My last working day at office was finally here. I didn't really like going out there and meeting people with whom I hadn't connected, although I spent over an year with 'em. How I wish I was still that tantrum throwing innocent kid. Alas! There has been some maturity in me over the past couple of years, having experience corporate world first-hand. I knew that however difficult it was going to turn out for me, I just had to put myself through it.
What my self-obsessed head didn't quite realize was that there were mature people in the office as well. They bid me farewell in quite a decent way. It wasn't the farewell that I had received in Reliance where folks were crying and heartbroken that I was leaving. It was a simple farewell with curt 'goodbyes-keep in touches', befitting the almost average time that I spent out there.
Finally the time had come. The time for the planned trip. I knew that a new phase in my life was going to begin wherein I was going to stand alone. I knew that I needed the blessings of Lord Venkateswara before I began my war with the world.
Unlike the custom, this time I didn't have any last-minute rushes. I had booked my ticket well in advance, got necessary things in place by evening time and even packed my luggage a good couple of hours prior to departure. By 22.30, I got to the designated boarding point. I hadn't expected the bus to be on time and bus company didn't disappoint me.
Having gotten there earlier, I found a spot to get seated and took out a smoke. In a couple of minutes, I was approached by a guy with wallets in his hand. He started saying, "Wallet Sir, Wallet. Genuine leather wallet, Italian wallet. Only 50 bucks sir." I simply gave a long gaze. In a couple of seconds, he understood and walked away to the next person. I couldn't help but ponder about the lifestyle of people like him.
My torrent of thoughts was disturbed by someone touching my sweatshirt and feeling the material. Once I glanced at him, he smiled and asked, "Is this a sweater?" I told him "Yeah sweater and raincoat." He then smiled and asked, "How much does it cost?" I had to think a bit 'coz it was nearly five years old and I hadn't remembered the price point I bought it at. Filling in the silence he asked, "5000?" I immediately said, "No No, must be 2000." He then smiled and asked, "So, where are you headed?" I answered, "Tirupathi."
He was intrigued that a young guy was heading out to a religious spot all by himself and he asked, "Why?" I told him that I was going to seek his blessing as I was embarking upon a new phase in life, that of trying to start on my own. He smiled and said, "If you try to do business, you should do it without capital." I laughed and exchanged a couple more words. Then I asked him what he did for a living. He told me that he sinned. He continued after a brief pause, "I run my own business. Which means I commit sins." This conversation was getting interesting. However the announcement for my bus was made and I bid my strange friend adieu. I got to my seat and settled in. After about 15 minutes, the bus started.
My journey had begin.
There was some random Allari Naresh movie playing. I like the chap as he does some very unconventional movies, however I ain't a die hard fan. I attempted watching the movie and in a couple of minutes I saw one of the best executed scenes in Telugu cinema. A whole fight sequence was shown in animation, sketched animation - black and white with only the blood being shown in red. Now that's some creative thinking. Appreciating this effort, I tried engaging in the plotline. I found the story also quite interesting - there is a dreaded goon family who wants to marry off their daughter. Given their infamy, it becomes increasingly difficult to find matches for the girl. The girl however confesses her love for the hero (Allari Naresh), who is already in love with someone else. The complication is the fact that Allari Naresh doesn't bow down to the threats of the girls brothers and insists that he'll marry only the one he loves. But given the sorry state of direction in Telugu cinema, I quickly lost interest in the proceedings.
Thus reclining my semi-sleeper seat, I attempted to cajole sleep. But even that wouldn't come easy. The guy seated next to me was enjoying the movie for everyone else in the bus laughing at the slightest jokes. After about an hour after departure, some bored guy went over the bus driver and asked him to switch the darned television off. With the only source of light in the bus being switched off, I attempted to cajole sleep yet again. The guy next to me, luckily fell asleep quite fast. Unluckily for me, the bloody bastard was snoring. I don't know when I slept; but I did fall asleep eventually.
Having succeeded in semi-sleeping, I saw that I had reached Tirupathi when I opened my eyes to the peering daylight. Once the bus stopped at the Balaji bus-stand, I alighted and collected my luggage. I quickly took out the first cigarette of the day and lit it. As it happens, I was swarmed with middlemen promising me a ride, promising a hotel and that kind of stuff. After smoking to my heart's fill, I asked to be taken to an economical hotel. In two minutes, I was taken to a place called Sandeep Residency. I quickly inspected the room and booked the lowest possible room for rent. Getting to my room, I sat on the bed, switched on the television and lazed around for a bit.
As I hadn't gotten enough stretching during my sleep, I decided to stretch out and lay down. In a couple of minutes I was fast asleep.
I don't remember what I had dreamed about, but I remembered only one thing. While I was checking into the room, I had asked the guy ushering me in if it was okay to smoke in the room. He smiled and said that not just smoking, I could do anything in the room.
As if I was biologically programmed, I woke up with a start at about 12:40 in the afternoon. I remembered that I had prayed that I'd be climbing the hills on foot. I knew that it was already quite late in the day and that I should begin doing that. I got up, sat down and in an attempt to clear the haze in my mind, I lit a cigarette. I switched on the television. I began watching something without paying any attention whatsoever and before I knew it, I had already smoked four cigarettes in the past 40 minutes or so. Finally getting a grip over my thoughts, I got out of bed and bathed. I got dressed, took the copy of 'The Krishna Key', my goggles and started out.
At the hotel reception I made the quick inquiries regarding the time until which darshan would be open and details about getting the free darshan. I got out an took the bus to Alipiri, the place where the steps began.
As I alighted the bus, I realized that I still had a cigarette on me. I looked all around me and immediately spotted the coconut vendor. I ordered for, drank it and had the malai too, all while smoking the last cigarette. In minutes, I began my vow to Lord Venkateswara.
I might have climbed about 300 odd steps without any difficulty. Additionally, I began reading 'The Krishna Key' by Ashwin Sanghi. This guy is a good researcher, but he is not a good writer. That is such a shameful excuse for a thriller novel. Though I wanted to get to the end of it, it wasn't because I wanted to know what happened to the characters; it was because I wanted to know what were the research elements in the book.
However, after reaching that point, the struggle actually began. As the stairs took on a steep ascent, gravity started it's devious pull on me. I climbed the next 50 stairs and simply had to sit down. I just couldn't go any further. They say that the 'Cross-trainer' is a simulation of climbing stairs; but it's no fucking match to gravity. I pitied myself that I was subjecting my body to so many tortures. But I knew that this was the toughest part. Once I got to the horizontal road, life would be easier.
So I carried on. But I could carry on only for another 100 stairs. I just had to sit and catch my breath. That's when I noticed two ladies bending down at each and every step and applying some kind of tilak or something. Man, these ladies were going to do it all the way until the very last step!! Devotion.
What brings about such faith in people?
After reading a bit more of the book, I carried on. Of course, I carried on only in bursts of 50 steps or 100 steps. Adding to the trouble was me being hungry since morning.
While I seated to catch my breath, I saw a kid climbing the stairs along with his family. As he passed me, he looked at me curiously, the way you would look at a creature in a zoo. I was in total contrast to his world - with a book in hand, goggles on my face and look of utter fatigue written all over me. Just as his curiosity had come, it went away.
I got up and started yet again. Finally after about a hour and a half, I got to Gogaligopuram, which is the starting of the third hill. Life was about to get easy again. I got to the counter to get my coupon of free darshan. I was surprised to see that those folks out there actually took a snap of me and immediately handed me a coupon. Of course, we are AP. Of course, we are the software state! I had seen Tirupathi transform over the years. Gone were the wrist bands that were put on us which functioned as our darshan tokens. Now, it was all IT driven.
After having collected my coupon, I went to one of the numerous stalls and ordered for a dosa. I had just gotten into the discipline of avoiding oil at home. But out there, my deliriousness taking over me with every passing second, I gave into what was available. After a short break, I resumed my journey. The rest of the journey was quite easy and passed away without any event.
As I got to the top of the hills, I was finally happy. My free darshan also included a free stay at Madhava Nilayam and a free meal (Don't know where). I inquired at one of those enquiry counters and finally got to Madhava Nilayam, hoping to check into a room and freshen up before hitting the Vaikuntam Complex queues for the darsahn.
But damn me! Damn me to think that I would actually get a room to myself! Madhava Nilayam is a place for everyone - mostly the ones who can't afford the paid accommodation that the economy of TTD thrives on! This Nilayam had a couple of large halls with numerous lockers, where all one had to do was roll out a mattress and settle in for the night. Although dejected, I quickly took a locker and placed all my things in there and set out for the darshan. It was probably 6:45PM then.
After more walking, I joined the queue for my darshan. Within minutes, I got to one of those stair-cased waiting rooms. I knew that the wait will be for some duration. I sat down and went off into my dreamland. After about 20 minutes, I couldn't take it any more. I found a convenient spot and just dozed off. Memories from childhood came floating back. I had been in one of those halls long back with my granny, my aunt, my parents, my cousins. And we had seen the screening of some religious movie - bhakta prahalada i think. I don't the legend neither can I recall it at ease.
As if I was biologically programmed, I woke up. I didn't have my cellphone on me and I had left the habit of wearing a wristwatch. So I had no clue what the time was. However all the people I saw before dozing off were still around me and I knew that it couldn't have been too long. Within minutes of me waking up, the gates were opened.
The devotees thronged out to get a darshan of their master. This queue took a good hour or maybe more. Of course, we all chimed and shouted 'Govinda Govinda' a couple of times. What always fascinates me is the wide array of languages one gets to hear at these religious places. Irrespective of our race, our creed, our state, our culture, our language, our habits - one thing unifies us and unifies us so damn well - our HERITAGE, OUR RELIGION. Finally, I entered the golden gopuram of the famous Lord Venkateswara. In minutes, I got the darshan which obviously lasted for no more than a couple of seconds. Finally, I was out. I remembered that I was forced to buy token for laddus while I was in the queue. I looked at the token and thought about going to get the laddus.
But by then, my deliriousness was getting to me and I decided to head out and eat something. After collecting my flip-flops, which I obviously had to deposit before getting into the complex, I enquired for Woodlands. The guy at the counter encouraged me to go to Annapurna, which in his opinion was equally good. Unable to walk any further, I simply set out in the given directions. While walking I realized that unless I returned with Tirupathi laddus, my visit would be considered incomplete. So reluctantly I turned and traced my way back to the gopuram complex and made it to the laddu complex. After battling some crazy crowds, I finally managed to get my share of 2 laddus. With a tinge of victory, I set out and got to Annapurna mess.
I simply ordered for full meals as I expected them to be good. To my dismay, it was horrible. But having ordered it, I just endured. Almost at 11.15 I was finally done with the first leg of my journey.
As I alighted the bus, I realized that I still had a cigarette on me. I looked all around me and immediately spotted the coconut vendor. I ordered for, drank it and had the malai too, all while smoking the last cigarette. In minutes, I began my vow to Lord Venkateswara.
I might have climbed about 300 odd steps without any difficulty. Additionally, I began reading 'The Krishna Key' by Ashwin Sanghi. This guy is a good researcher, but he is not a good writer. That is such a shameful excuse for a thriller novel. Though I wanted to get to the end of it, it wasn't because I wanted to know what happened to the characters; it was because I wanted to know what were the research elements in the book.
However, after reaching that point, the struggle actually began. As the stairs took on a steep ascent, gravity started it's devious pull on me. I climbed the next 50 stairs and simply had to sit down. I just couldn't go any further. They say that the 'Cross-trainer' is a simulation of climbing stairs; but it's no fucking match to gravity. I pitied myself that I was subjecting my body to so many tortures. But I knew that this was the toughest part. Once I got to the horizontal road, life would be easier.
So I carried on. But I could carry on only for another 100 stairs. I just had to sit and catch my breath. That's when I noticed two ladies bending down at each and every step and applying some kind of tilak or something. Man, these ladies were going to do it all the way until the very last step!! Devotion.
What brings about such faith in people?
After reading a bit more of the book, I carried on. Of course, I carried on only in bursts of 50 steps or 100 steps. Adding to the trouble was me being hungry since morning.
While I seated to catch my breath, I saw a kid climbing the stairs along with his family. As he passed me, he looked at me curiously, the way you would look at a creature in a zoo. I was in total contrast to his world - with a book in hand, goggles on my face and look of utter fatigue written all over me. Just as his curiosity had come, it went away.
I got up and started yet again. Finally after about a hour and a half, I got to Gogaligopuram, which is the starting of the third hill. Life was about to get easy again. I got to the counter to get my coupon of free darshan. I was surprised to see that those folks out there actually took a snap of me and immediately handed me a coupon. Of course, we are AP. Of course, we are the software state! I had seen Tirupathi transform over the years. Gone were the wrist bands that were put on us which functioned as our darshan tokens. Now, it was all IT driven.
After having collected my coupon, I went to one of the numerous stalls and ordered for a dosa. I had just gotten into the discipline of avoiding oil at home. But out there, my deliriousness taking over me with every passing second, I gave into what was available. After a short break, I resumed my journey. The rest of the journey was quite easy and passed away without any event.
As I got to the top of the hills, I was finally happy. My free darshan also included a free stay at Madhava Nilayam and a free meal (Don't know where). I inquired at one of those enquiry counters and finally got to Madhava Nilayam, hoping to check into a room and freshen up before hitting the Vaikuntam Complex queues for the darsahn.
But damn me! Damn me to think that I would actually get a room to myself! Madhava Nilayam is a place for everyone - mostly the ones who can't afford the paid accommodation that the economy of TTD thrives on! This Nilayam had a couple of large halls with numerous lockers, where all one had to do was roll out a mattress and settle in for the night. Although dejected, I quickly took a locker and placed all my things in there and set out for the darshan. It was probably 6:45PM then.
After more walking, I joined the queue for my darshan. Within minutes, I got to one of those stair-cased waiting rooms. I knew that the wait will be for some duration. I sat down and went off into my dreamland. After about 20 minutes, I couldn't take it any more. I found a convenient spot and just dozed off. Memories from childhood came floating back. I had been in one of those halls long back with my granny, my aunt, my parents, my cousins. And we had seen the screening of some religious movie - bhakta prahalada i think. I don't the legend neither can I recall it at ease.
As if I was biologically programmed, I woke up. I didn't have my cellphone on me and I had left the habit of wearing a wristwatch. So I had no clue what the time was. However all the people I saw before dozing off were still around me and I knew that it couldn't have been too long. Within minutes of me waking up, the gates were opened.
The devotees thronged out to get a darshan of their master. This queue took a good hour or maybe more. Of course, we all chimed and shouted 'Govinda Govinda' a couple of times. What always fascinates me is the wide array of languages one gets to hear at these religious places. Irrespective of our race, our creed, our state, our culture, our language, our habits - one thing unifies us and unifies us so damn well - our HERITAGE, OUR RELIGION. Finally, I entered the golden gopuram of the famous Lord Venkateswara. In minutes, I got the darshan which obviously lasted for no more than a couple of seconds. Finally, I was out. I remembered that I was forced to buy token for laddus while I was in the queue. I looked at the token and thought about going to get the laddus.
But by then, my deliriousness was getting to me and I decided to head out and eat something. After collecting my flip-flops, which I obviously had to deposit before getting into the complex, I enquired for Woodlands. The guy at the counter encouraged me to go to Annapurna, which in his opinion was equally good. Unable to walk any further, I simply set out in the given directions. While walking I realized that unless I returned with Tirupathi laddus, my visit would be considered incomplete. So reluctantly I turned and traced my way back to the gopuram complex and made it to the laddu complex. After battling some crazy crowds, I finally managed to get my share of 2 laddus. With a tinge of victory, I set out and got to Annapurna mess.
I simply ordered for full meals as I expected them to be good. To my dismay, it was horrible. But having ordered it, I just endured. Almost at 11.15 I was finally done with the first leg of my journey.
Bibliography:
First Come Travel With Me (Written during my visits to IIMB to appear for the IIM selection interviews, travelling from IIT Chennai)