July 10, 2006

Mumbai Monsoons

A while back, 3 Koreans, a guy from Montreal, and I visited Mumbai. It was a 16 hour train ride from Hyderabad. During the night I was awakened by two police officers. They told me to close the windows and go to sleep in the top bunk, as we would be crossing a danger zone for the next two hours and they had to sit in the bottom bunk for security purposes. I kept my eye on them and they left when they said they would. Once we arrived at Mumbai, we took a taxi to the Gateway of India. Next we visited the Taj Mahal Hotel, India's finest, before settling for a less expensive option nearby in Colaba. Random strangers offered to sell me musical instruments, umbrellas, balloons, and drugs. Being the consummate gentlemen, I politely declined.

Once the other interns departed for Hyderabad, I made my way via local commuter train to visit my relatives in the suburb of Guragaon. This same train line would be the target of terrorist attacks a week later. Males and females stand in different compartments, with approximately 40 people per square meter. The train stops for 5 seconds at each stop. During this brief moment of time, hundreds of people simultaneously board and disembark the train. It is suggested that you start making your way towards the exit about 2-3 stops beforehand. That way the tide of humanity will automatically force you out by the time you reach your intended destination. I escaped with only a few cuts, bruises, and missing clumps of hair.

The next two days I was stranded in my relative's apartment, with the monsoon hitting hard and flooding the greater Mumbai region with knee to waist deep water. Roads were closed and trains were delayed or cancelled, so I took a morning flight out of Mumbai back to Hyderabad.

Mumbai Public Service Announcement:

DUE TO HEAVY RAIN AND AS RAIN IS GOING FOLL CONTIOUSLY 48 HOURS BE REQUEST TO PEOPLE OF MUMBAI IT IS NOT VERY IMPONTENT TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSES MAY PLEASE AVOID COMMING OUT

July 08, 2006

Satyam: ID

I finally received my Satyam ID card. Arnar Sen is now a proud member of Satyam Computer Services Ltd. Unfortunately, I still do not know when I will be moving for Bangalore. Apparently the Satyam offices in Bangalore are relocating. Once everything settles down I will be given an official start date and place of residence.

Search Status for Arnabombshell: Still Cold (Thanda)

So far I have not frequented any establishments including the offices of a large multinational software company headquartered in India, art classes, university campuses, beauty salons, or fairs in my search for Mrs. Arnab. The target population has been restricted to fellow interns met at social events. As suggested by faithful readers, perhaps the search is cold because I am not looking in the right places.