I no longer knew how to get home! I trusted the driver remembered the guard's directions but no such luck. After aimlessly chugging about near Jayanagar, we asked for directions to Vijaya College near South End Circle. The helpful motorcyclist directed us to the wrong Vijaya College, one I've never seen before so again, we were lost.

We were subsequently directed to the wrong side of South End Circle, the wrong Bangalore Hospital, the wrong Adigas dosa shop. Finally one of our directions took us past a neighborhood I recognized and I got home for an amazingly low price of 150 rupees.

I felt so awful for this poor driver, who dealt with a breakdown, and traffic, and endlessly roaming around neighborhoods he didn't know. So I gave him 200 Rs and a packet of parle-G biscuits (haha) and apologized for the trouble. Good karma.

And in the evening, I spent a relaxing time with Joanna, watching shows and eating (!). I zonked out while she read, I've been increasingly tired lately! The weekend will be a welcome chance to catch up on sleep.

So even though 'something else went wrong', I actually had a great and cheery day! It is always so pleasant to interact with kind souls and I met several. All of the people directing us, both of my drivers, the guard, and people in my office as usual. I hope everyone had a happy day!