Extremely Fluky

An unholy beginning on a subtle rebuke from a friend -

Now, how do we begin the story or rather a 'would be remarkable' discussion, at the railway station, the airport or the quintessential rustic bus stand. Let us try the three out simultaneously, I am referring to the city of Navvvvabbs - Lucknow. Having run amuck around the school rikshaw for over 7 years in the city and enjoyed the cullinary delight it had to offer I almost feel guilty about this blog :-( Hmm ........ so I went to Mahanagar Boys Inter College, the then highly esteemed Roman Catholic Convent, over the years while the building has added a couple of wings the name has lost its sheen and sanctity as if to keep pace with the changing facet(s) of the city. But you are not supposed to be living here are you?? So lets go back to our station et al and begin there.

Railway Station: A tired Shatabdi jugs to an asthmatic halt and you the unsuspecting soul have the first face off with the abo hava of the city. Somewhere in the cacophony you can hear, "Sala Beh%$£&, teri Ma&^%$^........." your air conditioned relaxed muscles twitch a bit at the sight of people sprawling like furniture on display in Salarjung, and the very familiar, "sahab kuli chahiye" rings in your ear, nothing very comforting, nothing very soothing and then suddenly you notice the board

Airport: You get off the short haul aircraft and are surprised to see the craft parked precariously close to a more than big puddle of water, the uninviting rickety indian arilines bus and its its beetle nut chewing driver are not a pretty sight to behold, being a typical lucknowi you request at least 6 people hithertho behind you in the queue to board the bus and heaving a sigh of relief at the sight of the vehicle brimming to capacity you take the breezy walk to the shed they have the sheer audacity to call airport. Prepaid taxis are almost all vintage ambassadors and in case you are new to the system you are greeted by at least a dozen or more red light cars, though the professionals who use them are a bit more glorified, certain resemblances in charecter to those infesting a famous area in Mumbai do not go entirely unnoticed. Water everywhere especially a feet deep on the circle leading upto the exit road. And then you see the board.

Bus Stand: Its in the famous Kaiserbagh area, I never saw a bagh around though. The busstand's resemblance to a grade three municiplality absolutely out of funds is extremely stark. The staff on a sinusoidal behavorial curve - at times almost a carpet on which you can walk and at others exceptionally rude. The enquiry methodology is indegenous - ask people, for there are no officials. Will not venture into description of buses. Needless to say that on a hot July afternoon, the KBusStand is not excatly the place you would want your poor soul to be kuchipeying around, given the abundance of much necessary filth. But then like a lotus - stands bright and happy, unscathed by generous beetle spits our darling board.

On all the three ocassions the board read - muskuraiye ki aap Lucknow mein hain

One can probably permit himself a split second smile, soon after which the grim reality of what was and what has become soon catches up with you with a remarkable alcrity.

Will write later