Where were you at 4 in the evening yesterday? Well, this is the question people would ask you if you were in Bangalore. Reason, the thunder-storms that stormed the city.
I had been to Bangalore to collect our IBM project certificates. My mentor, Kiran, had asked me to call him up to confirm where he is once I reached Bangalore.
I took the summer special train (12:00 o'clock) from Mysore. I reached Bangalore quite early – 3:00 pm (the train reaches at around 3:15 usually).
I thanked God for having reached early, since I didn't want to waste time on journey. I took a 333 to Airport Road and on the way called up Kiran to confirm he is in EGL. He said, “It is raining buckets here.” I said, “I'll try coming. Let's see.”
I realized what he meant only when I reached Domlur. It was raining elephants and dinosaurs (bigger than cats and dogs – couldn't get a better description) in Domlur. The bus driver asked, “Who's getting down?”
I looked out and was reluctant to get down since I didn't even have a jacket. He mercilessly said, “Get down soon.” I jumped out of the bus and took to the first shop I could see, which happened to be a tailor's shop. I stood there for some time. But the storm was so heavy, that I was getting wet even though I was standing under a shelter. I thought to myself, “No point standing here. Only my head is not getting wet. Why wait?”
I asked the tailor if he has a plastic cover, so that I can cover my head. I had decided to go to a rick driver and ask him to take me to EGL. This was a gamble, since if he said “NO”, I would be standing in the rain, without any purpose. The rain was so heavy, that I would be dripping if I stood in it for just 5 seconds.
Nevertheless, I decided to leave the shop. I mentally decided on a route. I thought I will get into the bus stop first and then go to the auto-stand, which was about 50 metres away.
I went to the bus stand and was already dripping. I couldn't get in, because it was already full of people like me, who were un-prepared for the rains.
I went to the auto-stand and asked the driver/s to take me to EGL. I offered them 30 bucks although it would not take more than 10. But no one was ready. I decided to head to Shanti Sagar. I crossed the main road and could see Shanti-sagar in front of me, but couldn't get there, because a pool of water (knee-deep) was in front of me.
I was totally drenched by now. I headed to the bus stand totally unaware of what I was upto. I got into some bus, which happened to be a life-saver.
It should be hardly 30 seconds that I entered the bus; I felt like people pelting stones at the bus. It got very noisy. It took me some time to realize what was going on. Huge ice pieces were falling from the sky. I thanked God and BMTC for providing me shelter at the right time.
It was about 4:30 by now. I dared not to get out of the bus. Kiran called me once, but I could hardly hear him because of the rain. He asked me not to worry about certificates and asked me to take care.
I called up my aunt and told her I am coming, for the bus that had entered would take me there. The rain subsided, and the bus left the stand.
It was a 4 hour journey to my aunt's house (ya, much more than the time I spent in the train!). It was “Look at the fate of Bangalore, when there are thunderstorms” kinda journey. Koramangala was flooding, with people wading through knee deep water.
It was a sight to watch 2 wheelers heroically entering the pool of water on the road, going off midway and then being pulled out of water with great difficulty. How I wished Pratap's camera was with me.
Meanwhile, my cousin called me and told me that a tree fell in 50 feet road and some biker got stuck. So all vehicles are being redirected. He wished me all the best to get home asap. I told him I'll reach by early morning and asked him not to worry.
It was 9 by the time I reached my aunt's house.
I was wondering if it was an incident only for me. But then, it is there in today's paper in the front page. And guess what the heading is:
CITY GROANS UNDER RAIN. DARKNESS AT 4 P.M.
