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The Nightwatchman

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Before I begin this post, my sincere apologies to K, Su and the rest of the ladies who crave Mumbai/Pune street food (you are about to be disappointed). Dudes, I am not apologizing to you, you won't mind.

In no particular order, this is what I have consumed last week;
Ragda Pattis, Pav Bhaji, Chole Bature, Bhel Puri, Dahi Puri, Bread Pattis, Paneer Pattis, Wada Pav, Aloo Paratha etc. and some of the regular lunch/dinner fare. My weight, you would think, would have ballooned to proportions you can only associate with such heartily oily, but deliciously tasty food. But, it is not that bad, considering the heat I am subjected to on a daily basis. My sweat glands are working over-time and are asking for a salary hike.

Pune has been kind so far (with emphasis on the 'so far'), with just a Bharat Bandh last week that did not disrupt my schedule or travel to/from the office. Hinjewadi is quite isolated from Pune city and so it was uneventful for us even though 13-15 buses in the city were not so lucky. Certain parts of India also suffered and has resulted in a reduction of Rs 2/- in the overall cost of a litre of petrol.

This week, for the first time, I am scheduled for night shift to support the client. This may extend to the next week as well but I am certainly hoping this first experience goes in to the record books as successful but not to be tried again. Judging by recent events, the work in the graveyard shift is manageable and I get to spend time with the client whom I have worked with over the past 2+ years.

Running off to Mumbai this past weekend was something of a luxury that I couldn't afford from Bangalore. Booking the ticket in advance was a huge blessing since the rush of IT folks "wanting" to go to Mumbai without a reserved seat is quite frightening. Maybe, it will take me sometime to get adjusted to the new "reality".

Traffic is maddening in Pune and a hair-raising/heart-stopping experience for someone unused to the "way of life" here. But, I must admit, in the craziness of the non-stop hustle bustle of the "honk your way out" traffic scene, there wasn't one single accident, thus far.

The suburban landscape of Pune is also becoming quite similar to Mumbai with newer constructions and high-rises covering the skyline. But unlike Mumbai, there are quite a few town/row houses that lend a certain charm to the city, a sight that Mumbai will most likely never get to see in its lifetime. Unless of course, you are willing to move into the far north suburbs and deep into Thane district, an investment a Mumbaikar like me will not (most likely) make.

With the India Diaries sequence continuing, there would be more to my journey that I will keep you posted with. Till we meet next time, the Marathi Manoos in me signs off... 

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