Hyderabad Diaries 1

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.