My-sore Experiences

Before I get into the unpleasant details, let me clarify that as such Mysore is really nice city...as good as you would expect any city to be. Especially the weather is really nice. I also have nothing against Kannada people; they probably have nothing to do with my miseries unless it’s a deliberate conspiracy by them....

The story begins with me getting international summer placement with a German company. After receiving numerous bumps on my ass and lot of excitement, I got a letter from the company saying I was being posted in Mysore in one of the Indian subsidiaries of the company (The recession bitch!!). I was obviously disappointed but I amused myself by tellin people ‘company ne mere kaise chutya kataya’ type stories.

After a peaceful week back home I reached company guest house in Mysore. Very first day of my job I got lecture on how IIM brand doesn’t ensure success in career etc. along with very disturbing questions like “What are your views on Indian Economy?”, “What is the condition of foreign reserves?” etc. etc. thrown randomly at me. After that the job has had its ups and downs...but that’s not what this story’s all about...

Arrrgghh fuck the story...here’s the series of unfortunate happenings so far

- After first week, shifted to a room near the place I work, because it was just 1500 bucks/month


- Early morning next day the folks living downstairs fucked my brains in Kannada for leakage in my toilet...I had to shift to another room in the same house


- The room I live now is kinda funny with green walls and there’s no cupboard, so I’m virtually living out of suitcase


- There’s no eat-out in the area, nearest hotel is around 20 mins walk, other option is to have food on roadside gaadi which I prefer now a days. Also since I don’t know anyone in Mysore I mostly eat alone...it is a disgusting experience every time.


- After week or so of relative sanity...one day while travelling in bus, somebody stole my mobile. I lost all my contacts along with the Kerala Simcard.


- Coincidentally that same day Mysore started having its May showers (In April that is)...with loud thunderstorms at night. That day I realised how spooky my room is...I am the only resident of the house except for folks living downstairs (they have four pet dogs that bark at anything moving)....Right in front of my window there’s just flat empty land for about 200m and a lonely road... Once or twice at nights I have woken up in the dark, sensing things in room moving around and doors, windows banging against frame due to strong winds...now a days there are also power cuts at night...makes it much more interesting.


- I have also looked up for my chances of seeing lady in white sari with candle in her hand. As per statistics (obviously made-up) chances are around 2% on any given day with suitable conditions. So I’ll be having company on at least one of the nights during my 2 months of stay here.


- Getting back to the Simcard issue, after losing my Kerala Sim I purchased Airtel pre-paid Karnataka Sim...it took 4 days to get activated and after a week or so Airtel barred my outgoing calls, apparently they did not receive my papers...which I had submitted the day I purchased the simcard. Even after numerous rounds to Airtel gallery and customer care calls they have still not managed to debar my outgoing....’no outgoing’ can be frustrating...especially on spooky nights...but I’ve gotten used to it now....


- Since nothing in Mysore opens till 10 AM, I’m mostly having apples for breakfast. I also tried Maggi cup noodles...with hot water from Geyser (Yes directly from Geyser...don’t give me that raised eyebrow) but it tastes funny. On one of my trips to Reliance Fresh (30 mins walk) I saw this Soya milk with “Do not refrigerate” written clearly on pack...the next day it turned into Soya paste...or Soya curd or something...so apples!!


- The laundryman takes 4 days to wash clothes and the sweeper bai comes in afternoon on weekdays, so I’m washing my own clothes and sweeping my own room...I have also been purchasing household things like bucket, weekly grocery, mosquito coils, drinking water (Never knew water can be an expense) etc. I’ve kinda become my own House-Spouse.


- Weekdays can be dealt with but weekends are just like watching a wet paint dry...I spend most of them sleeping, reading or ipoding. People recommended Mysore Palace, Vrindavan Garden, Zoo, Chamundi Temple etc etc. but Palaces, Gardens, Zoos and temples are not exactly the places 25 year old wants to go to on weekends. Apparently people here call Chamundi Hill (800 “steps”) a trek...I have decided to give it a try once.


- Before comin to Mysore, I had heard a lot about Infy chicks but seems they don’t come out very often from their “campus”...no luck there either

So here’s me...writing this diary like blog (total gaygiri) on my lappy...which later I’ll copy to my pendrive and then post it from cybercafé (That’s how bored I’m)...

Watch this place for more “mera Mysore main kaisa gand laga” stories...and thank you for not reading...

P.S.: Wow so many red ants in my room...ohh some of them can fly...sweeeet!!!