A Shoe Shopping Experience: From BATA to Boots & Boots

Since 2016, I’ve been a customer of BATA shoes. Recently, during the challenging times of the Covid pandemic, I found myself in my hometown and decided to explore the BATA showroom in Marthandam, located just opposite Bejan Singh Eye Hospital on NH 47.

Expecting a variety of options, I spent 15 minutes scanning through formal shoes, casual shoes, and sneakers, but to my disappointment, the collections were low of my expectations. This was surprising, as the BATA showroom in PTC Thoraipakkam, Chennai usually had more collections.

Leaving the BATA showroom with a slightly disheartened feeling, I noticed a significant crowd at the adjacent shoe shop called “Boots & Boots.” I entered the store and began exploring their shoe selection. To my delight, I found that Boots & Boots had a more extensive collection compared to BATA.

After a few minutes of searching, I found a casual shoe that seemed perfect for my needs. It looked like a branded shoe, though I wasn’t familiar with the name. Ready to make a purchase, I inquired about the price, and to my surprise, the sales assistant quoted Rs. 4000.

While taken aback, I decided to try bargaining, suggesting a price of Rs. 1500. Without hesitation, the sales assistant agreed to my offer. Puzzled by the negotiation, I became suspicious of the situation. Additionally, the sales assistant seemed in a hurry, urging me to complete the purchase swiftly.

As I handed over my credit card for payment, the receptionist informed me that the card machine was not working, and they could only accept cash. Unprepared for this, I explained that I didn’t have any cash on hand and inquired about the nearest ATM.

The sales assistant directed me to an Indian Bank ATM, and following his directions, I returned home without making the intended shoe purchase.

The Bus Stop Clash: An Unusual Day in Chennai

During a hot day in bustling Chennai, I was eagerly waiting at the Chromepet bus stop for an MTC bus to my office in Thoraipakkam. The sun forced me to seek shelter under the limited shade provided by the bus stand. I had reluctantly let three overcrowded buses.

After a long 20-minute wait, a bus finally arrived at the stop. Spotting a bit of space near the footboard, I decided to seize the opportunity and boarded the bus. Within moments, a crowd of passengers rushed to join me.

Among the passengers, I noticed two individuals—a college student and a corporate professional. The University ID card hanging around the college student’s neck immediately identified him as such, while the other passenger carried a Tupperware lunch bag and a laptop bag, clearly indicating his corporate linkage.

In a hurry to secure a place in the bus, the corporate employee managed to squeeze into the footboard. Simultaneously, the college student attempted to hold the door. However, in the hurry, he accidentally grabbed the corporate employee’s laptop bag instead of the door handle.

As the situation escalated, both passengers were ejected from the bus. In a heated exchange, the corporate employee strike the college boy’s head with his Tupperware lunch bag. The college student pleaded, explaining that he had mistakenly grabbed the bag instead of the door handle. However, his pleas fell on deaf ears, and the beating continued. The misunderstanding soon started into a quarrel, with both fighting as if they were longtime enemies.

No one intervened. Passengers and onlookers, including myself, watched the fight in silence. The bus even remained stationary, until the fight reached its conclusion.

Eventually, both individuals got tired. The corporate employee re-boarded the bus, while the college student, fuming with anger, sat on a nearby concrete bench, where he began making phone calls. As the bus departed, another college student arrived on a motorcycle and offered the angered student a ride. I believe they are en route to follow the bus.

This incident left me with two haunting questions that stayed throughout the day: Why did no one attempt to intervene and stop the situation? And what drives such anger among people, resulting in incidents like these?

It reminded me that people today seem to have less patience and tolerance.

Venturing on foot through Chennai’s dynamic streets.

21st July, 2018

I put on my headphones and resumed my Jio music. “Faded” by Alan Walker began to play. After a week of work and a day of rest on Saturday, I ventured out into the bustling world for a tea break. The PG owner advised me against using my mobile phone while walking due to numerous incidents of snatching he had heard about. He started recounting those stories, but I seemed to be ignoring him. He eventually yelled, “I see you using your mobile phone while walking, eating, and driving. You need to be careful!” I replied, “Okay Anna,” and kept my phone in my pocket.

As I crossed a traffic signal, I noticed the traffic policemen waiting to catch offenders. Motorbike riders slowed down to 60 km/h, car drivers hurriedly fastened their seat belts, and share auto-rickshaws stopped properly upon spotting the police.

Reaching a tea shop in OMR, I bought a tea and settled on the road divider that separated the service road from the highway. Two dogs approached me as if expecting chocolates or biscuits. After buying a pack of biscuits, they sat down next to me.

Passing by a KFC and a fast-food restaurant, the aroma of fried chicken and rice enveloped the area, droll anyone’s taste buds. This aroma likely contributes to the higher crowd in the fast-food restaurant compared to KFC.

Within 20 meters, a grandmother was selling flowers for girls and temples. The scent of the flowers overpowered the aroma of fried rice. Girls who seemed tired from their Saturday office jobs purchased flowers from her.

The overpass above the highway was occupied by couples who didn’t seem to mind the attached CCTV cameras.

The workers at Amma mess were busy making chapatis. MTC buses were less crowded, while the pani puri shop was packed. The constant orders of “Bhaiya, one Pani Puri” and “Bhaiya, one Mushroom” filled the air.

Teenagers at TASMAC carried backpacks as if they were going to college or the office, but the backpacks were used to hide their liquor.

Couples were easily spotted at places like Ibaco, Mumbai Kulfi, and CCD. These spots seemed to be popular choices for some privacy.

Old Mariamman songs pierced through the air, making me wonder why they hadn’t switched to more recent songs. Were the music directors not interested in creating new songs? Nearby, devotees had gathered for the evening pooja at a Mariamman temple.

Apartment buildings were illuminated with lights. Men discussed the speeches of Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi during the No Confidence Motion in parliament, often with cigarettes in hand. The women of the families were less visible, and the sounds of children crying could be heard intermittently.

The moon remained hidden somewhere.

Upon returning to the PG, Jio music indicated that I was on the 16th song. Currently, a number by Harris Jayaraj was playing,

“Paatham Èngum Šaavin Ranangal, Naragamaagum Kaathal Kanangal, Orumurai Madiyilae Uranguvaen Vaa Penne, Thaamathikkum Ovvøru Kanamum, Thavanai Muraiyil Maranam Nigazhum, Arigil Vaarayøa Viralgal Thaarayøa Nee Nee Nee Nee Nee Nee. Oho Oh Oh. Oho Ho Ho. Yeh Eh Oh Oh. Yeh Eh Oh Oh. Aha Eh Oh Oh.”

Exploring the Evolution of Calendars

The true length of an year on Earth is 365.2425 days.

Julian calendar:

Julian Calendar was a dating system established by Julius Caesar, who was a Roman politician and general played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

Julian Calendar took effect on 1 January 45 BC. The Caesar’s astronomers kept the length of the year as 365.25 days in mind (whereas it is actually 11 minutes less) and developed the Julian Calendar with 12 months. A non-leap year had 365 days divided with 12 months and a leap year (i.e. every fourth year) had 366 days divided with 12 months, in addition February had 29 days.

Since the tropical year (365.2425 days) was slightly shorter than 365.25 days, the Julian calendar became a confusion. As a result, the calendar year gains about three days for every four centuries compared to observed equinox times and the seasons.

Discrepancy calculation:

365.25   (Julian Calendar days) * 128 years = 46752 days

365.2425 (Original days) * 128 years = 46751.04 days

As per this calculation, the Julian calendar gains 1 day for every 128 years.

This discrepancy was corrected by the Gregorian reform in 1582.

Gregorian calendar:

The Gregorian Calendar was first introduced by Pope Gregory XIII – which is how the calendar got its name.

The Gregorian Calendar almost reduced this discrepancy by omitting all the repeated leap years in Julian calendar. Leap years don’t really occur every four years in the Gregorian calendar. According to this calendar, the leap year occur in years which are multiples of four (with the exception of years divisible by 100 but not by 400). Say, for example

If a year is divisible by 4, but not by 100, like 2012, it is a leap year.

If a year is divisible by 100, but not by 400, like 1900, it is not a leap year.

The current discrepancy between the Julian and Gregorian calendars is 13 days. However, the difference will become 14 days in 2100.

Despite Gregorian method for syncing the calendar with the seasons, this system is still off by 26 seconds. By the year 4909, the Gregorian calendar will be a full day ahead of the solar year.

All the countries in the world are currently adopted with Gregorian calendar. Greece is the last country that adopted the Gregorian calendar from Julian Calendar in the year 1923.

In September 1752, Great Britain switched from Julian Calendar to Gregorian Calendar. In order to achieve the change, 11 days were ‘omitted’ from the calendar – i.e. the day after 2 September 1752 was 14 September 1752. It is believed that India switched to Gregorian Calendar on the same day of Great Britain, since it was a colony of British.

A Midnight Mission at Chennai Central

Dhanbad to Alleppey Express had reached Chennai Central railway station at 2 in the morning. The train was late by 25 minutes, and as per the plan, I was standing with my helmet near the train’s engine. The railway station was busy with announcements of arrival and departure of trains, and the passengers appeared tired.

The previous day, one of my roommates in the paying guest (PG) accommodation asked to borrow my bike to pick up his younger brother from Chennai Central railway station. Without hesitation, I agreed to lend him my bike. Later, I learned that my roommate, who is from Jharkhand, is new to Chennai and doesn’t even know the exact route from the PG to Chennai Central railway station. He informed me that his brother would reach Chennai Railway station by midnight.

After giving it some thought, I decided to pick up his brother myself. Although he would use Google Maps to find the route, I was concerned about the Chennai police as he couldn’t communicate well without knowing the local language. He mentioned that his brother’s name is Akash and that he would be arriving from Ranchi in Jharkhand state via the Dhanbad-Alleppey Express. He asked me to stand near the train’s engine with the helmet so that his brother could easily spot me in the crowded railway station. I agreed, and he didn’t share his brother’s mobile number as his brother doesn’t speak English.

I asked my roommate to wake me up at 12:30 AM, and I slept for one and a half hours. Sharp at 12:30, my roommate woke me up, and I started my bike after 10 minutes. Within 35 minutes, I reached Chennai Central railway station and had tea from a vendor at the station. I heard an announcement that the Dhanbad Express was approaching Chennai, running half an hour late.

After half an hour, I called my roommate to inform him that the train had arrived and asked his brother to come near the train’s engine. He mentioned that his brother would be wearing a yellow t-shirt and requested me to ensure his safe return to the PG. I ended the call and waited for 10 minutes. Several guys wearing yellow t-shirts passed by, but none of them approached me. I called my roommate again.

I told him that the train would be departing from Chennai railway station to Allepey in another 15 minutes and urged him to come quickly. He called me back after 5 minutes and said that his brother’s mobile was not reachable, and his voice sounded low. I wanted to scold him, but I realized it was not the right time to react. “Don’t panic,” I said and asked for his brother’s compartment and seat number. He replied, “S5 45 – Side Upper Berth.”

Train Number 13351, Dhanbad-Alleppey Express, in platform number 5, will be leaving in another 10 minutes.

Upon hearing the announcement, I ran towards the S5 compartment and found berth number 45. Due to the compartment being dark and smelly (as it was the third day since the train had started its journey from Dhanbad), I couldn’t see all the passengers clearly. There was a person sleeping on the side upper berth, but I couldn’t see their face. I raised my hand to wake them up by tapping their butt. However, I was shocked when I heard a loud female voice from behind in Hindi, ‘Kaun hai?’ (Who are you?). I didn’t understand what she had asked, and before she could ask any more questions, I quickly asked, ‘Is this Akash?’ By the time the person woke up angrily and adjusted their T-shirt, I was shocked to see that it was a girl. She appeared to be a Malayali. I immediately apologized and left the compartment within seconds.

I called my roommate again. He was even more panicked when I informed him that his brother was missing from the compartment. I assured him, “Don’t worry, bro! I will check with the railway police here.” After thinking for a moment, he realized that the train had two S5 compartments, one from TATA Nagar and another from Dhanbad.

The train had six additional dedicated sleeper compartments coming from TATA Nagar in Jharkhand, attached at the end of the train. I quickly ran towards the TATA Nagar compartment S5 and found Akash sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world. I moved his large trolley out of the train and tried to wake him up. After a few seconds, he woke up and realized he was on the train. “Akash, this is xxxxx. Your brother asked me to pick you up. Please come with me,” I introduced myself. However, he didn’t understand English and hesitated to come along with me. I called his brother and explained that he was not ready to come with me, and I handed my mobile phone to his brother. They spoke in Hindi for a few minutes, and then Akash burst into laughter, which made me feel like giving him a big slap on his face. Younger brothers can be irresponsible when it comes to things involving their elder brothers.

I bought a tea for him, and then he began speaking a lengthy dialogue in Hindi that I couldn’t understand. However, his gestures seemed to convey gratitude. “That’s okay, bro!” I said and safely brought him to the PG.

Do not wait until you have lost them to realize what they mean to you

20 years ago…

It was the southwest monsoon season. Weather forecasters on TV announced that they were expecting high rainfall with thunderstorms in the afternoon.

We were in the school classroom, and our teacher was teaching Geography. The classroom was dark due to the rain clouds, and the students were quieter than usual. Suddenly, we received a circular stating that the school would be closing early due to the expected heavy rainfall. All students were instructed to leave the class by 12:15 PM, and the school van would depart from the main gate at 12:30 PM.

The students broke their silence and prepared to leave. My brother and I boarded our regular van, and as usual, he took a window seat. Within 5 minutes of the van starting from the school, the rain started pouring heavily.

I knew that my mom would not be waiting at our stop to pick us up since she was unaware of our early dismissal. We got off at our stop and within seconds, we were completely drenched by the rain.

Suddenly, we saw our grandmother running towards us with an umbrella. She took our bags from our shoulders and carried my brother. I held her hand, and we reached grandmother’s house, completely drenched.

I asked my grandmother to take us to our home. Our grandmother’s house was three houses away from ours. She informed us that my mom was not at home; she had gone to attend a function and would return in the evening. We believed her and started playing with our grandfather’s dog.

Grandmother gave us two towels and had us bathe in fresh water because she believed that the first rain of the season always brings fever. She also washed our school uniforms, which were soaked from the rain.

After bathing, she served us hot rice with fish curry and papad, which she had already prepared. She knew that we loved fish, and we ate as much as possible. After lunch, we spent time watching the rain, talking with our grandmother, and playing hide and seek. At 3:30 PM, she made tea for us and provided snacks as well.

Time passed by. At 4:00 PM (our usual time to come home after school), it was drizzling outside. My grandmother said, “Let’s go to your house.” She took our bags, our wet clothes, and my brother in one hand. We reached our home and were surprised to find my mom there. My grandmother then explained everything to my mom.

It turned out that our grandmother had lied to us about my mom not being at home, just to spend time with us. Otherwise, we would have insisted on going straight to our own home. Grandmothers may only hold our tiny hands for a short while, but they leave a lasting imprint on our hearts. She created a memory that my heart will hold forever.

Bad at crossing the road

Four-lane busy road!!

No pedestrian subway or overpass to cross!!

Buses, cars, bikes, and lorries are running at high speeds!!

No traffic signal for 300 meters!!

Bad at crossing the road!!

🛣️

Some people crossed the road without paying attention to the vehicles passing by.!!

Most people took advantage of a short gap between vehicles to cross the road.!!

Only a few waited for a significant gap to cross.!!

He is one of the latter, bad at crossing the road.!!

🛣️

Most drivers yelled at the pedestrians crossing the road hastily.!!

Only a few drivers slowed down, but none of them stopped their vehicles for people crossing the road.!!

He is waiting for someone to block the road. Bad at crossing the road.!!

🛣️

From out of nowhere, a little kid runs towards him and grabs his hand!!

The child also wants to cross the road!!

He feels the nervousness through the cute little hand gripping his own!!

Now, the priority shifts!!

He firmly holds the kid’s hand, stops a few fast-moving vehicles, and safely crosses the road!!

This is how responsibility works when you start earning.

Chennai House Hunt 2

Grabbing a few mobile numbers of house brokers from 99acres.com, an online platform for buying, selling, and renting houses, I made some calls. The first two brokers didn’t answer, but the third one picked up and inquired about my rental expectations. I explained that I was looking for a 2BHK house with ample parking space and a monthly rent ranging from 12 to 15 thousand. He promised to check with other brokers and call me back.

After a brief wait, the broker contacted me and informed me that a vacant 2BHK house meeting my requirements was available for rent. Eager to find a place after a tiring search, I agreed to proceed. During my lunch break at the office, I hopped on my bike and headed to the broker’s location.

We reached the house after navigating two clean and tidy streets. As we rang the doorbell from outside the gate, two small Golden Retriever dogs emerged and started barking. To calm them down, the house owner softly blew a whistle, and they quieted down, sitting near the gate. Being a dog lover, this first encounter with the dogs left a positive impression on me. The owner of the house, a woman in her 40s, opened the gate and welcomed us inside.

The dogs followed us, and I gently patted one of their heads. Taking in the surroundings, I noticed a well-maintained parking facility on the right side of the house, along with a charming tiny garden with a large mango tree. The tree’s shade covered the entire garden, creating a delightful space for leisurely moments.

The house owner explained that both the ground floor and the first floor had identical layouts, with the first floor available for rent. She kindly allowed us to explore the first floor, opening all the doors for inspection. The house comprised a small porch at the front, offering a view of the garden and the mango tree. I envisioned placing a cozy two-seater sofa there.

Inside, a spacious hall, two well-proportioned bedrooms with attached bathrooms, and a comfortable modular kitchen awaited. At the back of the house, there was a small balcony. Meanwhile, the house broker continued his unsolicited commentary on each room, attempting me to choose this house. Despite his remarks, I remained focused on my own assessment. The overall impression of the house remained positive.

Returning to the hall, where the house owner awaited my feedback, I expressed my liking for the house and initiated a discussion about the advance deposit and monthly rent. She inquired about my occupation, office location, hometown, dietary preferences, and the number of tenants. She mentioned that the previous tenant had paid 15 thousand per month, which seemed like a reasonable deal given the bustling IT hub of Chennai. After a brief negotiation, we settled on an advance deposit of 50 thousand and a monthly rental amount of 14 thousand, which seemed favorable to me.

Before finalizing the deal, I took photos of each room and requested the need for the house to be painted before my move-in date at the beginning of the following month. The owner assured me that the necessary arrangements would be made within a few days. She then requested a token advance payment of 10 thousand rupees to remove the “To Let” board from the gate and ensure no one else would inquire about the house. The house broker also urged me to provide the token advance immediately.

I explained that I didn’t have 10 thousand rupees in cash at that moment, but I assured them that I would make the payment the next day. The owner suggested using Google Pay and shared her mobile number,

I promptly saved her mobile number as “House Owner” and opened my Google Pay app. Within a minute, I transferred the token advance of ten thousand rupees to her and asked her to confirm the transaction in her bank account.

As she received a text message from her bank, she decided to double-check and opened the Google Pay app on her mobile phone. To my surprise, her reaction suddenly changed. Without hesitation, she asked, “Are you a Muslim?” Confused by her question, I responded, “Why do you ask?” She showed me her mobile phone, pointing out that my name, “*****,” appeared to be a Muslim name. She also remarked that my beard made me resemble a Muslim man. Taken aback, I thought to myself, “Why should I explain my appearance to her?” However, not wanting to lose the opportunity, I replied, “I’m not a Muslim. I’m Hindu. Does that have a problem?”

She insisted, “Please don’t hide any details; I have only one daughter.” Feeling frustrated, I simply wanted to leave the house. Fortunately, the house broker intervened, assuring her that there was nothing to worry about. I took this opportunity to exit the house and head back to the road, determined to get my money back.

After a few minutes, the house broker joined me outside and assured me that everything was fine, despite the owner’s concerns. He understood the situation and agreed to wait for me to provide the full advance amount once I had transferred it to the owner. With this understanding, I left the premises.

Around ten minutes later, as I reached my office, I received a call from the house owner. She informed me that the house would not be ready at the beginning of the month and asked if I could wait for an additional week. Frustrated by the sudden change in plans, I responded, “No, please transfer my money back to me,” and promptly ended the call. To my relief, within five minutes, I noticed that the money had been credited back to my bank account.

Chennai House Hunt 1

In search of a conversation starter, I found myself at a bustling tea shop on OMR, ordering a medium tea in the late morning. The tea master swiftly prepared my tea, getting multiple orders, and handed it to me.

Taking a sip, I casually asked, “Anna! Do you happen to know of any houses for rent nearby?” He paused for a moment, still busy in tea preparation, and inquired, “What’s your budget?” I replied, “Around 10 to 13 thousand.”

After a brief mental calculation, he responded, “There’s a good 1 BHK house for rent in **** Avenue. Take a right turn and look for a compound house surrounded by banana and coconut trees.”

The mention of banana and coconut trees intrigued me. Determined to explore the place, I started my bike and made my way to the indicated location.

True to the tea master’s description, I found a two-story house enveloped by lush banana and coconut trees. The architectural style hinted at the owner’s origins, likely from Kanyakumari district or its neighboring regions in Kerala.

I rang the doorbell attached to the compound wall and patiently waited for a response. After a few minutes, a 60-year-old woman emerged from the house, opened the gate, and inquired in our native slang, “What do you want?”.

Delighted to encounter someone from my hometown, West Kanyakumari, I explained, “I’m searching for a house. I heard that the 1 BHK portion here is vacant.” She requested wait for sometime, as her husband had gone out to buy vegetables. I obliged, settling myself on my bike.

Ten minutes later, she returned, opened the gate, and informed me, “Please wait a little longer. He’ll be back soon.” I replied, “That’s alright. Take your time.” With curiosity, she approached my bike and initiated a conversation.

“What’s your name?” she asked. “*****,” I replied.

“Are you a Christian?” she inquired. “No, I’m Hindu,” I answered.

“Do you work?” she continued. “Yes, in IT,” I confirmed.

“Where?” she probed. “Navalur,” I responded.

“What’s your native place?” she asked. “Marthandam, Kanyakumari District,” I revealed.

To my surprise, her excitement grew as she exclaimed, “We’re also from the same place!” Insisting that I come inside, she refused to let me wait outside any longer. She ushered me into the living room, where an array of photos and biblical verses adorned the walls. She kindly turned on the AC and offered, “Shall I prepare tea, son (mone)?” Gratefully, I declined, but she returned after a few minutes with a cup of tea.

As I drink the tea, my eyes intermittently scanned the gate. Sensing my restlessness, she proceeded to show me the first-floor apartment. It has a spacious hall, a well-equipped kitchen, a cozy bedroom with an attached bathroom, and a small balcony. It seemed perfect, and I was ready to make the advance payment on the spot.

During our conversation, she shared the stories about her family in Hometown and the precise location of their hometown—just five kilometers away from my native place.

Grateful for her warm hospitality and connection, I couldn’t help but feel blessed to have found a landlord like her. Renting this house would not only provide me a comfortable living space but also ensure that my parents, if they ever decide to stay with me in Chennai, won’t feel lonely. My mind permuted with optimism and possibilities.

After nearly 45 minutes, her husband returned home. She rushed to the gate, eagerly sharing my details with him. However, within moments, her reactions changed. Her husband approached me, shook my hand, and explained that they had already received an advance payment earlier that morning from another tenant, who, coincidentally, was also from Kanyakumari. He expressed his regret that he couldn’t return the advance since the new tenant would be moving in the very next day.

Smiling understandingly, I replied, “No problem.” I bid them farewell and left, acknowledging that some things are simply beyond our control.

Sandy Trails: Embarking on a Memorable Walk Along Chennai Beach

It’s an alluring early Saturday morning.

The sun hides in the sea shyly peeping out.

Tides are trying to elope from the sea. But fails.

Distant boats are cruising against the waves towards shore.

Fishermen are overjoyed eventhough they have slaughtered fishes.

Bitch Crabs entering into other’s sand holes.

Adamant dogs want to stay the whole day in the beach with its owner.

A group of friends started with selfie and drenched at the end.

The villagers poop. The waves flush it.

Kisses and mourns.!! Some lovers using beach as their bedroom.

No one cares the pity blossomed pohuehue.

Inner peace💆. Salt water cures all wounds.