One hour it took us in full,

To reach the temple of the Big Bull;

Just when I thought I’d seen it all,

We entered the Garuda Mall!

Day 2:

After a frugal breakfast of biscuits, we left base for Basavannagudi, the temple of the Big Bull Nandi. One of the largest Nandi idols in the world, it draws a large crowd of both localites and tourists. It apparently is also a famous place for bestowing your new vehicle with a long life, judging by the number of crushed lemons that lay on the path. The temple is situated in sylvan surroundings, as are most temples in India and the idol is a treat to watch. What is jarring is that some people try coercing their adopted cultures into the chaste and holy portals of the temples. There was this teenaged girl, who wore as much clothing as half a beggar sitting outside the temple. Don’t ask me what I was doing looking at her; she waylaid my path with her car, or rather, her darling poppa’s car.

There was two thirds of the day, waiting to be devoured and I intended to do just that. Politely turning down a lunch invitation extended by Sowmya’s friend Arathi, I went on my way to meet Navya, a singularly interesting girl if you know her. She is the spine and bone of the band Nabana, which is currently the hot favorite of Goa. It is said that any public house that goes for a full day without playing one of their songs would have its license revoked. Little children are taught songs from their special kindergarten CD named “Children of today, what can we say, if we ask you to pray, you will say You are Mad re!”, which incidentally is also the starting lines of their longest song which lasts for an hour and 27 minutes. Indeed, one song has become so popular that if one goes to the pristine beaches of Goa, picks up a shell and puts it to his ear, he will hear “Oh waves! Why crasheth thou!?”

After an unintended one and a half hour drive around Bangalore, the bus sighed for one last time as it dropped me off at the rendezvous. Finding Navya was not a problem, she was accompanied by the usual throng of youngsters wanting their t-shirts and other articles painted by her signature and her With Love From. After a heavy lunch at Pizza Hut, paid in full by her, we walked close to a kilometer to feel less heavy and we did. In a place that is unfamiliar to you, getting into a bus can be tricky, especially if you are standing in the wrong one. After a joy ride in the lovely Volvo bus of Bangalore 180 degrees in the wrong direction, we got off at a stop close to the mother of all malls, Garuda Mall.

Entering the mall through the detectors which work as well as switches in a village bereft of electricity, we noticed the beautiful sand sculpture made by my namesake, Sudarsan Patnaik. It was both the dirtiest and the pleasantest thing in the mall. Dirty, because sand is considered dirty and pleasant, because it was pleasing to the eye and added a new dimension to the ambience. It is not often that you hear a girl rant about not getting dresses even if she has tried shopping for as many as 3 weeks. On any other day and place, the word shopping would kill the twinkle in my eye and the dimple in my chin. But this wasn’t any other day, and certainly not any other place. It was Bangalore, a city regarded by many as one where the women define beauty.

Hence, we legged it to the women’s section to pick up some clothing for Navya, while I had one eye out for a glimpse of the notorious, evasive species. The other eye, of course, was running through rows and columns of dresses. The result of such an action was two fold. One – I finally understand why it takes women so much time to shop. It’s complicated. There are way too many things to choose from. You look at one astounding piece, think how great it would look in a different color, then think of a different neck and shape of the hands, mix it all up and ask for it. The salesman would not have a combination of all that, but he would give you 3 pieces, each containing 2 of the aforementioned qualities. Then you sit down to trade off between them, by which time your eye catches another piece and the process starts over again. And if you by chance happen to like one enough to try it on, the changing room will be your home for the next half an hour. If it fits and the price is right, the excitement inspires you to buy more. If it fits and the price is not right or if it doesn’t fit at all, the anger drives you crazy and us mad. All said, I am happy being a guy. Takes very less time and it is quite simple, really.

And Two – Bangalore’s women are just hyped up. The weather and the garment and cosmetic industry do wonders to the women here. Just as in any other city, if you go to the right places, you find the right women. Of course, Bangalore is more westernized than many cities, Chennai for example, and thank God for that. However, there is culture flickering in some parts of the city which does keep one’s hopes strong. This is just my opinion and it is not exhaustive. If you are warming up your fingers to thrash the keyboard and in effect, me, don’t. Blog about it and I shall read it.

More to come.