Namma Bengaluru

Before I start this post, the word ‘namma’ has a special place in our hearts, for it was once ‘used’ to talk about probably the sexiest woman on earth(trying to stifle a laugh). Well, it was one of those early mornings when I used to wake up and go through the Times of India, just to know the current affairs, when unknowingly I picked up the Bangalore times that comes along as a supplement(;)) and there she was, on the last page of the daily, doing what she does best, posing for a photograph which makes her look best in ways that u can just imagine and the caption was ‘Namma namitha goes to London’ and I felt like I was going to nauseate.. Of all possible things that could have happened, this had to happen… A perfect start for the day..
Could not resist waking up my fellow roommates who were busy sleeping and managed to ruin their day as well..
P.S: Hope I have not hurt any true tamilian here, there is a rumor that a temple is being built for this goddess, namma namidha(a.k.a nami) .


The post is going to be about people who have to commute from their homes to their workplaces daily. And If you are one of those people who don’t own a vehicle(not that owning a vehicle makes u sweat less) or people who feel a six kilometer walk will take longer than going by auto, you are in for a ride. Autos it is.

There are quite a few things that goes on in the minds of every Autowala. Probably the first thing he looks at is whether you have a girl along with you. If yes, you would not have much of a problem catching an auto. In our world, this is termed ‘chilrai kaamam’. Anyway, Bangalore girls can have that effect on you.

And if you are a bunch of guys waiting for an auto, showing your thumbs up and waving, he looks at you, asks where you want to go, and before u even finish the name of the place, he guesses what that is and takes off. You are left slightly dented and irritated. The insane thing with these guys is, even if the place where u want to go is en-route the direction in which the auto is going, they do not care.

Then comes the next one, looks at the three of us. Knows very well that we don’t speak the language. Asks us to get in. Once we are in, he coolly says, sir, meter+20 rs kudi . O.K. And he starts the auto. What? We cry a little protest and there we are out again on the streets waving and thumbing. No sane man would give meter+20 when the meter itself in all probability would show 25 rs.

Just thought of an incident that happened to me, It was one of those frustrating days with the autos. I was out of steam and was no longer waving even. Then, an auto stopped by. What a pleasant surprise. I get in and tell him where I want to go. He doesn’t crib. He doesn’t say anything. Ah, lucky I thought. We go hundred metres and he says, sir, have to put petrol first, so will take some time. I don’t have a problem with that, not as if am running to catch a plane. I say ok. Little did I know that the dreaded petrol bunk was a kilometer away from the place where I got into the auto and that too in the other direction, opposite to where my home was. A smirk on his face. He will drink to me tonight.

And finally, even if you are a little agnostic or an atheist, you have got to pray that it does not rain when you are outside. There is the concept that you have to pay 1.5 times the meter price when it gets dark. But when is ‘dark’ is completely left to the autowala. And if it starts raining around 9 PM, its festival time for the auto’s. Two times the meter price is the best bargain that you will get. And they know you well, they know you would not want to get wet and that you would not care about paying that extra money for one day. (It rains quite a lot in Bangalore).

There is still a little bit more about these autos, the way they manage to heat up the meters and make it show 85 for a 55 rs ride, how he starts to explain his plight, whenever we ask for a ride, that he would get no ride back and petrol prices are sky high and blah blah blah, that you get into the auto hoping against hope that at least he stops cribbing once we are inside.(But he does not).All the cribbing for the 10 rs extra on the meter.

Is there a way out.. Buy your own vehicle. But watch out.