Jul 24, 2006

Safety

I have this irrational fear of dogs. Something which dates back to the day I was a single cell old. Back in good old Chennai, I used to meticulously skirt past the scrawny, beleaguered, perennially thirsty low-breeds, that would rampage the empty streets of a sleepy Chennai, cursing passionately the way too early timings(by my terms, of course) of the college bus. Some of them got so used (/bored with) to my chastisement that they magnanimously chose to leave me alone to mind my own business. My woes didnt disappear altogether. The pampered poodles peeping out of their kennels in the neighboring bungalows, got an inane kick out of barking out of the blue and sending me racing from their gates… Didnt fail to give me a taste of ragging even in my final year of college..

Now in Bangalore, I stay in an area so infamous for its teeming canine community matched in numbers only by the IT professionals who reside here. The road I stay in is in no way less in stature than my area in Chennai, when it comes to the snob squad. An absolutely silly looking long bodied duo, along with a dumb bully as big as a calf, and an obnoxious sadistic spoilt brat, democratically take turns in harassing the scared-of-dogs, over worked, and pre-occupied passersby. But its not just these guys who rob me of my peace, because I know they are there, and they will scare me day in and day out. There exists a rowdy gang of street dogs, thriving on the scraps from the multitude of “juice junctions” and “bakeries”. And its this cotorie that I lose my sleep over. Polar opposites of their Chennai cousins, these dudes and dudettes are well built and sturdy. They amble around with an air, stirring fear in the depths of my heart. All of a sudden, from nowhere, one of them picks up a fight and there is pure, unadulterated commotion in the pack, and I either stay put, paralyzed by fear or try something stupid in an urge to flee. Thus is my lot, every time I venture out alone on the streets.

Today was exceptional. I woke up early, smartly got ready ahead of my usual time to work, and was tempted to take the early morning bus. I made it to the bus stop without much ado, but it is here that the catch lays. The number of people in the stop, would be few, and scattered. The Ruffians arrived in full style, parading their silken coats to their dames.. Fear of the mortal kind, started to grip me. Carrying more bags than I could manage, the realization that an attempt to flee was ruled out, was more than painful. Despite the chill, sweat began to pour down my face. Though my hands were full, I was desperately searching for my nails, biting them had always calmed my nerves. Praying fervently for heaven’s grace, I was edging towards the nearest human, as surreptitiously as I could, with all my bulk.

“Bark!”, “Wham”, “Howl!!”… The much anticipated pandemonium broke out. I almost saw doom leering around the corner, when my knight in white armour came by. The office bus swished past the warring factions and stopped in front of me. Pushing people around, (although, there weren’t any people to push around) I scrambled on to the bus..

Setting my many bags in an intricate fashion adhering to the tenets of feng shui, I took a deep breath. Immense peace engulfed me. Beads of sweat evaporated as a cool breeze blew. Looking out through the window, I finally felt safe. They cant reach me here. Nothing can harm me.


Just then, the driver applied a sudden brake. And I hit my teeth. On the same metal bar. Again*.



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*: I had a nasty accident, sometime back, last year in the same bus to office.

10 comments:

musafir said...

It's a dog's life (couldn't resist that)

And sorry to hear about the accident.

~SuCh~ said...

@musafir : sure, it is... nevertheless, dogs too have a life :-)

catch 22 said...

Good to know that there is somebody who has the same woes. Its kinda consolation ;). In chennai if I used to venture out in the night I used to make sure that I can get back by 11 atleast because once beyond eleven the street is ruled by those stupid canines. I would prefer to spend the nite on a railway platform but couldnt muster up the courage to get back home. In Bangalore its even more worse thats why If I am late I get either dropped or I spend the nite at a friends place. Everytime i see these street dgos I have an irresistible urge to shoot them all.

Hope the accident wasnt too serious :)

~SuCh~ said...

@catch 22: the accident was more of a learning than anything else. hav another big post on that (ref : blitzkrieg).. Got to know friends in need, and had a glimpse of how different people behave in a catastrophe... As for the physical damage... had a chipped off canine tooth (incidentally, that too was canine !) and a little bulge on the upper lip ... mars my smile a little, but then, a real beautiful smile is one from the heart, isnt it?? :-)

catch 22 said...

How do one notice a smile from heart?;)

~SuCh~ said...

hehe.. well you should tune in your antennae to a particular frequency to see that... ;-).. A genuine smile never goes impercepted...vice versa may not be true..

catch 22 said...

Well my antennae is always tuned for a smile ;). Agreed a genuine smile will never go unnoticed. :)

justrohin said...

hey good post but why do u always use so heavy words.. just a simple suggestion make it an easy read for mere mortals like us...:)

~SuCh~ said...

@catch: :-) (now that was a genuine smile !)

@just rohin : point taken!! tryin to stop vomitting words..

Subramanian Ramachandran said...

quite a nice post appadinu ninaichitte padichittu irunthena...the last P.S dissolved all such feelings.....

how do u do solils? Take care.... better wear a helmet for some time