I have been to Bangalore now Bengaluru umpteen numbers of times. But you know, being a lawyer and that too a tax lawyer can be very boring especially when you travel for work. I have stayed back at Bengaluru in posh hotels and all I have done is study the matter for the court appearance for the next day, watch T.V, call for food in the room, visit some client’s office or factory.
This time it was different. Luckily for me, I had a matter on Friday and as usual I travelled to Bengaluru on Thursday. I always travel one day earlier because I can study peacefully there and reach the court in time. Next day was a non-working Saturday. Yipee!! I had time to unwind and then I thought, why not Bengaluru? I spoke to Rajeev, my husband about it. He was okay. Secretly, I am sure both of us were happy to be alone and have some space from each other. We decided not to talk to each other too, other than informing I am safe and sound.
I finished my hearing at around 12pm on Friday. I always have a chauffeur driven car arranged for me by the clients, when I am outstation. This time, I wanted to be on my own, so I told the driver to drop me back at the hotel and come back the next day to drop me at the airport. Now, I was on my own…….. the sense of freedom was already superb!!
First thing I did was to change into causals and bought a bottle of water. I asked at the hotel reception for a map and then made a to do list:
• Visit to Lal Baug
• Go to see the famous mall of Vijay Mallya
• Go for some Spa treatment
• Shopping at Kaveri
• Window Shopping on Brigade Road
• Visit to Bannerghatta National Park
I left the hotel, walked upto the main road to catch an auto rickshaw. Lal baug, a place I have seen several times from outside, but never got a chance to look around.
Lal Baug means “The Red Garden” is a famous botanical garden originally commissioned by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, and later finished by his son Tipu Sultan. It is a huge place. I felt as though I am in a Moughal era. There is a beautiful Glass House, a Lake, beautiful flowers..so fresh and pretty. And Oh lala! I was walking and enjoying the beauty when I see a known face walking towards me holding a child. Wow!! It was Dharmesh Desai!! My ex-colleague from Ernst & Young-
Me: Hey Dharmesh!
Dharmesh: Abe! What the hell are you doing here? That too at Bengaluru, all alone, in a Garden??
Me: Aare I had come for a hearing. That got over. So I thought I will do some sightseeing.
Dharmesh: You should have at least messaged me on face book that you are coming.
Me: Nah re! I wanted to spend some time alone.
Dharmesh: You are unlucky then, because my kiddo and I are going to tag along with you in the garden.
Me: He he! Do I have a choice? Anyways, Cute kid. Whats his name?
Dharmesh: Anay. Vasudha has to be in office late. I stay close by. I came early, so I thought I would take him for a walk and I would also walk then No exercise you know. So how is work with you?
Me: Dharmesh..lets not talk of work yaar. I want to enjoy the park.
Dharmesh: Okies..hey I think you really want to be alone. I leave you to enjoy alone, provided you promise to have a coffee with me before you go. Or you can come home for dinner today.
Me: I will let you know. I have your number. Dinner is a no no. I want to venture on my own a bit today and tomorrow. So I may call you after reaching Mumbai.
Dharmesh: I respect that. But do call. Shall wait for your call. Bye
Me: Bye.
There, once again I was, on my own..roaming around. It was so beautiful that it reminded me of William Wordsworth poem “The Daffodils”..
“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze…
It was almost 4.30pm and I had to move on if I had to finish the things as per my list. I took another auto rickshaw and went to Vijay Mallya’s Mall at UB City. I got off the auto rickshaw and Voila! Huge luxury Mall…that it was, made fully of Italian Marble and big pillars around. I roamed around to see all the International brands being sold there. No option but to window shop. One of shops, I went into, because I had never heard of this brand. There was a tiny wallet, which I liked and thought I would buy it as a souvenir from the Mallya Mall and feel Woww… I shopped here. An extra ordinarily beautiful woman was sitting at the counter.
Lady: Good evening Mam
Me: Hi Good evening
Lady: Can I help you
Me: Just looking around, if you don’t mind.
Lady: Not at all
Me: (Went near the window and pointed out the wallet to her)..Can I see this please?
Lady: Of course, sure Mam!
Me: (Taking it in my hand) It’s a nice wallet. How much does it cost?
Lady: Its only costing Rs.15,000/- May I pack it for you?
Me: Wow! Its nice. But no. I will like to see some other things around in the other shops and may be I will come back for it.
Lady: Sure Mam. Thank you for coming.
Hey!! Now that’s what I call “Bagmati”………remember Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara!!! I checked my watch. It was 5.30pm. This visit was super fast..hehe! because I didn’t shop for anything. Now what? Yes of course, the spa treatment. But this was a special treatment I wanted to go for. The fish therapy. Yess!! I never get time for such things at Mumbai. This spa was close to the Mall, just about 5 minutes of walk. I located the spa and entered to see all chinki looking people in the spa. The atmosphere was so beautiful there. Lovely fragrance of essence oils and sticks, tempting me to opt for a head massage along with the fish therapy pedicure.
Chinki: Good choice of head massage Mam. Would you like a man to do the head massage for you or a woman
Me: Woman of course! (Other than my male hair dresser..I would never let another man touch my head for a massage)
Chinki: Will be back in a moment Mam..till then please enjoy this herbal tea and some dry fruits.
Me: Okay, but please make it fast as I do not have much time.
After about three minutes, another Chinki lady came with a Surai of warm water, a napkin and wooden slippers in a tray. Wow! What treatment. I felt like a Maharani. She washed my feet first with rose petals in the warm water, wiped it softly with the napkin and made me wear the wooden slipper. Took my sandals in the tray and put it in a locker along with my bag and gave me the keys. I followed her in a dingy room which had blue and a purple led lights with some piped instrumental music on and incense sticks for fragrance. She made me sit in a big chair, adjusted the chair and gave me a lovely head massage. I felt like it should never get over. Once done. I thanked her, came out of that room for the fish pedicure. It was a nice tickling experience. But nothing that I can rave about. But all in all, the spa was great fun.
Another auto rickshaw and I headed towards Brigade Road. Oily head. I would have never in life roamed like this in Mumbai. But what difference..no one knew me here. I walked on the Brigade Road and then entered a Café Coffee Day. Do you know, every corner in Bengalaru has Café Coffee Day. I ordered for a nice hot Cappuccino and was looking around to see a bunch of college kids playing guitar and some popular English and Hindi Songs. I moved to a chair near them. One of the girls saw me and said:
Girl: Would you like to join us?
Me: Yes Thanks
Girl: But you will have to sing along
Me: I am a bathroom singer, but love to sing especially in chorus. So here I come..
Girl: Cool..you are sporting. BTW..I am Shalini, these are my friends Abhay, Anil, Sunitha, Sarika and Vijay. And you are..
Me: I am Shilpa.
They were so engrossed in singing..that my voice was left unnoticed. I had a lovely jamming session with them. By now, it was 8pm and time for me to move as I had to leave early in the morning for Bannerghatta National Park. I bid them good bye and told them what a lovely time I had with them and headed back to my hotel from where I messaged Rajeev that I am back at the hotel and safe and sound.
Once back, I read that there was a candle light dinner at the restaurant. I thought to myself..today is the day..a candle light dinner by myself..Wwow!! I love the thought. I spoke to the Manager at the restaurant that I would be back in half an hour and to reserve a seat for just me!! I went to the room.. freshened up. No time for a bath..big deal. My hair looked gelled. I went down at the restaurant. What an ambience! I was shown to my table. I ordered for a glass of red wine and steamed fish. The food was yummy, lovely music at the background and I ended the dinner having a Caramel Custard. Wow! That was some romantic candle light dinner by myself..which I will never forget in my entire life.
I went back to my room and decided to use the Jacuzzi and have a nice tub bath. I had a lovely warm bath in perfumed water with some music I played on my mobile. After a nice bath, I slept off within a few seconds. What an end to my first day of independence!!
I got up early morning all set to go to the Bannerghatta National Park. Called for an Auto rickshaw and reached the place much earlier. So I bought my tickets for the bus ride and ventured into the Bangalore Zoo. What a yuk smell!! Was it a mistake that I came here? I was thinking to myself while passing the Peacocks cage…………and Wow!! The Peacock suddenly started to dance. I was amazed and excited to see this sight. It was mind boggling. I captured it in my camera and immediately shared it with my friends.
I saw some more birds and animals..and roamed around with my napkin over my nose. Finally, the bus was about to take off. There was a huge queue by then. I stood in the queue. The bus came..our State Transport buses look like Mercedes in front of these. The cleaner was yelling..”Onely Couple Seats”..eh! what did this mean? I was alone. Anyways, I got in the bus..to find broken seats. And only seat remaining was near the driver. I was upset and thought of getting off..when suddenly a man asked:
Man: If you are uncomfortable there, you can sit on my seat. I want to anyway click pictures.
Me: Hmm..thank you very much. I would appreciate that.
We exchanged seats. Now I had a seat behind the driver. The bus started moving. The roads were bad and were leading to a jungle. I thought to myself..if ever there is a puncture..we will be stranded in the bus with wild animals waiting to feed on us…
There were these separate big gates which would open for us to enter inside on the roads where there were loose bears, deer and lions. It was a sight to the eyes to see so many loose wild animals. I wanted to click the bears..but from the seat where I was the pictures could not be clicked. The bus driver offered to click some pictures for me every time the bus stopped. Once the driver almost lost my mobile to the bear near his window and that was the end to my pictures!
The man was clicking some nice pictures with his SLR and some huge lenses. He looked like a professional photographer. When he saw my plight, I think he felt bad perhaps. He introduced himself to me as Gopal.
Gopal: Hi! I am Gopal and this is my wife Revathi
Me: Hi! I am Shilpa
Gopal: I have captured some lovely pictures on this camera. Would you like to see them?
Me: Yes sure!
He showed some pictures to me. The bus was now moving back and the cleaner announced that the bus will stop at the butterfly park in case anyone is interested in getting off. I was in two minds. I wanted to be back at the hotel and leave for my evening flight but before that my shopping was due at Kaveri.
Gopal: What are you thinking? Just get off. It’s a nice park. I have been there before.
Revathi: Hey! Even I want to see this butterfly park, I have also not seen it before
Me: Ok, I think I will also see it
We got off at the butterfly park and all three of us roamed around together.
Gopal: What brings both of you here
Me: I am a lawyer and had come here to attend a hearing
Revathi: I am an Architect.
Gopal: Hey! I am into Software and work for IBM here. Photography is just my hobby. Since I bought this new lens, I came here to check it out.
We chatted a lot while roaming in the park. Gopal clicked a lot of pictures of the butterflies, nature along with some of our photographs. Once done, Gopal and Revathi came to drop me till the auto rickshaw. This was an interesting visit to the National Park.
On my way to the hotel, I picked up a sandwich and cold coffee to save time that I had spent at the butterfly park. I packed, checkout of the hotel and sat in the car sent for me by my client. I asked the driver to take me for shopping at Kaveri and I bought lot of traditional Karnataka things that I liked and then headed to the airport..with so much traffic, I was running late for my flight. As the airport was approaching…I was secretly wishing..I hope I miss my flight..so that I can stay for one more day in Bengaluru!!!! But then, I came back to Mumbai all refreshed, happy with a lot of new memories and friends, whom I am still in touch with. Not to forget Dharmesh..I did call him..after landing at Mumbai Airport
This time it was different. Luckily for me, I had a matter on Friday and as usual I travelled to Bengaluru on Thursday. I always travel one day earlier because I can study peacefully there and reach the court in time. Next day was a non-working Saturday. Yipee!! I had time to unwind and then I thought, why not Bengaluru? I spoke to Rajeev, my husband about it. He was okay. Secretly, I am sure both of us were happy to be alone and have some space from each other. We decided not to talk to each other too, other than informing I am safe and sound.
I finished my hearing at around 12pm on Friday. I always have a chauffeur driven car arranged for me by the clients, when I am outstation. This time, I wanted to be on my own, so I told the driver to drop me back at the hotel and come back the next day to drop me at the airport. Now, I was on my own…….. the sense of freedom was already superb!!
First thing I did was to change into causals and bought a bottle of water. I asked at the hotel reception for a map and then made a to do list:
• Visit to Lal Baug
• Go to see the famous mall of Vijay Mallya
• Go for some Spa treatment
• Shopping at Kaveri
• Window Shopping on Brigade Road
• Visit to Bannerghatta National Park
I left the hotel, walked upto the main road to catch an auto rickshaw. Lal baug, a place I have seen several times from outside, but never got a chance to look around.
Lal Baug means “The Red Garden” is a famous botanical garden originally commissioned by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, and later finished by his son Tipu Sultan. It is a huge place. I felt as though I am in a Moughal era. There is a beautiful Glass House, a Lake, beautiful flowers..so fresh and pretty. And Oh lala! I was walking and enjoying the beauty when I see a known face walking towards me holding a child. Wow!! It was Dharmesh Desai!! My ex-colleague from Ernst & Young-
Me: Hey Dharmesh!
Dharmesh: Abe! What the hell are you doing here? That too at Bengaluru, all alone, in a Garden??
Me: Aare I had come for a hearing. That got over. So I thought I will do some sightseeing.
Dharmesh: You should have at least messaged me on face book that you are coming.
Me: Nah re! I wanted to spend some time alone.
Dharmesh: You are unlucky then, because my kiddo and I are going to tag along with you in the garden.
Me: He he! Do I have a choice? Anyways, Cute kid. Whats his name?
Dharmesh: Anay. Vasudha has to be in office late. I stay close by. I came early, so I thought I would take him for a walk and I would also walk then No exercise you know. So how is work with you?
Me: Dharmesh..lets not talk of work yaar. I want to enjoy the park.
Dharmesh: Okies..hey I think you really want to be alone. I leave you to enjoy alone, provided you promise to have a coffee with me before you go. Or you can come home for dinner today.
Me: I will let you know. I have your number. Dinner is a no no. I want to venture on my own a bit today and tomorrow. So I may call you after reaching Mumbai.
Dharmesh: I respect that. But do call. Shall wait for your call. Bye
Me: Bye.
There, once again I was, on my own..roaming around. It was so beautiful that it reminded me of William Wordsworth poem “The Daffodils”..
“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze…
It was almost 4.30pm and I had to move on if I had to finish the things as per my list. I took another auto rickshaw and went to Vijay Mallya’s Mall at UB City. I got off the auto rickshaw and Voila! Huge luxury Mall…that it was, made fully of Italian Marble and big pillars around. I roamed around to see all the International brands being sold there. No option but to window shop. One of shops, I went into, because I had never heard of this brand. There was a tiny wallet, which I liked and thought I would buy it as a souvenir from the Mallya Mall and feel Woww… I shopped here. An extra ordinarily beautiful woman was sitting at the counter.
Lady: Good evening Mam
Me: Hi Good evening
Lady: Can I help you
Me: Just looking around, if you don’t mind.
Lady: Not at all
Me: (Went near the window and pointed out the wallet to her)..Can I see this please?
Lady: Of course, sure Mam!
Me: (Taking it in my hand) It’s a nice wallet. How much does it cost?
Lady: Its only costing Rs.15,000/- May I pack it for you?
Me: Wow! Its nice. But no. I will like to see some other things around in the other shops and may be I will come back for it.
Lady: Sure Mam. Thank you for coming.
Hey!! Now that’s what I call “Bagmati”………remember Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara!!! I checked my watch. It was 5.30pm. This visit was super fast..hehe! because I didn’t shop for anything. Now what? Yes of course, the spa treatment. But this was a special treatment I wanted to go for. The fish therapy. Yess!! I never get time for such things at Mumbai. This spa was close to the Mall, just about 5 minutes of walk. I located the spa and entered to see all chinki looking people in the spa. The atmosphere was so beautiful there. Lovely fragrance of essence oils and sticks, tempting me to opt for a head massage along with the fish therapy pedicure.
Chinki: Good choice of head massage Mam. Would you like a man to do the head massage for you or a woman
Me: Woman of course! (Other than my male hair dresser..I would never let another man touch my head for a massage)
Chinki: Will be back in a moment Mam..till then please enjoy this herbal tea and some dry fruits.
Me: Okay, but please make it fast as I do not have much time.
After about three minutes, another Chinki lady came with a Surai of warm water, a napkin and wooden slippers in a tray. Wow! What treatment. I felt like a Maharani. She washed my feet first with rose petals in the warm water, wiped it softly with the napkin and made me wear the wooden slipper. Took my sandals in the tray and put it in a locker along with my bag and gave me the keys. I followed her in a dingy room which had blue and a purple led lights with some piped instrumental music on and incense sticks for fragrance. She made me sit in a big chair, adjusted the chair and gave me a lovely head massage. I felt like it should never get over. Once done. I thanked her, came out of that room for the fish pedicure. It was a nice tickling experience. But nothing that I can rave about. But all in all, the spa was great fun.
Another auto rickshaw and I headed towards Brigade Road. Oily head. I would have never in life roamed like this in Mumbai. But what difference..no one knew me here. I walked on the Brigade Road and then entered a Café Coffee Day. Do you know, every corner in Bengalaru has Café Coffee Day. I ordered for a nice hot Cappuccino and was looking around to see a bunch of college kids playing guitar and some popular English and Hindi Songs. I moved to a chair near them. One of the girls saw me and said:
Girl: Would you like to join us?
Me: Yes Thanks
Girl: But you will have to sing along
Me: I am a bathroom singer, but love to sing especially in chorus. So here I come..
Girl: Cool..you are sporting. BTW..I am Shalini, these are my friends Abhay, Anil, Sunitha, Sarika and Vijay. And you are..
Me: I am Shilpa.
They were so engrossed in singing..that my voice was left unnoticed. I had a lovely jamming session with them. By now, it was 8pm and time for me to move as I had to leave early in the morning for Bannerghatta National Park. I bid them good bye and told them what a lovely time I had with them and headed back to my hotel from where I messaged Rajeev that I am back at the hotel and safe and sound.
Once back, I read that there was a candle light dinner at the restaurant. I thought to myself..today is the day..a candle light dinner by myself..Wwow!! I love the thought. I spoke to the Manager at the restaurant that I would be back in half an hour and to reserve a seat for just me!! I went to the room.. freshened up. No time for a bath..big deal. My hair looked gelled. I went down at the restaurant. What an ambience! I was shown to my table. I ordered for a glass of red wine and steamed fish. The food was yummy, lovely music at the background and I ended the dinner having a Caramel Custard. Wow! That was some romantic candle light dinner by myself..which I will never forget in my entire life.
I went back to my room and decided to use the Jacuzzi and have a nice tub bath. I had a lovely warm bath in perfumed water with some music I played on my mobile. After a nice bath, I slept off within a few seconds. What an end to my first day of independence!!
I got up early morning all set to go to the Bannerghatta National Park. Called for an Auto rickshaw and reached the place much earlier. So I bought my tickets for the bus ride and ventured into the Bangalore Zoo. What a yuk smell!! Was it a mistake that I came here? I was thinking to myself while passing the Peacocks cage…………and Wow!! The Peacock suddenly started to dance. I was amazed and excited to see this sight. It was mind boggling. I captured it in my camera and immediately shared it with my friends.
I saw some more birds and animals..and roamed around with my napkin over my nose. Finally, the bus was about to take off. There was a huge queue by then. I stood in the queue. The bus came..our State Transport buses look like Mercedes in front of these. The cleaner was yelling..”Onely Couple Seats”..eh! what did this mean? I was alone. Anyways, I got in the bus..to find broken seats. And only seat remaining was near the driver. I was upset and thought of getting off..when suddenly a man asked:
Man: If you are uncomfortable there, you can sit on my seat. I want to anyway click pictures.
Me: Hmm..thank you very much. I would appreciate that.
We exchanged seats. Now I had a seat behind the driver. The bus started moving. The roads were bad and were leading to a jungle. I thought to myself..if ever there is a puncture..we will be stranded in the bus with wild animals waiting to feed on us…
There were these separate big gates which would open for us to enter inside on the roads where there were loose bears, deer and lions. It was a sight to the eyes to see so many loose wild animals. I wanted to click the bears..but from the seat where I was the pictures could not be clicked. The bus driver offered to click some pictures for me every time the bus stopped. Once the driver almost lost my mobile to the bear near his window and that was the end to my pictures!
The man was clicking some nice pictures with his SLR and some huge lenses. He looked like a professional photographer. When he saw my plight, I think he felt bad perhaps. He introduced himself to me as Gopal.
Gopal: Hi! I am Gopal and this is my wife Revathi
Me: Hi! I am Shilpa
Gopal: I have captured some lovely pictures on this camera. Would you like to see them?
Me: Yes sure!
He showed some pictures to me. The bus was now moving back and the cleaner announced that the bus will stop at the butterfly park in case anyone is interested in getting off. I was in two minds. I wanted to be back at the hotel and leave for my evening flight but before that my shopping was due at Kaveri.
Gopal: What are you thinking? Just get off. It’s a nice park. I have been there before.
Revathi: Hey! Even I want to see this butterfly park, I have also not seen it before
Me: Ok, I think I will also see it
We got off at the butterfly park and all three of us roamed around together.
Gopal: What brings both of you here
Me: I am a lawyer and had come here to attend a hearing
Revathi: I am an Architect.
Gopal: Hey! I am into Software and work for IBM here. Photography is just my hobby. Since I bought this new lens, I came here to check it out.
We chatted a lot while roaming in the park. Gopal clicked a lot of pictures of the butterflies, nature along with some of our photographs. Once done, Gopal and Revathi came to drop me till the auto rickshaw. This was an interesting visit to the National Park.
On my way to the hotel, I picked up a sandwich and cold coffee to save time that I had spent at the butterfly park. I packed, checkout of the hotel and sat in the car sent for me by my client. I asked the driver to take me for shopping at Kaveri and I bought lot of traditional Karnataka things that I liked and then headed to the airport..with so much traffic, I was running late for my flight. As the airport was approaching…I was secretly wishing..I hope I miss my flight..so that I can stay for one more day in Bengaluru!!!! But then, I came back to Mumbai all refreshed, happy with a lot of new memories and friends, whom I am still in touch with. Not to forget Dharmesh..I did call him..after landing at Mumbai Airport
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