Bangalore and Back - A Much Cherished Father-Daughter Trip

Day 1, March 31, 2022

 Anjali's exams were getting over by the 31st and she had planned to visit her cousin Prarthana and          Uncle in Bangalore way before the exams. I was not part of the trip because she had planned it with Shobhs and I found myself gradually being enrolled into it. Anyways once I was in it, we decided to book tickets - we considered flights, trains, driving down - and realised that none of those options maximised our three days there because they would take away from the day. We finally decided on the bus, get in at 9 pm and alight at 7 pm,  to maximise our time. Bookings done we were getting ready.

Off in Service 1069, 3 and 4

Bus journeys are always a little taxing - where to catch them, seats, where they stop, when they will reach etc. Thankfully we booked TSRTC which is my number one choice for bus journeys and as the state service, their buses get to use the city roads at all times. We chose to be picked up at SR Nagar and set off at 8 pm - Mani's driver dropped us off in his car. Service number 1069 came in early and we hopped on to seats 3 and 4 and settled down. The buses have stopped giving blankets so the shawl we took was a boon. It plodded through the city at a super slow pace, playing some weird Telugu movies that Anjali found highly amusing going by the number of Oh My Gods I heard. We finally landed up atMGBS which has the world's worst approach road ever. At MGBS I asked Anjali if she wanted to use the pay and pay facility (oh, its free for men) and that experience I think put her off public toilets for life. Anyway, we proceeded to Aramgarh which has the world's worst road and then finally we were off. 

At Kempegowda Bus Stop, to Metro

It was an eventful journey - first there was some issue with the engine heating up and the driver trying to cool it down with water, then there was a massive accident on the other side with a TSRTC bus hitting a lorry and a car and another vehicle also being involved. It was a rather bad accident. Our driver had a good look and saw there were police and ambulances and cranes in action and called his office and told them. He found out who the driver was and what happened etc and it struck me that the bus was not safe with this guy driving and talking on the phone continuously, and in his upset state of mind. Plus, the bus engine also had the issue. Being close to him, I was privy to his scary discussions for the next few hours. All in all, we managed to get dropped off at Kempegowda Bus stand.

At Majestic Metro Station

Prarthana had advised us to take the Metro. I normally do not like to try out new things unless I am forced so I left the decision to Anjali who voted for the Metro. We walked a bit in circles, found the Metro and found the right platform (old style of asking - Boss, boss, where is the train to Silk inst) and got on to a pretty empty train with seats and all. We were pretty thrilled with our decision because the ride was only twenty minutes and we got off at JP Nagar. A ten minute walk and we found Prarthana waiting as she had promised, with a big smile and a bigger hug.

Pic courtesy Prarthana

Raja was home and just leaving for work. We ate Prarthana's freshly made sabudana khichdi (she's an awesome cook, and is awesome at many things). She promised us a superb menu for the rest of the trip - pulao for lunch, a play in the evening at Rangashankari etc etc. We gobbled up the sabudana khichdi, relaxed a bit after the bus journey and then had this lovely pulao. Raja returned by 5, and wonder of wonders, it rained and rained. 

At Rangashankara, with a just finished sabudana vada

We took a cab to Rangashankara to watch the play 'The Mad Hatters Tea Party' a play about mental wellness. Rangashankara had lovely food as always and we gorged on sabudana vadas, salami cheese sandwiches, kheema pav, coffee in the brilliant weather and finally hauled ourselves into the theatre. We got good seats up front and enjoyed an intense play that featured characters from Alice in Wonderland in the backdrop of mental illness. 

The play got over at 9 or so and we took a cab back home, poured ourselves a drink and sat and chatted or sang songs or both. Day spent well and I was out like a light the moment I hit the bed. Tomorrow we plan to go to Blossoms Book Store which I have never been to and which is the central point of this trip - Raja made Anjali an offer she could not refuse - to buy her as many books as she can carry. The rains had made it really cool and I went off into my own wonderland pretty soon.