Chapter 5 - Same Difference

Before the doorbell rang, both Robin and Vardarajan were sleeping amongst the ruins of the last night’s feast. Neither wanted to go and fetch whosoever wanted to screw their slumber at 11 AM on Saturday morning. Finally Robin rallied around his strength and scratching his crown jewels, walked up to the door.

His good morning which smelt of mix of vodka, stale murukku, under cooked chicken and flat cola was a world away from Ira’s early Saturday morning freshness. She somehow held her breath and walked into the ransacked habitat. Topography was akin to a minefield because ahead laid strewn packets of chips well past their shelf dates, half filled glasses that were not gulped, newspapers that were used to pass around the snacks and Smirnoff bottles at odd angles with furniture of the house.

Ira – So what was this about?

Robin – Well, Vardarajan’s cousin just landed a job. Poor guy doesn’t have a place to get his friends over, so we provided boarding and lodging.

Ira – Looks like you took a major cut from their booze and food.

Robin – No actually that too was sponsored by us, this guy did not have much cash on him. Let me just clean this thing up, should not take long. And will have a quick bath. You have tickets right.

Ira – Yep, I had booked it yesterday itself. We will collect it at the kiosk. Vardarajan, you can also join us, am sure some tickets will be available at the theatre.

Vardarajan – Which movie are you guys going?

Ira – Tere Bin Laden.

Vardarajan let out an iffy hmm and made a face that profusely hinted at his displeasure.

Ira – Well come over yaar, it sounds like a decent movie. Satire on South Asians and has comical references to Sheikh Osama.

Robin – I thought it was about Pakistanis. Some guy who wants to go to US at any cost.

Ira – Yeah, but isn’t that common to all South Asians.

Vardarajan – Yes, yes we are alike per you, cousins right – flesh and blood.

Wink in his eyes conveyed sarcasm to Ira.

Robin – Yeah, we are so alike man. We are so close that we are charting our destinies in exactly identical manner. In fact let me give you an example of our oneness.

Ira knew what was coming.

Robin – India has its IT people and Pakistan has its terror industry. They have similar recruitment plans – Catch them young. Charity organizations in Pak use poverty to their advantage and snoop helpless youth and brainwash them by promising heaven for martyrs. IT firms in India will throng to remote corners of this country and recruit or rather enlist poor final year students who are no hopers by showing them slideshows on golf course like campuses which could pass off as heavens on earth.

Vardarajan too got into the act.

Vardarajan – Yeah man, even their focus is same – US. These lashkars target Amreeka and so do we. Despite our best ability to diversify the risk, we continue to target US markets.

Robin – Well it doesn’t stop at that, we also share common behavioral traits – “learnability” and flexibility. A mujahid from Soviet era can easily be transformed into anti Northern alliance soldier and then into a guerilla fighting in Kashmir, before he can be sent back to Kunar to fight the Americans. We are not too different either. Mainframe slobs became new age internet gurus when dotcom came, then became Java evangelists when it crashed, only to be resurrected as cloud computing popes of the day.

Ira – You guys are incorrigible. And Robin, we are getting late.

Robin – Hey cmon, don’t spoil this train of thought. I have more. Lets look at value chain aspect. Paki terrorists have come a long way. From engaging Soviets by firing Milan anti tank guns and Stingers at Mi Choppers, they first metamorphosed into an army with fancy titles as Area Commanders in Kashmir and then did what even Special Operations group of Pak army has failed – launch an offensive in Indian commercial capital on 26/11. Indian IT too has come a long way. In 80s we wrote /*comments*/ to the code written by whites in 60s and 70s. Then they trusted us enough to test their applications. We even started coded them. These days, I also hear that our half literate business analysts are even writing requirements for them. Ofcourse high death rate and low birth rates amongst Caucasians has helped us in this regard.

Vardarajan – How about multiculturalism? Today we hear reports of Arabs, Chechens, Uzbeks, Africans and even German jihadis roaming in those badlands. Paki terror industry has reached out to the world and is attracting talent at will. Similarly we too have people from different countries in our companies.

Robin – Good point, but you know I think we are little behind the curve. These people from other countries are often NRIs. Remember Kal Patel in our previous project?

Ira – Guys, I am just disgusted. And Robin are we going for the movie or not?

Robin – Okay okay, just give me 5 mins for bath.

With Robin about to leave for movie, Vardarajan looked the ruins around him and did not like the idea of cleaning it by himself. May be after the breakfast or lunch, he thought.

Vardarajan – Hey guys wait for me, I am also coming with you. Not for the movie, will walk with you guys till the market. Need to fix some breakfast.

Ira – Why don’t you come and join us? You can have some food at the mall itself.

Vardrajan – Nahin yaar. You guys go ahead and have a great time at “Tere Bin Laden”

Robin – or Hamare Bin Laden?

Both chuckled as Ira’s face went red again.

Chapter 4 - Faces

Both the ladies came in full glory on one fine Sunday with chrome plates, disc brakes and custom seating, never mind the fact that both Robin and Vardarajan had to forego of his last 3 months of savings and take up a 40 K loan. But the bargain was beautiful, it was not only a bike for him, it was also a coming of age moment for him. Of course they did not understand, Kashmirilal had even tried to give a “sweeter” deal – “Take my scooter to Bangalore, I don’t need it anymore”. It was perhaps for his own good that this conversation happened over the phone since Robin was clenching his teeth when he heard of the offer. He was surprised to find that his father did not remember his embarrassing nays when he was asked to take the same machine to his college. Good riddance he thought.

His roommate was just as thrilled, though the reasons were more in line with fiscal ramifications. Those rickshaw rides to and from pubs would needed, no need to be at the mercy of company bus timings on the way back home.

Vardarajan – So where do we take these bikes for a drive?

Robin – I am thinking Goa, may be next week since Monday and Tuesday are off.

Vardarajan was clearly taken aback, he had outer reaches of the city like Whitefield or even new airport.

Robin – Lets do the booking once we are in office tomorrow.

Drive to the office was less than eventful, frequent stops at the traffic signal, unusually warm morning in Bangalore and those darn ties left both Robin and Vardarajan with sticky trousers by the time they landed on their desktop stations in the project area.

Gauri – Hi guys! How was the weekend?

Varadarajan – Our new bikes have and we are headed to Goa next week since it is a long weekend.

Robin gave a look to his friend that said “Congratulations mate on being able to sum up 60 hours between Friday evening and Monday morning in just one sentence”.

Gauri – Great, lets plan together, will speak Ira once she is back from her training in couple of hours.

Vardarajan – But we were planning to go on a bikes.

Robin interjected – These drives can be quite arduous, we need to drive atleast 10-12 hours in a day.

Gauri – Dont worry, I have been on drives from Palakkad to Goa twice. Ira too shouldn’t have any issues, unless you guys have any problems.

Both nodded in negative, they were more interested in knowing who accompanied her for these road trips but clearly timing was not right.

Ira too agreed with the proposed trip with one suggestion.

Ira – We can go to Goa anytime, plus it is way too commercialized. Instead of Goa, let’s plan trip to coastal Karnataka. There are plenty of options to choose from.

Robin – Dont mind that but which place do we settle and how do we go about booking?

Gauri – Lets go to Malpe, we stayed there on our trip to Goa. Place is very quaint, less crowded and not very far from Bangalore. I can do the booking over the phone at this hotel which is not too far from the beach.

Both Robin and Vardarajan had no idea so had to go with their local experts. Road trip was on.

As we grow older while working in our comfortable coffins also known as cubicles, we all discover one plain rule which lies midway between temporal mechanics and human psychology. Time flies in anticipation of any paid vacation.

Thursday arrived and group decided to meet over at guys’ place to exchange notes on supplies, route and other useful information. Swimsuits, slippers, ample undergarments, camera, route map, rendezvous points, local information and spare cash.

Since it was past the dinner deadline at the PG, food was ordered for the group.

Ira looked at her watch and went up to switch the TV on.

Gauri – Ira not again, you make me watch these lousy news channels even when we are not at the PG.

Robin too was not impressed, it was evening for godsake. Per him, there was no need for news channels, in any case same news comes in the paper next day.

Ira – Just a minute guys, I just want to hear this for few minutes. There has been some landmark decision on some land acquisition case.

Other three were plain indifferent, but they digested some of the visuals that they saw on the telly. There have been some self immolation attempts by farmers who were protesting the alleged land grab by corporate in their area.

Robin – Nothing comes from these immolations, did anything happen after Mandal riots, its almost 20 years now.

Gauri and Vardarajan were not sure as to when these riots took place, but kept quiet on the subject.

Vardarajan – These folks seem very simple, people in rural areas in our country are gullible. Local politicians and goons can easily take their advantage.

Robin – Yes thats true.
And he recounted his grandmother’s account of the serene life in a Punjab village in undivided India.

Robin – Once i have made enough money, I ll settle in a farmhouse. Only come to city for few days in a month.

Ira – What for? To party at your clubs?

Gauri – Or you could open up a rural lounge bar? Instead of sofas and recliners, you can get khatiyas.

Robin – Enough. This conversation ends here. I have not signed up for being bakra of the day.
More visuals were rolling on TV, more experts and more cacophony on the show that tried to analyse the agitation.

Food arrived and was consumed with usual hurry since ladies were to be dropped before PG night cerfew deadline.

Next morning, Gauri came up to Robin and Vardarajan’s cubicle.

Gauri – We will have to cancel this trip. Ira is not feeling well. Lets plan for some other time.

Vardarajan – What happened to her? Is she alright?

Robin – But i just saw her leave for a whole day training session.

Gauri – It is not that serious, she has gone for the session but will not be able to make it to the trip.

Vardarajan did not quite understand it. He had come across similar situations when he was in engineering college. Some girls would just chicken out at the last moment when they were planning movie or a trip to some theme park.

Vardarajan – I don’t understand this. Clearly these guys are ditching us at this last moment.

Robin thought about it for a moment and then chuckled.

Vardarajan – What?

Robin – I just remembered that you told me about your schooling in Hyd. You were in all boys school till 12th right?

Vardarajan – Yeah, but does that have to do with this?

Nothing and everything, Robin thought while looking at his confused friend.

Robin – Chuck these girls, we will go ahead as planned.

Vardarajan – I am in. Let’s cancel their booking to avoid any penalties.

Drive to Malpe was long and tiring. They had started early, 4 AM, so made some quick progress through the day. Both enjoyed the ride – fields on both sides, leafy western ghats, good food at the roadside places and just the right temperature. With just once blemish – a 1 hour wait on a railway signal where some farmers were protesting. A passerby said – something to do with land grab.

They arrived at hotel in evening, it was not exactly Regal as it name suggested but it lived up to its USP – proximity to the beach. Both wanted to go immediately but were told by the hotel reception that there were no establishments on the beach, no light either.

Robin – Let us explore the area in the town instead.

Vardarajan – Yeah, we can have dinner at some local place. Hotel prices seem exorbitant.

Both went down and started strolling around.

They gravitated towards most commonly found point of interest in this country – a paan shop.
Neither were in mood to smoke, so just asked for some cold drinks.

Robin – Why don’t ask him about any interesting place around here.

Vardarajan tried his bit but this paanwala only spoke of two things – beach and the hotel.

Robin – I don’t want to go back to that stupid hotel after riding for 14 hours.

They noticed a person smoking next to the shop.

Vardarajan went up to him and asked if there were any eateries around. He knew of a place nearby but was advocating against the same. Hotel is a better place in the vicinity.

Vardarajan – You mean this place had no decent places to eat

Robin added – and drink? We have bikes, so we can ride for few KMs if there is any place.

Person – In that case there is a place, it is a village bar. Some 10 KMs away on a hillock.

Vardarajan – Great, can you please tell us the route?

He proceeded to talk and make gestures about dozens of turns that they would need to reach their destination.

Robin – In fact why don’t you join us, come ride with us to this place.

Vardarajan would not have voted for the idea but elections never came up.

Person – Sure. My name is Parshuram and I work here at the hotel. My shift had ended, so i can accompany you to this place.

Robin – Great, we will get our bikes now. Lets meet in 5 mins.

Ride to the village bar was more difficult than Parshuram had indicated. Had it not been for some decent suspension of their motorcycles, both riders would have given up fearing irreversible damage to some of their body parts.

Bar was not idyllic but setting was. It was basically a liquor shop with a small kitchen. There were cots all over the place.

After parking their vehicles in open area, they chose a spot and gesticulated to the set of people who seem like waiters.

Drinks flowed in. Along with some bites – bhajjis of all kinds, peanuts, and what seemed like seafood.

Robin – So Parshuram, where is your home? Is it nearby?

Parshuram – No, sir. I am from Kerala. My family is in village there, I work here at the hotel for few months.

Vardarajan – Should we order for more drinks.

Liquids were being ingested at a brisk pace, hence the query.

Robin - I am little bored with these drinks, can we get something more potent.

Parshuram – Sir would you like some village drink?

Twinkle in Robin and Vardarajan’s eyes suggested they liked the idea. Parshuram enquired with the waiter and disappeared with him for few minutes to get the drink.

Soon Parshuram was back, this time alone with three bottles of Neera

Vardarajan – So what do we mix this with?

Both Robin and Parshuram started laughing. Parshuram picked his bottle and started drinking straight from it. Robin and Vardarajan followed. Neither like the taste at first but kick from the drink was definitely appealing.

Both were now convinced that dames’ not accompanying them in this trip was a great idea. They would have never agreed to this.

With bottles were nearly downed both friends lied down on the cot.

Vardarajan – This is much better than your fave places in the city.

Robin – Agree, look at the stars over there. I think i remember that constellation, in that direction over there.

There was no response from Vardarajan.

Robin – Guru you are conked off, I don’t know why you people drink so much that..

He was not sure whether it was shrillness in the chirping of the birds or Vardarajan’s angry voice that made Robin wake up with irritation.

Vardarajan – Wake up you asshole.

Robin – What the fuck happened?

Vardarajan – Fuck happened to us.

Walk back to hotel took 4 hours. Both had faces that were mixture of embarrassment, anger and self pity. Embarrassment was definitely the dominant of the three.

Missing Inventory was a small list – both motorcycles, their wallets, Robin’s gold ring, Vardarajan’s chain and worst of all things their sports shoes.

Quite predictably, bar owner had no idea about Parshuram or whoever he was. Hotel staff too could not place the physical attributes of the phantom. Paan shop owner was more helpful, he said that yesterday was the first time when he saw that stranger around the hotel.
After filing obligatory FIR, both Robin and Vardarajan decided to use their spare cash to the best use and head back to Bangalore. They got onto a bus leaving for Sakleshpur, from where they intended to take another one back home.

Though they did not discuss with each other, neither had any intention to talk about the same to anyone in office. Vardarajan was soon dozing.

Bus ride was mor e or less uneventful except for some unusual traffic jam that seem to appear out of nowhere. Robin jutted out his head to see what exactly reason of ruckus was. There seem to be some local protesting with placards in kannada. A fellow passenger offered more insight – same story, poor villagers and land grab by some company.

Finally some order was restored and bus started to pick up some speed.

The protesting group was now on the side of the road and as the bus sped by it, Robin saw a familiar face amidst the agitators – Parshuram’s.

Chapter 3 - Barabanki to BTM

8 weeks of so called trainings were not a breeze, but both Robin and Vardarajan were shaping up quite well. In any case they were battle hardened by 4 years for meanigless drivel that consisted of 8 semesters, 40 theory subjects and 24 practical exams.Somewhere between physics of 11th standard and getting a campus job in 7th semester, a science student yearning to become an engineer gets the balance quite clear - how many marks do i want and how much time do i have to put in to get those marks. It is quite incredible to find that graph is usually flat after sometime, underlining this equilibrium.

Towards the end of training, rumours started to fill in, some Andhra boys were seen chatting about a huge project coming through. And it would not be testing or maintenance. Some train company in southern US wanted to reduce its IT budget into half, math was simple.

Therefore an afternoon coffee break is a natural time slot to discuss the same. I think we will all get on boarded into this project. Based on my sources, this will require more than 300 people to start of with. Vardarajan said with aplomb that is usually seen for cricket commentators when they are inspecting pitch before the match. And are often completely wrong.

Robin would not have cared less but for the fact that he would like to be around the group.

And there is long term onsite involved as well. Vardarajan with a glee that he could not control.

Gauri looked at him and figured out his state of mind. I bet you already have sounded off your cousin to look for accomodation in Wisconsin.

Yes but this project will be in Arizona, Phoenix. My cousin does not know much about that place. Vardarajan fell into the trap.

Both Robin and Gauri almost spilled their small steel coffee glasses upon hearing this. While Ira was shaking her head in disbelief.

So you guys have bought some house related stuff yet? asked Gauri changing the topic.

Yeah over the weekend we bought a TV and dish connection. Some really cool deal, we are getting 300 channels for less than 250 Rs per month. Robin said,

thinking of future challenges like Eenadu Vs Colors skirmish or Pokhri Vs Golmaal statemate between him and his fiercely hyderabadi roommate. It was still a honey moon period, but he knew it wont remain so.

That seems like a great price. We only have some 50 odd channels in the PG. And with 20 other girls, controlling remote is a difficult mission. In fact Ira

had a big fight with rowdy group of girls last night, said Gauri.

Fight and Girls only conjured one image in both the men's cerebrum. Two women, attacking each other, tearing away the other's clothes, using foul language and for an extra effect getting drenched in the rain.

Finally Robin came back from his stupor and asked - So what was it all about? Some moview?

No, Ira wanted to watch News channel.

BBC was showing our home minister's interview, asking him on internal threats to India. But these women wanted to see a repeat episode of Bigg Boss. Ira was fuming, clearly she had lost the tussle. And it was not even remotely physical as the guys were dreaming.

India always has problems, there is nothing new in these news channels. Robin's remark suggested that he too would have sided with people wanting to watch Bigg Boss.

It is not the question of novelty or newness in the news. Question is whether we are aware of some of the more important issues that our country faces. Ira had done this drill several times with her college classmates. She had found no comfort in the fact that most people in her age group dont give a damn.

Terrorism is the biggest problem. Vardarajan thougt of doing some CP (Class participation for uninitiated).

No you are wrong, terrorism is a symptom of a much larger problem the state faces today, Ira countered.

Pakis have hand in all this, basically they have always been our problem from day 1. Robin had heard stories of his grandparents coming from western punjab, now in pakistan. Stories of how many women were raped, men and children killed by mobs. These mobs or groups of rioters known as "balwai" were always the villian in his naani's stories. He had imagined them to be atleast 7 feet tall, dark in complexion and having an axe in their hands, ready to chomp off your limbs with a perfection of rolex watch.

It is always easier for us to blame others for our problems. Though i agree that Pak has been more than a nuisance to us. Have we reconciled and integrated everyone into the mainstream. Ira was warming up to the discussion.

You mean other castes. Reservations are already there for the same. Gauri's two cents on the subject.

No i mean everyone, minorities, backward castes, tribals. Fact remains that we have only changed a wee bit since independence. Integration is still way off.

Regions too. North indians and South indians are also very different. Vardarajan chipped in.

They are different because politicians have been highlighting the differences and using the regional bogey to keep control of their vote banks. But people too have their responsibility. Ira was not sure if she was making any sense with these people but this was her favourite topic so could not back off.

Oops it is already 3 o clock. Quiz for databases is starting for the first batch in 30 mins. And i have not revised it even once, said Gauri killing the debate prematurely.

Everyone proceeded to the training center with mix of residual thoughts of the discussion and probable questions on joins and foreign keys that DB test might include.

As usual, test was quite predictable. All the four cleared the same with little difficulty. While Ira and Gauri left by 6 PM shuttle, Robin and Vardarajan decided to have dinner in the office.

What is our responsibility to integrate this country? Why was Ira saying that people are responsible for the mess we are in? Vardarajan was recounting on he was somewhat taken aback by conviction on Ira's face in afternoon.

May be she means that we should not vote these politicians into power. Robin conjectured.

But all of these political guys are same. I think she meant doing something more direct that elections ,Vardarajan said.

Robin nodded, but more out of compulsion. Neither he nor Vardarajan could think of any possible way a common person to solve these issues.

Lets get back home and our daily fix of Mountain Dew. Vardarajan agreed.

Over past few days they had developed a ritual of going to a small shop near the house. Uncle ji in his 50's kept usual things - candies, sodas, chips, cigarettes, gutkha and served tea till 11 in the night. Business was good with bachelors in that area. Robin had discovered that place by accident and was somewhat surprised by the taste of tea that Uncleji sold. It was not your typical brick red south indian version of tea, but was rather milky, sugary concoction that reminded him of north.

Then there was also this fixation of having Mountain Dew before going to bed at 10 PM.

Since Vardarajan knew Kannada, he did all the talking and ordering. Usual pleasanteries were exchanged and it was informed that mountain dew is not available today.

Tea was the natual alternative.

Yes we will have 1 by 2 tea. Vardarajan confirmed to Uncleji.

Tea arrived, as usual in a tiny plastic cup which one could only hold with nails due to its design.

As Robin sipped it, a grimace was evident on his face. Uncle ji caught that expression and asked Vardarajan in Kannada if everything was alright.

Vardarajan too found it to somewhat strange, may be the milk had curdled or salt has found its way into the tea.

"Arrey chai mein kaun sa dhoodh daal diya hain tumne", Uncleji shouted in chaste hindi, directing his anger at a figure in the kitchen in backside of the shop.

"Lagta hain fat gaya hain, fridge kaam nahin kar raha tha subah se", the figure belonged to Uncleji's wife, who seemed some 10 15 years younger than Uncleji.

Robin had not expected the language of the dialogue. So he asked, where are you from Uncleji?

From UP,Barabanki to be precise. Uncle ji replied.

Quickly tea was replaced, old taste reappeared. Robin was still interested in his new found regional connect.

For how long you have been here? Robin quizzed on.

It has been 25 years. Now this is our home. Uncleji now had his wife besides him.

25 years back, what brought you here? There was no IT walas, no growth in this city, what exactly brought you here?

Caste. said Uncle ji. Caste brought us here. You see I am from a low caste while my wife is from family of Thakurs. We met in an inter college and wanted to marry. But Barabanki was not a place where such a union could take place. So we ran away from our homes and landed here 25 years back. Our kids are now grown up, both son and daughter are working in Karnataka govt offices. You see both of them have learnt Kannada and we also had backward caste certificate given to us by government. Life has been good since eloping with my wife from UP. Though we miss UP, this is now our home.

They had blended in perfectly said Robin while on their way back to house.

No, they have been integrated, Vardarajan corrected.

Chapter 2

Karl Marx and Appam

Both woke up quite early. Perhaps due to nervious energy of getting ready for the first day at the office. They got into a Factware bus from outside the apartment complex. There were others, from their demeanor Robin could make out that crowd was divided among 3 groups - experienced folks, new joinees from south and worst lot - new joinees from places where South India is a black hole. Places like Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP. Places where kids may or may not remember lessons of geography, likes of huge land mass of Gondwanaland, but would certainly take their parents' best descriptions of South India - place is called Madras, they all eat with bare hands, lick their arms when sambhar drips, put lot of coconut oil in their heads and are all vegetarians.

Bus took some time to come out of throes of BTM, into Hosur road where it joined an entourage of other Factware buses heading towards electronics city. Almost seemed like all the tributaries of the ganges were hurtling towards the endgame - an ocean. They reached at the bus terminal at 8 AM.

Robin and Vardarajan stood in line to get their temp IDs done. Both were little astonished to find the long serpentine queue at the counter. Robin remembered - "we only recruit the best from the best" line that HR fellow made atleast 5 times during the college recruitment drive. Either he was making it up or India suddenly started producing excellend engineers. Something made Robin feel it was not latter.

Armed with temp IDs that looked more like placards, new joinees were ushered into a large auditorium. Crowd was making even a large auditorium at Factware burst at seams.

It was large because Vardarajan had caught a certificate in the lobby that stated recognition of Factware bangalore as largest private sector audi in India.

Some HR fellow started the proceedings, talked about the agenda of the day and the next. There were addresses planned for each of the business unit, Sr VPs would talk about their

group and kind of work they do. Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Technology R&D - they all seemed same to Robin. He was not sure why Factware was not structured along technologies - C, Java, Oracle etc.

Thankfully, all of the joinees were excused for a breakfast. Somehow regional gravity was making folks make their groups enroute to the food court. Gujjus and Bombaywallahs were seen together, so did folks from 4 southern states, hindi wallahs were few and far between. Robin stuck with Vardarajan.

Yet another queue at the breakfast counter. Idli Vada combo is the best pick, said Vardarajan. 18 bucks for 2 idlis and 1 vada instead of 12 bucks for idli and 8 bucks for Vada if taken seperately - was his logic. Robin did not protest. He was actually distracted, doing lot of people watching ahead of him in the line.

One particular figure seemed interesting. A girl with should length hair stood some 4-5 places ahead of him. Talking non stop with her accomplice, who looked a lot like other girls in the food court. Petite, braided hair, spectacles and a look which screamed - I am a local. But the first girl was somewhat different.

Was it her salwar suit, strange red with a yellow dupatta. That color combination seemed like a flag of some country, Robin was not too sure. Her hair unlike her friend's had an air of abandon and she had a complexion that made Robin remember most interesting part of an engineering student's hard disk- hot slideshows. Robin had gigabytes of beauties - both Indian and International. Laetitia Casta, Pam Anderson, Naomi Campbell and everyone's fave- Jenny McCarthy. Indian regulars were Aishwarya, Maliaka, Rani, Sherlyn etc. But Robin also had a large exotic collection of southern belles, made him feel like a connoisseur. Ramya, Rambha, Jyothika, and ofcourse Silk Smitha. Yes this girl's complexion seemed a carbon copy of Silk Smitha's, especially that shot from Sadma where she is wearing what seems like a short skirt while talking to Kamal Hassan.

There was another thing on her back, was a tattoo but Robin wasnt sure of the figure. Was it a....?

Line moved on and both took coupons for the food.

Both the girl and her friend sat adjacent to Robin and his only companion in the new city. And then an unlikely thing happened - Vardarajan spoke first. Are you from Hyderabad? No, we are not said Silk Smitha. I am from Bhilai and she is from Kozhikode.

"My name is Vardarajan, from hyd and this is Robin Nirula from Delhi."

"I am Ira Menon and this is Gauri Nair"

So is your native Kerala? asked Vardarajan

Yes, my father is in govt service, but i do go to Kerala every year to visit grand parents from both sides.

Aha, that explains your complaint to the food court guy about no appams in the breakfast. Vardarajan was in self congratulatory mode after putting 2 and 2 together. Robin wanted to ask what is an appam but he stopped himself.

"Did you go to same engineering college" Robin finally opened his mouth.

"No, we just met yesterday at the PG place where we are staying. Its in Koramangala."

Motely group of four walked back to the auditorium, fully expecting hours of boredom that beckoned them. None of the speaker denied that commodity. One after the another they all showed a hockey stick curve, how proud they were to be part of "it" from the beginnings, which in IT means 1992 - the seminal year when for the first time starting salary of the best govt concerns were matched by IT companies. Robin was thinking about number of options each of these buggers had and what would he do with that kind of money.

He was not alone, Vardarajan was too thinking of the same. Currency was different - how many flats in Bangalore?

That was at their back of the mind while having lunch with the girls. Gauri and Ira though differed. It is not the money that is driving them. They like working in Technology. They are passionate about their work, clients and shareholders.

I would not like to work in an IT company if i have this kind of money- Robin declared. I will start on my own.

Vardarajan too chipped in - Me too, One of my cousin's friend is working for Factware and has also opened a consultancy in US.

What does he consult on? Gauri asked.

He provides sub contractors on H1B to companies in US. Vardarajan said, quite matter of factly. His company gets 80 dollars an hour and gives 20 dollars an hour to the employee. He and his wife make the difference.

Great but i did not have that kind of business in mind, Robin snapped Vardarajan's line of thought.

I will open a series of thematic lounges in Delhi and Mumbai.

What sort of themes? - Ira was interested.

Havent planned, but it would be a dark mysterious lounge where rich and famous would spend thousands. I have also thought of a name - Hawas.

What is hawas? Gauri asked

Vardarajan had an idea but did not want to risk it. Ira was amused but controlled herself.

She gave a "I ll tell you later" look to Gauri and they continued eating their lunch.

May be we could all go to a lounge in Bangalore, I ll get some ideas on decor and ambience. Though he said it with a straight face, it somehow was not convincing to the girls.

Day 1 and 2 passed with an occasional mishap. An absentee speaker, rumour of a brawl between 2 new joinees and someone snoring in one of the sessions.

We need to find accomodation this week itself. Policy says we cant remain in the guest house for more than 5 days. Vardarajan reminded Robin.

Do you guys plan to be in a PG? Gauri and I are quite ok with this place.

No, we want an independent place. Where we could get in our furniture and stuff.

But do you have any stuff with you?

No, i am talking about a month or 2 later. When salary comes. To be accurate, Robin was thinking of credit card once it comes through.

Vardarajan agreed gingerly, he thought about the difference in the rent.

Finding a house in bangalore is not a problem. Almost everyone is a house owner willing to give their house to software engineers. And yet it is a supplier's market. 10 K for 2BHK, 10 months advance, water electricity seperate, no non veg cooking. Plain and simple rules that were also embossed on the rent agreement.

Both Robin and Vardarajan knew of the financials of renting a house in Bangalore and so had come prepared. Mr Reddy was their new landlord and in no way related to Mr Reddy who was the owner of Factware guest house. Robin could make out this is no coincidence.

Money changed hands, last minute instructions were handed out by the owner and voila - Robin and Vardarajan had roof over their heads.

Its is a fantastically located few hundered meters from a temple, perfect from vaastu perspective and has vitrified flooring. vardarajan was enthusiastically explaining his new abode in the city.

Great, so lets celebrate your new house. Ira was already bored with monotony of the PG.

Deciding place was a big problem. Took 2 days for the four of them to agree. Failed candidates included - potluck at new place (by Vardarajan) and new Mohanlal movie(by Gauri).

KS, newest and perhaps hippest lounge was agreed upon. Adjectives about the place came primarily from Robin. Ira had an idea behind the name KS of the lounge but she did not want

to tell the same to Gauri. Varadarajan enquired about how expensive it would be. 1000 bucks in cover charges, per head. Girls are covered.

What are cover charges?

It means that you can eat and drink upto 1000 bucks without paying extra.

And what if i dont use the limit?

Robin had no answer. Clearly this guy needs more education than i anticipated, he thought.

So it is friday 7 pm sharp. I ll sms the address tonight.

He was itching to use his party shirt, a darkish purple zodiac that he had bought in his 7th semester thinking he will get lucky with that dame from LSR college. But he did not want to think about her.

Vardarajan slipped into his usual weekend gear, white shirt and jeans. He would have continued with his ritual of rounding it with sandals till Robin told him that club walas wont allow sandals.

Then i ll put on my office shoes.

Ladies were on time and they proceeded to the 10th floor of the building where lounge was housed.

Gauri had lost her specs. But rest was more of the same.

Ira however had transformed, a black knee length dress and some make up. Did wonders to her, Robin thought.

Drinks were quickly ordered, rum and coke for Robin, mocktails for Gauri and Vardarajan and martini for Ira.

Why are mocktails as expensive as alcoholic drinks? asked Vardarajan.

So that lounge make money from teetotallers as well. replied Ira

It also does wonders to promote alcohol. Robin was getting into his witty groove.

Theme was retro and seats began to fill in with more restless group of people getting into the mood of enjoying weekend.

I would lose the DJ, have recliners for everyone, free drinks to women, karaoke nights and have a large viewscreen with FTV running on it. Robin had his ideas and rum was making them flow.

But why Delhi? Ira asked.

That city has taste and most importantly lots of money.

I agree with the money part, not quite sure on the taste. Ira was no Delhi fan, but she somehow liked this fellow.

Music was at its loudest and few pioneers had already starting dancing on what could be technically called a dance floor. Girls were making eye contact with each other which suggested that neither wanted to take the lead. Vardarajan was still permuting the numbers that total upto 2000 they had given at counter.

Robin was waiting for the right song and some kick from his 4th peg of rum. 4 was seminal when it came to pegs. He had seen many introverts in his college become debating heroes after 4th, confessions of first kiss, daring wagers on asking a girl out, list was long. There it was, DJ did him a favour and started Staying Alive by BeeGees. This is my favourite song, lets go.

Ira responded and the two sashayed their way to middle.

He was not too bad, had dabbled in jam sessions in colleges, marriages, impromtou hostel parties and even jaagrans. Every north indian is a real life manifestation of Yash Chopra's song and dance hero. Atleast Robin was.

Ira too had her share of dancing in her school and college days. They could both see Vardarajan and Gauri egging them on from their seats.

Fourth peg had indeed made him float in the air. He wasnt sure how many drinks Ira had taken but guessed she was not far away. Evidence was the fact they were among 4-5 people who remained on the floor while DJ was playing Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd. Hardly a club number. More music followed, Gypsy Kings. Much better to dance on.

As they did their crude attempts on Tango and Salsa, Robin noticed that tattoo again.

Isnt that a sickle and hammer? he shouted in her ear.

Yes, my father is a trade union leader at the steel plant. Ira said unapologetically.

Robin felt a lump in his throat but carried on dancing till the closing hours of the place.

Would you like to have breakfast tomorrow, Kerala style? Ira was not sure of the response but asked anyways.

Yes, very much. Robin wanted to control his exuberance but alcohol was getting ahead of him. As long as there are appams.

Chapter - 1

Sampark Kranti Express is 6 hours late

Auto ride from Yeshwenthpur railway station usually takes 1 hour and multiple of 100 rupees to reach southern ramparts of Bangalore, BTM to be more precise. Robin got into one after rejecting number of them with a swagger that was a dead give away - he was yet another northie fucker. Finally after walking for 300 m from the train station, he surrendered to Pasha's swanky new TVS rickshaw. "Wanda haff" meter reading saar, it is very far and lot of jam, Pasha had argued. Robin was too tired.

Partly due to 46 hour journey that should have taken 40 and partly due to insistence of his father Mr Kashmirilal Nirula who insisted that he should take a steel trunk. It would make a side table, he opined. Ofcourse his father had no idea that Bangalore train stations dont yet have conveyor belts for walking. Though ride was uneventful, Robin did try to observe numbers on "mains" and "crosses" that Pasha was passing by. Couple of times, he even thought Pasha was going in circles. That secret is going with Pasha to his grave for sure. At last, Robin was at his destination - Reddy Suites.

After paying damages and seeing Pasha off, Robin checked in at the front desk. I work for Factware, tomorrow is my joining. Lady at the reception asked him to give his passport for a xerox and sign at the register. Flat number is 403 and lift is down the hallway, she said. Also no drinking or playing TV loud, rules and regulations of the establishment are available on the center table in your flat.

Where are the keys?, Robin asked with an air of someone who has been doing business travel for years. Though reality was that he had only been to 3 places in his life - delhi, vaishno devi and Karnal. Delhi had been his birthplace, his father was a huge mata ka bhakt and Karnal rounded up as a place where he completed his engineering degree. Chaudhary Mote Lal Nikhanj Degree College, a deemed university.

Keys are in flat, your roommate arrived in the morning, said lady who was now personifying Robin's frustration. It is a 2 BHK flat for 4 people, new joinees get accomodation on twin sharing basis only.

Vardarajan had retired early to bed, he had come in the morning itself. Volvo from hyderabad had dropped him at Majestic from where he took bus to BTM. His cousin who had lived in Bangalore for years had tutored him well. His cousin was his role model , BTech, Java programmer, H1B visa and a cushy long term maintenance project in Wisconsin. Vardarajan knew about all the factors that will make him a wealthy even before some serious money comes his way from marriage. That will be an icing on the cake.

Bell rang and Vardarajan in only his lungi answered. Hi this is Robin Nirula, I am from Deli with an accent that could make Shoaib Akhtar cringe. Hello, my name is Vardarajan Dasari Rao and I am from Hyderabad. Vardarajan dressed up and started thinking about some dinner while Robin had a bath and started thumbing TV remote control. Fuck, no hindi channels, will have to settle for a news channel.

Both were in no mood to make an idle talk but eerie silence was very discomforting. There were some brochures from nearby restaurants - roti mandir, nagarjuna and dominos. First and Second had a split vote, so Dominos it was. One large veg pizzaa with extra toppings.

Aint you delhi walas non veg always? said a surprised Vardarajan. Yes I am but these days mata's naraates (navratri) are going on. No beer and chicken till next week, said Robin.

More small talk followed, So what is your native? Delhi only?

Robin was not sure about the term native but he took a guess and replied.No my parents are from Punjab. Extended family is still in Jalandhar.

Oh so you guys are sardars! where is your....that thing on head? And then Vardarajan started to make an obnoxious gesture that seemed like someone high on ecstacy tablets was trying to wrap a turban.

We are not Sikhs, we are Hindu Punjabis. Robin was irritated at his roommate's ignorance.

Hmm, I thought all Punjabis are Sardarjis, Varadarajan was surprised.Do you know there are more muslim punjabis than hindu and sikh punjabis put together? Robin countered rhetorically.

And where do they live? Robin was at his wits' end before bell rang. Money got split to last rupee, both men refused to put in extra 10 rupees for tip to delivery guy. Slices were devoured without emotions, seasoning was emptied and ketchup sachets were all squeezed out. Parcel was thrown into the bin and both men decided to take a walk around the apartment complex.

Shops seemed a good kilometer away and road was not very well lit. A Bullet motorcycle came out of nowhere and almost rammed into Robin and his sleepy colleague. Come with us to ATM now! Guy on the pillion was a rowdy and much larger than any other madrassi that Robin had ever come across in his life. He had a classmate in his sixth standard - Arun Raja. His only claim used to nauseating masala idlis and top marks in english. But he was no match in physical terms for biggest bullies in any west delhi schools - the Jats. But friendship with Robin got him protection till Raja's father got transferred again. This time to Chandigarh. Robin hoped he was no sodomized by harayanavis during his school days.

I dont have money, Robin muttered. Thats why we are asking you to come to ATM. Walk alongside to the end of the street or else.. Both Vardarajan and Robin could see a knife that rowdy on the pillion hid in his hooded jacket. Both complied and started walking away from direction of shopping complex. Thoughts raced through their minds - Robin was hoping that someone might be present at the ATM, Vardarajan hoped his ATM card wont work.

Since rowdies were still on the bike, the machine was only trudging at less than 5 kmph. And they had to maneuver pot holes on the road. Robin had been biking since 13, late age for someone in Delhi to take up an automobile. Had his first challan at 15, it was somewhere buried in dusty nook of his study room back in Delhi. He knew everything about biking on the bullet - its strengths and weaknesses. If you face a slight imbalance in the bike and it is tilting, first rule of bullet riding is - leave the fucking bike or else your spine will snap. A sudden rush of adrenaline followed and he pushed rowdies on the bike with a violent force. True to its nature, bike crushed their legs and stunned them into disbelief. Both ran a sprint of their lives towards the apartment complex.

What if they remember our faces and are waiting for us tomorrow morning? Vardarajan was sweating a little more than Robin. Same thought had crossed his mind as well, but he did not want to think about it.

Why has India's leading IT company put us up in this crappy place? Robin thought that was more important question. All softies live in BTM and Koramangala only, Koramangala is more expensive you see, replied Vardarajan. He had all the figures on rentals, sale/purchase and variations amongst different street at the back of his hand courtesy his cousin.

You North Indians are more aggressive isnt it. That is why you could think of doing that imbalance stunt today.

Robin wasnt sure if it was a compliment. Pakistan, he said. Pakistan where majority of the Muslim Punjabis live. Good night.