I decided to walk to my office in the morning because the
autos that were running were charging 170 to 200 bucks for a 3 km distance.
Many auto drivers managed to earn a lot of money and curses from people because
of their rude, indifferent and obnoxious behaviour. One auto driver told me to
pay 170 bucks while his eyes were fixed on my top; he almost got hit by a car. I
wouldn’t have minded a dent in his rear or the auto’s.
It was a sunny and humid hour of the morning; I stopped by
to drink some tender coconut water and noticed how people around me rushed
about their daily chores. A busy humming of everyday routine; youngsters hurrying
to college, women and men walking or driving to work and animals foraging for
food.
Many people appeared to have lost the knowledge of civic sense while
walking. They would walk at a snail–speed in front of you and stop suddenly on their
tracks without warning. They would also not give you much room to walk or move
if they are blocking your way. Seriously what’s up with that people? What happened to khud bhi chaliye aur auron ko
bhi chalne ka mauka dijiye? (Walk and let others walk)
The noise pollution on the road matched the fumes and smog in
the air as if both are competing. I reached office, tired and thirsty. Made me
think about how the daily wage workers and laborers go through the entire day
working in the sun nonstop every single day.
Just as I was settling in with the daily tasks I received a
call from a lady about a lost dog at Kitchen of Joy restaurant. He was injured,
scared and hungry, pacing outside the joint for food maybe. The customers were
creating a big hue and cry, telling to staff to drive him away and shouting at
the dog. He was finally locked in the house next to the restaurant by a staff
member, the lady who called had fed the dog some biscuits and wanted to take
him with her but he wouldn’t come and she couldn’t take him to her office also.
I asked her to send me the photo of the dog, a short description and the
location details, she immediately whatsapped all the details.
Next step was to
put up a post on various animal welfare groups on Facebook as I couldn’t leave
office. Once the post went up many kindhearted people responded and within an
hour or so the dog was rescued. I
thought of the heartless people who came to gorge at the eatery and couldn’t let
the scared and injured be if not help him on one hand and on the other this
group of wonderful souls, who took immediate action to help the little
fellow. He was quickly taken to a vet for a checkup and now waits for a foster
home until his family can be identified.
The news of the rescue was like a breath of fresh
air… And then, my brother from another mother, messaged that he will be
visiting me this weekend! Soon, it was 4 pm but the sun was under a blanket of
dark clouds. Rain, thunder and lightning shook our office; windows and doors
were slamming against wall. It seemed as if the clouds were fighting a terrible
war. I thought the rain would not stop and I would be stuck in office till late
but thankfully by 6 pm in slowed down to a drizzle. I took out my phone to call
an Ola Auto but the application was not working, so I called them to book one.
Response from the Ola representative? "Sorry,
you can only book the auto through the app not on phone! And there are no cabs
available nearby either." Just the other day I had received an email from Ola
Cabs which said, “We miss you! Ride an Ola
again! When a service providing agency just wants to
market their brand but talks so casual and doesn’t use such cases to show some
creativity, it says, this is how we are and we don’t give a shit what happens
to our customers.
Ola, improvise!
So… I thought might as well walk back home, my 5 month old
pup, Romeo was waiting for me and I didn’t want to waste any time. So my epic
walk began… through rain led grime and muck, stepping over mini sewage rivers
and roads filled with filth and broken pavements. I hurried my steps, the dirt
and mud kept sticking to my shoes. I had two worker women walking besides me
for company; they talked about how the water must have leaked from the roof of
their hut. A rash van driver from one of those Infant written vans nearly
knocked me off the road to jump a signal. I still can’t figure out what those
vans are all about, do they actually carry infants or children? Otherwise why
would you write infant on a vehicle? Weird!
Half way home I met a Moo (Mrs. Cow) we nodded at each
other, I said hello as always and she blew air from her nostrils to reciprocate.
Listening to Govinda's Main Toh Raste Se Ja Raha Tha (a song that never fails to make me smile)and Swag Mera Desi I swagged my way through lanes.
The only thing that made me sad during this long walk was the sight of a fallen
tree, split from the trunk the branch had fallen on a poll, bending it completely.
As it is so many trees are vanishing from the city in the name of development,
causing serious weather change, another tree left this world.
As I kept pace
with the dozens of footfalls around me my mind drifted to the things life is
made of; species of all kinds, their struggle, love, loss, commitment and resilience.
Every passing thought brought in a new perspective
The day was coming to an end,
everyone was hurrying back home to escape the weather. It is amazing what a simple normal
walk can do to you…feeling refreshed, calm and humble. A long eventful
day, full of learnings. Epic!
