When i took a bus for Guindy in Chennai

When i took a bus for Guindy in Chennai


Having boarded a bus from Mount Road on a day when i had nothing to get attached to, getting hooked to a Guindy trail was the option i could least resist. THe bus boarded with the belief that a seat would be secured i secured the right to sensitise myself with all hoardings and hunters who were on the prowl. Some boards read "Second ATM installed in our premises", "xerox from 35 paise onwards".

Amidst a crowd that looked split among daily commuters and those returning from office post sounding of hooters, there was an ad inside that sought to provide gainful employment for those who so far had resisted the temptation to be gainfully deployed. The ad went like this : " Wanted for ISO 9001-2008 certified company and those having the option to redress their grievances in the age group of 18 to 25; 8th to 10th class (pass/fail) 121 required for salary of 8500 to 9500, 12th p/f 88 required for salary of 12,000 to 14,600 and all degree holders 75 required for salary of 18,000 and above.

Post successful infusion of this bus pliable ad, the other signboard was on Saidapet which was still 200 metres away. IN between i came across one board: " Buy one shoe, get one free to use as hurl tool". By the time i reached Guindy it was quarter to six and the abundance of students across road showed their successful release from a central training institute where they had gone to train and trace their footsteps. Again amidst a surrounding that was orange-heavy, taking one of that was the least i could do before attempting to take a local from Guindy to Chennai Fort that has other clues. THe queue was long for the ticket to be procured and equally long looked to be the number of commuters who wanted to take ride back to Chennai Fort and the surrounding gates. When the local came and people went inside and disappeared, i for one believed that i could once again show my solidarity for a bus ride.

I mounted a bus going towards Mount Road LIC Nest and in came another challenge to encircle with all messages that could rarely pinch. One was on the world's number one biscuit is here to those on open university and housing board.Some sighting of the buses were on the routes of T Nagar to Chemmanchery and other noticeable was the number of passengers that a transport could ferry.
Under an hour i reached Mount Road to muse over some road diversions (diversions ahead to reach Guindy take GP Road) that Chennai has to evolve with to facilitate the smooth completion of the metro link.

Following this Guindy trail the following day i went to Mylapore and the return journey went through Royapetha, Balaji Nagar, two theatres, probably single screen (pilot, symphony), Irani tea stall, sweet corner and book point.
Tea stall, 821, Anna Salai was the one on occasions i tried for tea. IN Egmore(Kennet Lane) next to Hotel REgal and Ceylon was the Pandian Point for using cyber with no accompanying rant. Pandian Point Cyber Cell was cooperative and considerate. Equally cooperative was Ammu Palace in Mount Road.

Other notable hoardings i came across the city were:
- private vehicles not allowed to park inside; barking permissible outside.
- at the heart of what drives your world is how soon you can engage in abuse-cum-assuage hurl.
- stressful cream to let you regain stress in four hours; much different from fairness beam.


On Kennet Lane some shops mirrored the indulgences of a commoner having been turned to a corner.THey were:
all recharge cards sold here; international visa and debit card (no annual maintenance charge); perfume and body spray; all kind of mobile sale and services; travel companies: city sight seeing and out of city sight seeing.

Finally on Pantheon Road i sighted MSL 6111 (Amby) and hoped more such vehicles emerged as a ton.