CodeZap Guru - Final round - Electronics City - Bangalore

travel to the city was paid for by Wipro, but only 2nd class train fare. we had booked our tickets and were later told that the dates had changed. we had to cancel and rebook... of course, the cancellation charges thus incurred were not reimbursed! bye bye 80 bucks..

the trip began 337pm ,April 2, when I met renu at the karimakkadu jn, just as I remembered that my watch wasn’t working anymore , and that I hadn’t packed a tooth brush, paste, soap or towel. The brush and soap were easily purchased from the local store/shed.

The ride to Toll was easy, courtesy Renju Jose of electronics. We took the desired bus, which was desirable until hey asked us to pop off at kaloor. We then reboarded another bus, only to c the former bus speed past?!

Meanwhile, renu had forgotten her Id card. I of course couldn’t 4get it, cuz I had lost it ages ago. Her friend from Biomed was to race to the railway station and deliver it, much like we see in the movies.

At the station, nag and Sony were already there, Rohit came soon. But still no sign of the card carrying biker. The ticket bearers were already on the platform. The departure time was 5pm. It was 448 already. We moved to the platform, saying bye to nag.

The train had already come. We located the coach easily, but the ticket bearers were missing! After much effort and phone money, Sony set out in search of them, located them ,and brought them back. In the interim, I went and bought some water.

THE TRAIN JOURNEY

A middle aged nun and a tall guy prevented the 6 of us from sleeping in the set of 6 berths. But while we were awake, we played a lot of hand cricket (renu was a successful captain, unlike Sony, who was removed after he won the toss and lost twice!) and twenty questions, where sherin’s uncanny guessing ability helped her team win.

At palakkad, we had our dinner of veg biryani. Someone had bought roti. But the curry with it was atrocious. Chris and sherin had sandwiches from home. The nun had rice and beef packed in banana leaf.

Chris’ mother had asked her to pack a mug. Why? Indian railways provides no means for you to wash your bottom if you are traveling second class. 2^nd ac has a mug chained to the train!!

Renu and I got the side berths and she graciously let me have the lower berth. We sat and talked for a bit even after the others had slept, cuz renu had to have her last set of medicines. We soon discovered that the others were merely lying down. Sony was listening to music. Rohit’s feet were sticking out.

It has been instilled into many of us from a young age that train journeys are the best places for a young girl to loose her belongings. Thus I looped my handbag around my arm, wrapped my head in my shawl, mummified myself in a blanket, used my bag for a pillow and prayed that I wouldn’t fall off!

I woke up early and about an hour later, we reached the station. Chris’ father (central excise and customs) had sent a quails to pick us up. The chappie coolly ignored all the speed bumps along the way. We later found out that he is the raids-driver! We got lost. And we learnt some kannada phrases as we heard him ask for directions on the phone.

AT THE GUEST HOUSE

Azim premji foundation. The chaps at the security check looked into our baggage, issued id cards and let us in. needless to say, the campus was like an oasis of artificiality. Cultured lawns, planted trees. Nevertheless, very beautiful and pleasing.

After much form filling, we got our individual rooms. Chris tried to persuade us into sharing. I unlocked the door and started groping for the switches. Nothing happened. I touched a door, it creaked open and I saw someone moving! I screamed. But midscream, I realized that it was a bloody mirror, mounted on a bloody door. Now who the bloody hell comes up with such ideas to scare the friggin daylights outta people groping for light in a dark room!

My scream brought Sony, Chris, sherin and renu. They laughed a bit and bravely ventured in. none of them had been able to switch on their light either. Soon, a chappie came and inserted the key into a slot and the lights came on. What sweet irony. How is one to find the slot in the dark!?

I will not go into lengths to describe the room : bed, big curtained window, phone, phone book, pencil, 2 side tables, one table, 2 chairs, one teapoy, kettle, jug, glass, cup, box with coffee teabag sugar creamer. And now the jaguar infested washroom: regular toilet, no health hose(mug provided!) shower with hot/ cold mixer, big mirror with hot cold faucet, santoor soap, teeny shampoo, 2 towels – one of which I later wrapped around me like they do in movies. But I didn’t sing the song. And the towel was white, not pink.

I borrowed paste from sony. As I was doing so, renu told me that close up wasn’t too good for ur health. Renu and I took normal sized helpings of paste. On seeing this, sony said : oh, why so less paste?! I always take it like they showing the ads…

At 7 we went to have breakfast. Buffet. Then Chris’ dad came and picked us up. The road was under construction in many places. It was a dusty, bumpy ride at the back of a qualis. Chris’ dad gave her a motoming – Awesome!!!