This is My Town

I love Bangalore.  and I love that it's home.
Today I spent time with my friend from SIT who just arrived Friday for his practicum.  I met him on MG Road, we met some friends by UB city, walked Brigade and Commercial, and I dropped him at Shivaji Nagar.  It was SO fun to show someone around my town and to share with him my India :)
The best part?
We were in FabIndia and he was trying on some gorgeous kurtas.  I picked one up that was next to me so I could feel the embroidery, and the salesman said, "That is a large, madam" to which I replied "Yeah, that's too big - I need a small."  The security guard laughed and said something to the salesman, who then turned to me and asked, "Excuse me madam, but are you a regular here?"
I was taken aback.  "Well, I haven't been here for 8 months, but when I lived here last year I came often and always brought friends..."
"Yes, madam.  It is just that this guy here just told me that I don't need to tell you about sizes because you were a regular and used to come often."
I am a regular at FabIndia.
The second best part?
After making sure Cabbie got to the right platform and knew his bus number, I walked back down Commercial to catch an auto at dispensary.  I haggled for a price, feeling like this guy was a bit familiar but not knowing how.  Once we started driving, he turned to make conversation.
And I knew.
This was the driver I had last December who taught me how to drive an auto rickshaw.
I answered his question about how long I had been and how long I was staying, and then I said, "But I lived here 6 months in 2010, and I think that you drove me in December.  You taught me how to drive your auto...?"  He looked back at me, looked at the road, looked back again and said, "Ahhh yes madam!  On Hennur Main Road - Kothanur!"
"Yes!" I said, laughing.
"Do you want to drive today? After Mekhri circle?" he asked.
"No, no. It's dark, and there is traffic, and the road is so busy!"
But when he pulled over after Mekhri circle and motioned for me to get into the front seat, I couldn't resist.
And I drove myself the rest of the way home :)

#thingsidontloveaboutindia

Tonight it started monsooning at about 7:14.
We were supposed to leave the office at 7, but our call went late.
I was supposed to be home by 8 because the bank was coming over to verify that I hadn't given them a fraudulent address when I opened my account.

I love being caught in the monsoon unexpectedly. Seriously.  I know a lot of people hate it and find it inconvenient, and yes, sometimes it is inconvenient, but there's just this feeling of "well, I guess I really don't have control over anything, and the best thing I can do is stand here in / watching the rain until it's finished." and if you've read my blog from the last time around, you  know that there are some pretty classic moments that come from being monsooned.

But tonight, it was different.  I had to run outside in the pouring rain to try to catch an auto - it's kind of hard to convince them to drive me to Amruthahalli (where?!?) anyway, but in the rain it was double the fight.  Two turned me down, and when the third demanded way too much money I gave in so I wouldn't get soaked to the bone.

He complained the whole way there.  Oh, look at the traffic madam.  Oh, this is so far away madam.  Oh, I can't see through the windshield because there is too much rain madam.

Save it, buddy.  You chose to drive me here.  But at this point I decided that I wasn't going to ask him to drive me down the dirt road to the apartment - I would walk.

When he dropped me, he asked me for more money.  I was already paying double, I told him.  No way was he getting more.  I told him from the start where we were going, and this is what he signed up for.  Ten rupees, madam?  No.  A kiss, madam?  Definitely not.

On the list of #thingsIdontloveaboutindia?  Deciding not to barter for a dollar in order to stay dry, only to be stuck with a greedy driver who has the audacity to ask for a kiss after you've paid him double what he already deserved.