Been in Hyderabad for a week. Made some progress in the audit front. Roamed around Hyderabad a lot, mostly on foot. After the night we arrived in Hyderabad, the next day we went to office and met our clients. They seemed nice and enthusiastic about completing the audit as soon as possible. But as the week progressed the audit progress depressed.
On Tuesday it was Shivangi’s birthday. In the evening we went on a long walk in search of Hussain Sagar Lake front. We walked for atleast 5 to 6 km. We found the back of the lake and could see across the lake where we could see many lights and shops and restaurants. We walked besides the lake on the road curved across the lake. The road we walked on was called the Necklace Road. It was beautiful, but nowhere close to the Queen’s Necklace back home. I apologise for mentioning it in the same paragraph as the Necklace Road. We could not find even a single restaurant on the road. We started walking at around 8.15 p.m. and continued walking till the clock struck the hour of 10 p.m. Then we decided to take a rickshaw and go back to Begumpet and eat at any of the restaurants that we came across the previous day.
We came to know about the practice of the rickshaw walas in Hyderabad where after 11 in the night (or at whatever time they find a Bakra like us) they charge 1.5 times the metered fare. So we came back to Bagumpet, unaware that we were just half a km away from Food Court a place famous for having many food stalls. But that’s our luck. We came back and went to Bowl ‘o China, a Chinese restaurant at Begumpet. But it was full and the steward asked us to wait for atleast 15 minutes. As we were very hungry we left that place and again went to Pizza Hut. We came back to the guest room and I read a bit before sleeping
On Wednesday it was Richa’s birthday. She told me that a guy from Hyderabad was coming to see her on Friday.
On that day too we had little work. We left around 7.30. Went to the guesthouse changed and then went to Hyderabad Central. Which is a big mall in Begumpet, where we roamed around doing some window-shopping. From the formal section to the casual section and we even went to the kids section as Nitesh wanted to buy something for his nephew. But eventually we did not buy anything and went down to eat. Where we did buy many things.
After 2 days in Pizza Hut we went to Copper Chimney, and it was absolutely amazing. The food was really good and the décor very classy. We came back to the guest room and I read a bit before sleeping continuing with my nightly ritual.
On Thursday there was none of my friend’s birthday. And after another boring day in the office in we directly went to Prasad’s Inox, which is taunted to be the biggest screen multiplex in South India. The place was on Necklace Road. The place was not like any multiplex in Mumbai, as the multiplexes in Mumbai are fun and hip. But it has a cool mirror maze thing in it. This maze was what we thought must have been what it was named, a maze. But it turned out to be more than a maze; it was a space travel thing where we had to find our way thorough the mirror maze. Then suddenly an alien came out and asked us to go in a room. Where we could see many stars. It was very beautiful, the he asked us to close our eyes till he counted three, we did as he asked and when he counted to three and asked us to open our eyes the whole room had changed and the dark room with stars was turned into a yellow light filled room with mirrors all over the place in which we could see our images and the light made it looks serene.
Now the maze was completely into darkness. And only some scary looking alien doll was illuminated in red light to make it look scary. But actually it made it look silly. Then suddenly out of nowhere a dark cloak wearing alien came in front of us, and I admit that I was scared. He asked us to leave his space as soon as possible, we readily obliged. Then when we were near the exit door, the noise in the background was announcing that we are leaving the space for planet earth. The suddenly the same alien came running from behind shouting which scared the shit out of me and made me jump. When realized that it was just that sill alien man I shouted at him for scaring me. He growled at me and I told him, “apni galli mein kutta bhi sher hota hai shaane.” Suddenly I remembered I was in his galli and quickly left the room.
We left the multiplex and walked all the way to Hussain Nagar, passing the Birla Temple, Lumbini Park and NTR Gardens on our way. We had dinner at a place called Spice Kings, again after searching for a restaurant for some 40 minutes. I don’t know whats with restaurants and Hyderabad. You don’t find one for 3 km and then find 5 in front of each other. Went back at around 11.30 p.m. and after some ritual reading slept soundly on my nightmarish bed.
Friday was as bit boring as any other day, which turned eventful in the evening at around 7 p.m. when Neha called me with the news that Richa had agreed to get married to the guy who was supposed to come see her. I told Neha that it was supposed to be on Friday, that’s when she asked me that what did I think was the day. I talked to Richa for some 10 seconds but then suddenly the connection was lost. Then when I left office I called her to congratulated her
And after office we did not go anywhere but went straight to the guesthouse and ordered food from, yes you have guessed it, Pizza Hut. Watched some TV and then after some reading went to sleep.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Hyderabad Reds
The past few days have been so full of weird things tha it is difficult for me to stop myself from writing a summary about the happenings.
It al began on Monday the 9th of July 2007. I was supposed to go to Hyderabad for an audit in Advanta India Limited. I was really excited as it was an audit after a long time and I was really bored and was desperately looking for some work.
Secondly it was the first time I was sitting in an aeroplane and I was totally excited. The whole experience was mind blowing. Though it would have been better if my senior had let me sit on the window seat. But lets begin from the beginning.
I entered the airport, checked my luggage in, got my tickets, got myself frisked by a frail looking security guard, got in the waiting lounge, visited an airport toilet for the very first time, called papa, then Prachi and then tried calling Richa but could not get through to her.
At 6 a.m. we checked in, got in an airport bus, took 4 minutes in that thing to travel some 100 meters. And then I entered an aircraft for the first time in my life. It was so exciting that I almost missed the hot air hostess. Well almost I was excited but I was still Aditya. She so sweetly told me how nice it was to have me aboard. It almost made my day. But then I heard her saying the same thing to a 40 something uncle looking like he had ran all the way from Sakinaka to get on the plane.
We sat on our seats, my being the 25 E, which if you have forgotten was the one next to the window seat. It took us some 20 minutes to move, and another 25 minutes to fly off the ground. Till then the airhostess and another heavily gelled haired steward showed us a funny little drill about how to put on our seat belts, an oxygen mask and how in case of an emergency take out a safety jacket from under our seats and wear it and pull the strings. Informative. But boring.
We moved for some 5 times during the latter 25 minutes of my stay in the plane. Then I saw that an Indigo Airlines plane was in front of us. Which was waiting to be on what I came to know was the runway. I saw it taking off and was amazed at how it gathered speed so quickly and flew away until I could not see it. Then we moved for the sixth time on to the runway and this time we did not stop. We gathered speed and the engines started making a hell lot of noise. In what I thought might have been 12 to 15 seconds we were air borne, as I felt a knot in my stomach.
Within 5 seconds we were hovering over Juhu beach. A distance, that takes atleast 30 minutes by road, from the airport. To the left we went and I saw a bird’s eye view of the city I love. It was looking absolutely breath taking. Mumbai was cloudy that day otherwise it would have been even better.
The hostess came with another aunty type hostess with the food trolley. First the gelled steward gave us some fresh lime soda bottles and then the hostess gave us some snacks of which only the pastry was nice. Suddenly I looked outside the window again, we were flying above a thick carpet of clouds. Could not see even a speck of ground. The sky that was looking all cloudy some 5 minutes ago was clear blue and the sun was about to set, throwing its slanting evening rays at us. The whole setting was so perfect, a beautiful view, and a pastry in my mouth. I was the happiest man on earth at that time. It made me suddenly so peaceful that I almost could not hear what was happening around me. I almost forgot that I was also part unhappy about going to Hyderabad, as I was not expected to return back to Mumbai for the next 2 weeks.
The whole setting will remain with me till I am burned to ashes. The clear dark blue skies, a carpet of thick gray clouds and golden slanting sun rays. The sky was getting darker by the minute and as we started descending some 30 minutes later it had become very dark. When we pierced the clouds, I saw the city of Hyderabad sparkling with lights that reminded me of the Happydent White Chewing Gum ad. Mauskuralay Jagmagalay!
We touched down at the NT Rama Rao Airport at 8.05 p.m. and then entered a dingy airport bus. Collected my luggage and then went in the company’s car to the company guest house situated at 401, Krishe Gardens, Begumpet. Soon I called papa and told him of my safe arrival in the Naawabi city.
The guesthouse was in a very posh society where we never saw more than 4 people together, it was empty all the time, the room was really nice, but the bed and especially the pillows were a nightmare. I took a shower and left the fill our stomachs. We walked almost 2 km in search of some Hayderabadi restaurant. But we only saw the places we see in Mumbai. Finally we settled in at Pizza Hut and ate our meals.
Came back to the room at around 11.05 p.m. Saw Seinfeld after the first break was over. Went to bed at around 11.35 p.m. Read a bit and then slept at about 12.15 a.m. Well that how my first interaction with an aeroplane went and I gave my first greeting to Hyderabad!
It al began on Monday the 9th of July 2007. I was supposed to go to Hyderabad for an audit in Advanta India Limited. I was really excited as it was an audit after a long time and I was really bored and was desperately looking for some work.
Secondly it was the first time I was sitting in an aeroplane and I was totally excited. The whole experience was mind blowing. Though it would have been better if my senior had let me sit on the window seat. But lets begin from the beginning.
I entered the airport, checked my luggage in, got my tickets, got myself frisked by a frail looking security guard, got in the waiting lounge, visited an airport toilet for the very first time, called papa, then Prachi and then tried calling Richa but could not get through to her.
At 6 a.m. we checked in, got in an airport bus, took 4 minutes in that thing to travel some 100 meters. And then I entered an aircraft for the first time in my life. It was so exciting that I almost missed the hot air hostess. Well almost I was excited but I was still Aditya. She so sweetly told me how nice it was to have me aboard. It almost made my day. But then I heard her saying the same thing to a 40 something uncle looking like he had ran all the way from Sakinaka to get on the plane.
We sat on our seats, my being the 25 E, which if you have forgotten was the one next to the window seat. It took us some 20 minutes to move, and another 25 minutes to fly off the ground. Till then the airhostess and another heavily gelled haired steward showed us a funny little drill about how to put on our seat belts, an oxygen mask and how in case of an emergency take out a safety jacket from under our seats and wear it and pull the strings. Informative. But boring.
We moved for some 5 times during the latter 25 minutes of my stay in the plane. Then I saw that an Indigo Airlines plane was in front of us. Which was waiting to be on what I came to know was the runway. I saw it taking off and was amazed at how it gathered speed so quickly and flew away until I could not see it. Then we moved for the sixth time on to the runway and this time we did not stop. We gathered speed and the engines started making a hell lot of noise. In what I thought might have been 12 to 15 seconds we were air borne, as I felt a knot in my stomach.
Within 5 seconds we were hovering over Juhu beach. A distance, that takes atleast 30 minutes by road, from the airport. To the left we went and I saw a bird’s eye view of the city I love. It was looking absolutely breath taking. Mumbai was cloudy that day otherwise it would have been even better.
The hostess came with another aunty type hostess with the food trolley. First the gelled steward gave us some fresh lime soda bottles and then the hostess gave us some snacks of which only the pastry was nice. Suddenly I looked outside the window again, we were flying above a thick carpet of clouds. Could not see even a speck of ground. The sky that was looking all cloudy some 5 minutes ago was clear blue and the sun was about to set, throwing its slanting evening rays at us. The whole setting was so perfect, a beautiful view, and a pastry in my mouth. I was the happiest man on earth at that time. It made me suddenly so peaceful that I almost could not hear what was happening around me. I almost forgot that I was also part unhappy about going to Hyderabad, as I was not expected to return back to Mumbai for the next 2 weeks.
The whole setting will remain with me till I am burned to ashes. The clear dark blue skies, a carpet of thick gray clouds and golden slanting sun rays. The sky was getting darker by the minute and as we started descending some 30 minutes later it had become very dark. When we pierced the clouds, I saw the city of Hyderabad sparkling with lights that reminded me of the Happydent White Chewing Gum ad. Mauskuralay Jagmagalay!
We touched down at the NT Rama Rao Airport at 8.05 p.m. and then entered a dingy airport bus. Collected my luggage and then went in the company’s car to the company guest house situated at 401, Krishe Gardens, Begumpet. Soon I called papa and told him of my safe arrival in the Naawabi city.
The guesthouse was in a very posh society where we never saw more than 4 people together, it was empty all the time, the room was really nice, but the bed and especially the pillows were a nightmare. I took a shower and left the fill our stomachs. We walked almost 2 km in search of some Hayderabadi restaurant. But we only saw the places we see in Mumbai. Finally we settled in at Pizza Hut and ate our meals.
Came back to the room at around 11.05 p.m. Saw Seinfeld after the first break was over. Went to bed at around 11.35 p.m. Read a bit and then slept at about 12.15 a.m. Well that how my first interaction with an aeroplane went and I gave my first greeting to Hyderabad!
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