The rescue

A typical evening at office, pending work, just the low hum of the systems and the irritating Pomeranian dog next door barking (rather yelping). All of this changes in an instant when my friend Shilpa walks in. She has in her arms a cute little brown pup. Musaiyab and me have a shocked look on our faces, I mean waz a pup doing in an architect's office.

But all that shock disappeared the moment I saw that puppy face, he was scared, hungry, cold and had no idea of what was happening around him. We took him outside before our landlord could find out. Shilpa, who came fully prepared was pouring the milk into a container. She found the pup lost, away from his mother on the Koramangala 100ft road waiting to be run over. Must admire her resourcefulness when she convinced a kid who was around there to hold the puppy while she rode her two wheeler to my office.

Once the pup licked the milk container clean, he obviously went to sleep, comfortably in my arms. Then started our search, to find "Mr. No more hungry and completely sleepy" a home. CUPA was the choice, they complied, but would come only in the morning to get him. Now that posed another problem, where to keep him until the next morning. Her place was a no, I lived in an apartment where pets aren't allowed and the office was a definite no. Many phone calls later, she finally found a home for the little guy. As we were headed there the pup rolled up like a fur ball in my arms trying to stay warm. Oh, how I wish I could have taken him home.

Anyway, he lay in large box until the next day, in the meanwhile driving Shilpa crazy with all the antics that is associated with a 2 month old pup. CUPA finally came along and took him away from Shilpa (who was teary eyed I am sure). All we can hope is that he finds a home where he is "Man's best friend".

Urban "disaster" planning

Its a change my city topic folks. And I am not talking about managing a disaster that strikes the city, nope, I am talking about the disaster that is the city "Namma Bengaluru". I am gonna take one example here; "The elevated highway on Hosur road".

Oh boy, I can't help but wonder that our politicians actually agreed to throw away 1000 crores of the tax payers money to build this monstrous piece of shit. Spanning 9kms, a beautiful stretch of road that gives you no idea of what is happening below it. And thanks to this road the road width on ground level is even less now making matters worse.

Who the hell came up with this idea, to build a road claiming that it will help clear traffic for the software supremos in E.city. What about the rest of the public, and even if the concern was for only the supremos, what about the bunch that has their offices on Hosur road before reaching E.city. What about the residential apartments, offices, commercial establishments on this stretch. And even if the thought was to benefit a small group then why are they being charged for the facility. 35 bucks for a one way trip!!! And if you are not aware, you don't come to know that you have to pay until you have finished the ride. (The toll booth is only on one end of the stretch for both directions)

There are exactly seven junctions from silkboard to E.city, the road width was already 10 lanes and with enough free or at least cheap land on either side. Wasn't clearing these junctions with underpasses and flyovers enough so as to give a clear path to the "Supremos" and at the same time help the general public too. Noooooo of course not, they had to build a good for nothing king cobra which leads to just one place and then charge people for using it.

This has to be a case study for disastrous planning. If anyone is of a different opinion, I would invite them to cross Bommanhalli junction at 7:00PM and head towards E.city on the "ground level".