WHO'S ON THE TAKE HERE?

By and large I am a soft hearted person and many people will vouch for that. Naive enough to be taken for a ride several times over, thought I have realised that it could also be an easy route for me to be able to concede to any kind of pressure, for that is something I cannot take. Especially the emotional kind. I've been known to buckle and fairly easily. But then, this is not a complaint or a confession. This is me and a few people like me for this.

Having said the above, I can be quite the stoic when it comes to beggars who come to the car when you are waiting for the green signal. There was one old lady at the Panjagutta signal and apart from being wrinkled and bent over, she also had her wits and would pass some nasty comments which always got a smile from those who heard her. I would regularly pay her, only to later hear that she had amassed lakhs by way of doing this.

There was this other guy who would be on a plank and would roll along to the passenger side of the car and salute and give a cute smile. I paid him a lot, and somehow deep in my heart I thought I would sit with him one day and hear stories about what he sees on the road. While I changed my daily route to some other road, I now spot him rarely and in order to avoid him, I also take a free left and then a u-turn, much to the chagrin of Raju, my vaahan chaalak.

Pretty long-winded to come to the point. I went to Diamond Point today and took the left turn from the Paradise crossing. There are little coffee shops, a little snack place near to where the metro station steps descend and made me all happy, till I saw some kids squealing. Half naked, noses running, these are the kids of this community which sells all kinds of objects at the signal. And they are loud, uncaring and totally unaware of the traffic chaos on the side. Their parents are equally blase about what happens in the other world.

But about these pavement and traffic sellers, they are quite seasonal, for they start wearing Santa Claus caps right from November and sell little angel lights sparkling in equally little bottles. Some of the toys they sell look real nice, but knowing the short time we have at signals (though quite often it feels like hours before you get the green signal), they charge you an arm and a leg. Quick bargaining and change in your bag helps, but more often than not, I have only watched them ply their goods untiringly.

Saasy girls, with hipster ghagras and superb jewellery, but with unkempt hair and an attitude dominate the scene quite often. Little girls and boys are sent to clean your wind screen. This girl just comes there, sprays some water and starts cleaning and it must be hypnotic for I have seen drivers just watching and then not paying them when half their side  of the window is done. 

And then there are these signals which are dominated by eunuchs.

There is this Paradise signal and especially that which goes towards Paradise and the one which goes towards the Parade Ground. And there is the Panjagutta signal, one which goes towards Begumpet and one which goes towards Nagarjuna Circle. They actually have long conversations with male two-wheeler drivers and while they normally only accost male drivers, they probably smell the awkwardness in me and definitely stop by the car. Then knock loudly on the window to make you look at them and then demand. Thinking I will get rid of this awkwardness, I had a Rs.20 note which I once passed through Raju. It was refused because it did not suit the big car we were driving. And then they cuss, And the dratted signal never turns green.

I want the CM, KCR, his son, the young KT Rama Rao, our DGP, our Police Commissioner to drive by these roads everyday to see what the ordinary citizen has to go through. One, their convoy is never stopped and secondly if they do take the road, these people are probably collectively kept in one place till they can be let out, after the representative of the common man has moved away.

And by the way, the swank Panjagutta Police Station, having won many awards, is right there, where a swarm of traffic police men will catch you when you are least expecting for an unpaid chalan for a measly Rs. 175. Where do these eunuchs go then? These are not beggars that they can be rounded up and taken to the edge of town to be kept in a home or some such.

These are strapping young persons, who primp and make a caricature of themselves by excessive make up. They sashay between vehicles, knowing all eyes are on them and then they descend on the unprepared and do their little part. These are able bodied persons, who probably have unmatchable strength and can earn a living doing daily labour in construction sites, Why can't the government help them do this? 

While KCR goes to aamchi Mumbai and promises a Bangaru India, Hyderabadi sadke ko ek baar dekh ke, experience bhi kar lein and then let him talk of paving a golden path. Let our DGP and the Commissioner of police stop this road harassment and then discuss about stopping the drug trade. Currently they are stopping all the minor guys selling ganja, which is being sold in departmental stores in some countries. And they will arrest a minor film star for their day in the sun and make a public issue of it. 

Though I am mixing subjects, KTR talks of grandiose subjects and projects, but there are two specific corners in Srinagar Colony which are the riskiest during the monsoon and our GHMC or MAUD has not been able to do a bit towards taking care of that for the past 34 years. But we have a cycle path rife with traffic and we have greenery in unexpected areas. 

We have big malls coming up in the middle of traffic. On the one side will be flowing, incessant traffic and on the other dead and silenced souls. While the MPM Mall is still being built and built over, they have apparently tried to ease the traffic by constructing a metal road on the crematorium. Who gave permission for the mall in the most crowded traffic junction of the city? They are not undoing it, but doing bits and pieces to appease the questioning mind.

Urbanisation here means more buildings with glass facades. They have shopping malls and cafes and restaurants all over the place and no parking space. But Hyderabad is still considered as the most livable city. Well, I have lived here long enough to know about then and now.......