24 hour Puncture Service

This was one of the posts I was planning to write since almost a year. Just saw one such number in one of my friends phonebook and thought of writing it now.

Way back in 2006 May or June, there comes a person to our office asking people to become a member of a service his company provides. The service being, In case our vehicle got punctured anywhere in India @ any hour of the day, they would come to us within half an hour(be it any location) after we call them, cure the puncture, (for a reasonable amount, say 20 Rs I guess per puncture, I don't remember). Registration would charge 100 bucks.

Many of our collegues opted for it so did Jagga. I didn't go for it since I don't own a vehicle. We thought it is a plan to subscribe. He gave him a visiting card and disappeared.

It was Cricket World cup ODI 2007 I guess. Myself and Jagga were heading our way back home after a day's job. We left our office by 11. Was a tiresome day. As you would hardly find any traffic at that hour, we were at hebbal flyover by 11:30 when the misfortune started.

We just climbed down the flyover to the side of Yelahanka. I was terrified by the shaking of bike handle. It was vibrating @ 6 Hz per second. Hehe! Sorry to bring in frequencies. I was wondering why Jagga was doing this when suddenly a car passed through us and Jagga was striving hard to find a balance. Those were the days when the Bellary road was under construction and the brige kinda thing you get just after the flyover was narrow and it was a two way where it is one way now.

He somehow got some balance and brought the vehicle to a haltjust near the bridge(Where now many Dagaars stand). We just found that the bike's front tyre was punctured.

I should mention Jagga's memory. He recollected that he had opted for the afore mentioned service almost instantaneously since we got to know that we had a flat tyre.

He called the number which he found on the visiting card given by the agent of the puncture service. There were two numbers on it of which both were not answering any calls. We tried some 5-10 times to find the same reply. He was furious. Was complaining about the service and was mentioning about lodging a complaint to the consumer court( Which he didn't do!)

It was 3 kilometers from my house. We dragged the bike on the flat tyre till Kodigehalli meanwhile Jagga had called one of his friend Resalath who joined us in Kodige halli. On our way we were searching for a puncture shop at that hour. You hardly get them. We searched in petrol bunks which were closed by 11 o' clock. They suggested some places which were like mirages in the desert. We spent almost 1/2 an hour to search for the shops when I suggested him to park the vehicle in my house and go home with Resalath.

Well it was 12 when we reached my home after all the fuss. Resalath took Jagga home and the next morning, my father had got some mechanic to get the vehicle repaired.

So, just think as many times as possible when joining any such service. Join only if you are confident.

Hope Jagga writes his experience on this episode in his blog or in the comments section of this post.

=)

Shawlalli chappali suththkond hodskond prasanga!

Hehe! You guys might be interested lookin at the header!

This is what happened to me last night! I'll brief you through what happened!

After another hectic day @ office, though i had to come to office tomorrow, i was a bit happy that i can enjoy atleast one and a half day of weekend! ( Dunno why we S/W engineers are so despo about Weekends).

Left office at 9. Was walkin lazily towards the bus stand for a 1:30 hrs of journey. A kind driver had stopped on my way (not at bus stop, half way through). As he had stopped, i boarded it just to know that i heads to Maraththalli! I thought, "Okay! Lemme go to Maraththalli and catch another bus to Hebbal". But I dunno what i felt, I got down the next stop (Bellandur) and had a masalpuri. After having it and waiting for another 10 minutes, i got a bus to Hebbal. Boarding that i dint find a seat as usual though the bus was pretty vacant to stand, i stood besides a seat and was waiting for him to get down asap.

Just two seats behind, there was an elderly gentleman, who was acting as if he is going to get down. I was reluctant to get next to him as many were standing next to him. I thought he'll get down at maraththalli and i can grab that seat.

Though i was standing, my eyes were scanning faces of people in the bus looking at their various expressions. I was eagerly waitin to see someone getting down but i saw none.

Now the same gentleman was looking at me. From my experience in travelling in Bus, he was just another person who was getting down in a stop coming next.

Come Maraththalli, he didnt get up. Many stood but, people who were next to him dint get up. I had a strong belief that he was getting the next stop. I went and stood mext to him to my stupidity.

He read my mind i guess. He looked at me.

I hesitantly asked. "Ileetheera??"(Will you get down??)

He said "I get down at K.Narayanapura, where do you get down??"

I continued "Oh Okay!"

Now begins the worst part. He said, "Guess you need a seat. I can stand, you sit" and he was about to get up.

I said "No, you please sit down"

He, "No you travel a lot, you sit." he stood up.

I dint wanted to sit but if i hadnt others would have taken that seat. I took the seat.

Gets even worse, He asked "Whats yo age??"

I was dumbstruck! Couldnt open my mouth. I couldnt have told my actual age as i would get ashamed if i would have told that! I had to answer and I thought I'll lie and said "25".

He said "I'm fifty one".

I thought i would get down! Enough is enough!! But something stopped! I dunno what!! I still curb for that!

He continued, "Dont get angry with my questions. You please sit and enjoy the ride! I'll stand! Its hardly 4 stops ahead."

Aargh!! I could stand that person! I was so ashamed!! I couldnt have dont anything other than standing. Was feelin so bad about my condition.

Thought i had to divert my thinking. I took the book i had in my bag, "The Godfather" and tried reading it! Was in no mood to read! Radio was constantly playin in my ears. Was listening to "Aa kaalada haadugalu with Gramaphone guru Sachith" on Radio Mirchi and the discussion to my bad luck was about "Telling a lie on age".


What a co-incidence!! I was just listening to radio doing nothing. Couldnt read books, couldnt message! I just couldnt do anything.


Come K.Narayanapura, he threw a smile to me and said " Barla saar??" and got down! I put a deliberate smile on my face and said "Olledu swamy".

I was lost in my own world of shame.

Thinking about it now, I feel so irritated and i now have made a resolution not to look for seats in the i did yesterday!

Just thought of sharing this with you guys!!

Travelled in Volvo fo the first tyme!

Hehe! These days i'm able to make time for blogging more frequently! Came home a bit early!

Yesterday, Jagga hadnt finished his work completely n hence he asked me whether we can leave fo office early the next day! I was not willing to go that early! I asked him to leave early! I'll not be joining him! "By chance if i get ready early tomorrow, i'll be coming with you, or else, you leave early! I'll come late by bus!"

He said okay and left! I came home! Had my food n was feeling sleepy! Aaah! Such a nice nap! I woke up by 8 when my parents had arrived attending a upanayana in Kota! I then remembered that i need to go by bus! I got ready by 8:45! Was at the bus stand by 8:50!

I was planning to take a daily pass as i usually do when i travel by bus! By looking at Volvo, I decided that lemme try volvo atleast for once! So i dropped the idea of taking a daily pass! Boarded the volvo! It had been 2 weeks since volvo had been introduced in our route! (Majestic - Yelahanka). One thing! The tickets are costlier! They cost you thrice the amount as in a normal BMTC bus! I just sat in the bus! Was enjoyin the cosy environment! By the time i reached Kodigehalli gate, the conductor had come, i took a ticket for Majestic! It costs me 30 bucks! ( 3 x 9 = 27, three rupees more than the usual fare in red- board!)

There were hardly 12 people! I took my usual window seat at the back! It was awesome! On full AC(Though i prefer normal temperature, i liked the AC in the bus!). Radio in the background! The bus mostly vacant for the whole journey, and a book in hand (Few are grumbling! Why does this guy takes a book wherever he goes??) I was happy for that! Enjoyed my full journey! Boarded the bus at 9:00 AM and enjoyed the travel like anything! Was at Majestic by 9:35! (Wow!! Thats cool! It would have been atleast 9:45 - 10:00 if i had taken a normal bus)!! I thought cool!

Though the fare is way too costly, the feel it gives is much more satisfying! Its good to commute in a volvo bus atleast once getting that facility! The ride is really awesome! You wont feel any discomfort! I bet you'll surely enjoy the ride! Even if you are standing!

Had just heard of the comfort in a volvo! Experienced it for the first time! Go for it when you feel like! Dont care for the money! Paying it for once is worth!