Chennai Trip - IFMR

Hello Readers,

I am not too sure, how many readers would my blogging garner, as I am no AB, Salman or any film personality nor do I belong to politics, not even a business entrepreneur... sheh, So who am I ? Spiderman ! naaah i am just an existent of this world, working as a project manager in a software company, who is introduced to the blog world... Thanks to Neha ( a colleague and a very good friend). its about her belief in me, so Neha hope I do not disappoint you.

So once I am into the blog world, it gives me an ample of opportunity to write about what I feel and share my thoughts about everything in the world. So, over the period of time as I get chance to write I shall be sharing my views, my thoughts, my life , my experiences and most importantly my never ending stories. But one thing assured, whatever written will be straight from the heart.

So friends, let me share my experience on my trip to Chennai for a client visit.

Not that, its the first time I am at this part of India but its just that since quite some years journey in Train has been a rarity if not completely out. Thanks to Inflation, rising prices and the cost cutting by my office, on Sunday night I leave for the unforgettable journey of my Life. Though, I am very tempted to tell you the series of events that landed me in train (Chennai Mail to be precise). The excitement level was at an all time low. However, had to pack my bags and be sure that I am loaded with enough stuff so that I complete my journey without getting bored. Yes, I was aware that the journey was for 30 long hours, where the train was suppose to halt at all the stations and all the signals. So loaded my Lap top with all the movies, borrowed 2 Chetan Bhagat Novels viz. 3 Mistakes of my life and 5 point someone, bottles of water and a packet of cigarettes.

Sharp at 11:35 the train started from CST. Unbelievable, but true… Trains nowadays are always on time unlike Flights… Thank you Lalu ji u rock. As the train started I could see unknown faces in my compartment, people bidding good bye to their loved ones, people pushing to alight from the train as they feel the train is in motion, slowly the lights on the CST station start disappearing and the train catches motion.

Positive is my attitude, so whenever everyone asked me how would u manage the journey in train and I would reply them that “It’s been a long when I haven’t caught up with sleep, so for next 30 hours or so I would enjoy myself and rejuvenate myself after a sound sleep”. Easier said then done and human biology wise I don’t think any normal human can sleep for 30 hours unless under extraordinary circumstances. So a night before I had a Saturday Night and woooooh that was some night. In short, I desperately needed to sleep. I had a gentleman who was my neighbor i.e. I was given side berth which means Upper berth was for him and Lower berth was for me. So my friendly neighborhood was one of those who loves chatting on phone and for some reasons I hate people who keep talking over the phone all the time. Not that I needed his attention, but I wanted to tell him to go to his reserved berth and leave me with mine so that I can drop dead in sleep. So after 35 minutes in which I think we crossed the Mumbai border, my eyes were closing and from being assertive were slowly begging him to give me my space. Understanding my situation, he moved to his berth and giving me my space for the rest of the journey. Immediately as I got my bed arranged and stretched myself on it, I was fast into my dream world. One thing, which I have always noticed is, Whilst in train the dreams you get are very scary and weird to put it mildly. I am a person who actually loves, believes and thinks about his dreams as I always search meaning in them. Ok, so while I was in my scary dreams where I saw earthquakes and some very disturbing images, I was shaken up by a gentleman at 8:15 am in the morning requesting me to exchange seats with his wife. No Problems at all Sir!! But thanks for waking me up at Solapur and that too so early…. Hello! What will I do now….

OK! U might feel this is an exaggeration as I had movies to watch! But sorry, trains specially Mail trains do not have any charging points. Laluji… please do something about it. So, I am left with no choice but to read Novels. So, I started with 3 mistakes of my life (No options you see). But it was a good and interesting read in 5 hours flat I finished the novel. Really a good novel with a very bollywoodish end. The best part about the novel is that it blends some real life instances and their implications on a common mans life very well. All and all thumbs up to this novel. In the mean while, had my lunch (Railway ka Breakfast, lunch and dinner which is just uhhhh). So now I am all set for Chennai, with the trailer already being shown in the train journey. The day is about to get over, and we will reach Chennai at 5 a.m. IST. So I have now started reading 5 point someone and no matter how interested I am in reading it, my fellow companions in the train did not let me finish the book as everyone decided to sleep at 9 pm sharp and though I managed with faintest of light that was soon switched off as well. So Good night! I am off to sleep, even though I don’t want to.

Who says Trains are late? I just cant stop admiring Lalooji unbelievable but true I was in Chennai before time. The train reached Chennai Central at 4: 30 am sharp. Thanks to Merlin and Dave of IFMR that my accommodation was arranged even before I landed in Chennai. As I walkout on the cemented platform of Chennai Central station I feel the change and as I move out I can smell the fragrance of coffee and it was the time for me to smell the coffee literally. I was in Chennai, all alone! A place which people have always criticized and even I had a very bad experience here during my visit which was sometime in 1995 or 96. where people do not talk in any language but Tamil only. However, as I walked out I found an autowala to whom I asked to go to the place which I wasn’t aware where does it exist in Chennai. The autowala roughly looked at the address and tad comes his reply, he spoke a universal language which even the deaf can hear “ 140 Rs.” I bargained and bought him with my talks to Rs. 120. (What a bargain??). The autowala who very confidently walked with me to his auto and then he asked the next person standing in Tamil. What I could understand from their conversation was that this autowala did not know where to go. However, the brilliant understanding of the roads which the autowala had lead us searchin the place for almost 20 minutes and the last we realized was that we were roaming right at the same place all this while and couldn’t find the guest house. After much of delay and exercise of getting down and asking people at 5:30 am in the morning about the address I was at the guest house and believe me the room arranged was awesome to say the least. After 30 hours of journey the only thing you want is a place where you can sleep peacefully and comfortably. This place was everything and more than you can ask for. Located in the peaceful area of Nungambakam, a residential area in Chennai is away from the hustle bustle of the city traffic but still so near that wherever you travel in the city the charge will be Rs. 40… yes that’s been my lucky number in Chennai. Wherever, I go I am charged Rs. 40.

So, with 40 Rs. I am ending my first blog as I now need to go and catch up with some Sambhar Rice and this seems to be enough for the first blog. Ohh yes! In my next blog, I shall let you know the story of Sambhar Rice and Chennai.

Do let me know your comments!!! And remember in Chennai Rajnikant is the boss… ;)

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P.S. : as this is my first blog and as I mentioned I right straight from my heart, I have not paid any attention on punctuations or spellings and not to mention there has been no revision done as well. Sorry for that, will improve on this slowly and gradually.
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