Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Almost One Third of My Age


This july 2010 I will be completing my 7th year in Bangalore.I am 22 years old and my last 7 years I spent in this city, Almost one third of my age.July 2003 was the second time I came Bangalore and still am here. before that I had been here for a school trip. That time I couldn’t roam around Bangalore much.

When I joined PUC I in Bangalore I was stranger in this city but, today Bangalore is much more like my native. It has taught me so many things in life. I have spent some of my memorable times here. I faced some tough times also. In this 7 years this city has changed me from the way I was to the way I am.

Actually, I did my schooling in my native. It’s a small village and there I studied in kannada medium and when I joined PUC in Bangalore, the city lifestyle and English both were unknown to me. And my 1st day in college was horrible. The first class I attended was chemistry and I spent time looking around classroom, benches, door, window and board. I didn’t listen a single word also. The next was botany class, and I was looking at door and was thinking who will be coming. Sir came and he was tall with charming face and he used to speak English so well that It was difficult for me to understand. Those days if I didn’t understand anyone’s English I used to think he has got good control over English.

That sir came and wrote Botany on board and he introduced himself and told us to introduce us to the class one by one. It was hard for me to understand English in that framing a sentence in English was almost impossible for me. Thank god he didn’t start with me. My number was almost last. By that time I practiced ”My name is so and so, I completed my schooling in so and so and I got so and so percentage “some 100 times. And vomited those three sentences in front of sir.cos of my bad luck I was topper of class considering 10th marks.

Since some time was left sir started explaining some concepts. He came across “nitrogen fixation”. And he knew I was highest scorer in the class and he asked me its definition. I knew it in kannada but couldn’t define in English. He made me to stand on the bench rest of the class. There I decided not to study botany or biology any more. Till 2nd year PUC final exam except 1st PUC final exam and midterm exam am fail in Biology and English. I never worried about that, instead was proud about that cos I used to get 1 or 2 marks more than my native fren who was my claasmate in PUC also. And u know what last one month to my 2nd year final exam I studied only Biology.

And my first test marks were like telephone numbers. Except maths and kannada I scored single digit in remaining subjects. And still I was proud about my marks and u guys know the reason. But later I recovered so well that I was third topper of the class in midterm exam. My frens and lecturers helped me a lot for that. And my other two close frens were 1st and 2nd. So we three with my childhood fren went to treat. My fren took all of us to “Cool Joint”. He ordered some dishes and came back to us and started chatting with us.

I asked him “Dilip what u ordered?”

He said “Sand witch and juice to all of us.”

Sand witch I heard that for the first time and asked him what is it. And he is the one who taught me English. And he is the one who answered my each and every question (Like this ”What is sand witch?”) which used to look stupid questions to rest of my frens. But whatever I ask he used to answer patiently and clearly. And he never got angry on me for whatever I do.

He started telling me what exactly sand witch will be. He said ”It will be 3 pieces of toasted bread and some fresh vegetables like tomato and capsicum and some cheese in middle of bread pieces”.

I thought let me try once and asked him “what’s the cost?”

He said “17 rupees”(6 years back)

When I came Bangalore, this was the first time I was staying out of my home and I was newer to the city life style and used to spend less money. I thought in 15 rupees we will be getting meals and why this guy has took 3 pieces of toasted bread and that to for 17 rupees. And I asked him as loudly as possible “Dilip why the hell you want to spend 17 rupees for 3 pieces of bread, instead of that we can tak 15 rupees mini meals na?”

It sounded so loudly that every one over there were looking at us.

And after that incident till today I never spoke loudly in unknown places. Bangalore will teach everything. We may be of any kind of people and our lifestyle may be of any style but, Bangalore will change us and our lifestyle as it wants. And today Bangalore and English are no more unknown to me. I completed my PUC and my Engineering and am working as a software engineer in the same Bangalore. And sometimes I will be going “cool joint” with frens to have sand witch. And every time I go there I remember the incident what I have told now, unknowingly smile will come on my face and disappear. Nothing has changed much in “cool joint”, it’s the same cool joint and same sand witch but its cost now is 25 RS.

6 comments:

  1. HI guys this is sandeep i am this guy friend, i have heard this story for almost (number of stars in sky)... so its lyk chicken biryani made it 3days before but yet its tasty fro me ... som thin lyk tat .... for those wo are reading for 1st time u wil enjoy tat

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  2. Hep ppl m Sid's colleague.. its been almost 4 months v hav been workin together.. take this from me he s wonderful person to be with..he looks very quiet but he ll be the most talkative guy in the group :).. this was jus the starting so hope to listen more ur stories.. keep goin .. cheers

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  3. Its nice to read How Halli Siddharood Bangaloored....

    Waiting to read more about engineering life...!

    If u are wondering who made this comment all i can say is its a friendly heart

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  4. Sidda Rocks in room, in college, in office wherever he will be within no time he will be the centre of attraction of all. I'm recollecting how many times we pitty room mates heard this story...!!! But still its a Yummee when you presented it the way in blog. I am looking for Guru stories...???

    Cheers..!!!
    Regards,
    Rajkumar

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  5. Thank you so much for reading my blog.. Comment for yours... hmmm... English is.... anyways its sandwich... Not sand witch.... Will post in my blog soon... hunting for a topic actually... Shall I write on my experience in Bangalore????? if u wish then I can correct the other mistakes too... dont publish this comment of mine if u dont like....

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  6. hmmmm......... le tel one more story.its bed time story for me.

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