A journey with and without navigator app

What’s the one word that comes to a person’s mind when he/she has a query in mind? Answer is Google, it has solution to most of our queries. As it’s not region specific, it supports you across globe. Google’s navigator app is one such feature, which can help people to locate a particular place and even guide them.

I am addicted to google maps to locate a place but use of navigator is limited. Reason didn’t want to divert attention while driving and land into trouble. Driving in Bangalore roads is no less than a challenge thanks to the potholes and traffic mismanagement system of the city. Till date none has been able to find a concrete solution to address the problem.

Last week I decided to pay visit to my friend who has recently shifted to a new accommodation. Place was JP Nagar 8^th Phase and I stay close to e city.  Only option I could recall was NICE road but then decided to take maps help, to my surprise it showed me a new route close from my place with no traffic and toll. Despite trying level best to identify the place I was clueless about the areas of map, so thought of using navigator app.

Set the location and let home this time my concentration was more on app than on driving, luckily there wasn’t much traffic on road so was relaxed. Must say, travelling through the app is an amazing experience, the way it guides you at turns is magnificent. 

Everything was going fine until my battery drained out and mobile was switched off (didn’t charge it in morningL). I have covered 80% of the journey, had 2 options in hand either to move back or continue further using tradition method (taking help from people). After blindly following the app now I was reluctant to talk to people as it is a cumbersome task reason even if a person doesn’t know the route, still they will try to guide you.

I asked one person about the place, he asked me follow a route but I was not convinced hence I cross checked it with someone else. My intuition was right I was driving in the wrong direction. Then I took the right path and after covering some distance spotted traffic cops (for the first time in life was happy to see them). I stopped my vehicle went to them and confirmed the location one more time. He said I am on the right direction. After covering 3 km in the same direction, I reached my destination.

 My happiness had no bounds, luckily I called my friend before the battery was drained off and he was there. Else all my effort would have gone for a toss. In this era of mobile phone recalling someone’s mobile number and finding a PCO are cumbersome task.

Back at my friends place we were discussing that our addiction to technology is good but still we should keep also traditional methods handy, God knows when we may need it.

A day at cousin’s place

Sometimes I sit back and think, wish I was still a kid who could play around with cousins and enjoy a tension free life except for exams. But the reality today is we are all grown up and settled in our professional life.  We hardly have time for our self.

My cousins also stay in Bangalore one is close by other one far away.  The one close to my home is hardly 20 minutes’ drive but still we hardly find time to catch up. Only time we catch up is during our parents visit to city.

This Saturday was one such occasion when my aunt was in town while uncle and my cousin brother were out of town. I reached my aunt’s place after breakfast, it was then I realized that my last was 3 months ago, when my cousin brother was ill and aunt had come.

I didn’t feel that, am meeting them after a gap of 3 months because warmth of our relation was like, we last met yesterday. My cousin sister was at kitchen today to showcase her cooking skills, I think it’s the first time am trying her dishes. I was skeptical to try her dish but when she told, initial experiment was conducted successfully on her brother, it gave me confidence to try it. It was yummy, courtesy youtube. Anyone can cook today using youtube today. Even I have tried few recipes.

Post lunch other cousin sister landed, she has traveled good 3 hours to reach us. We all got enclosed in talk about what is happening in our life but most important talk was about movies we had seen recently and the ones we have in phone. Next couple of hours was spent in Shareit (file transfer app) transferring movies from one phone to another.

Since it was getting late I got up to leave but aunt asked me to stay back, as it has been long since we cousins have gathered. I decided to stay back and spend time with them. Then we all started with real fun, pulling legs and the target was our younger sister, since childhood she has been our favorite. I was pulled, being the eldest among them (seniority matters at time). Then childhood memories, missing links to the stories were added by aunt. It went on till 1 am in morning, post that we retired to bed.
Next day was tough for all of us to leave bed, we got up very late and just to have breakfast. After that sleep had vanished so we all decided to help aunt in kitchen with in our purview, she wanted us to take rest but we wanted to be together all time so this was the best option.

Post lunch one cousin left as she had to travel far and late evening traffic will be too much. By evening I also left, on way back was thinking how soon time passed away? But was happy that we all enjoyed it thoroughly and we should try to meet like this, whenever time permits.

A day without cell phone

Cell phones have become an integral part of our life, we can skip a time’s meal but can’t separate ourselves from our phone even for half an hour. Yesterday was one such day for me when I had to part myself from my cell for the betterment of both.

I had to appear for an all India exam and the admit card had instructions that we should not carry our cell phone with us. Thanks to misuse of it at various exams, that exam centers don’t permit candidates to carry it to the premises also.

Before leaving home I was in dilemma should I carry phone or not? Incase I carry where will I keep it? We can’t keep phones with us even in switch off mode with us. Finally I decided to leave it behind at home but not before charging the phone and putting it in silent mode.

When I reached exam center I saw people carrying phones with them, I was missing my phone terribly then. But before the commencement of exam we were told that cell phones are not allowed and all those who are carrying phone will have to keep it in a room at their own risk.

Left with no other option people kept phone in that room and went their designated exam room. Room was locked immediately we left for exam but still it was big risk. Candidates were busy finding unique locations to hide their cell phone. Post exam we had to wait till everybody gather so that the room could be opened and we can venture in.  The moment we came out of the room, we were given 5 mins time to check our belongings. Post that the exit gate was opened.

Everyone was eager to make call, check messages etc but I didn’t had any such symptoms, mays be because my phone was not with me. But I was happy that it’s not with me as it was safe wherever it was.  

It took time for me to reach home as I had some other work, the best part was I was not in hurry for anything, took time for each thing that I was doing, which I usually missed because of phone calls or in the midst of texting.

When I reached home saw numerable missed calls and messages but I was in no hurry to revert back to anyone in one go. Few important calls were responded at the first given opportunity rest later. Who says we can’t stay away from phone, we can provided we are ready to take the first step.

Indian Post better than private courier companies in terms of services

We always keep cribbing about the services of government run institution like schools, college, offices, and hospitals. Reason for it is the lethargic service rendered at these places and the attitude of the people. But with time things are changing for the good. Recently I experienced it.

I had to courier some document back home in Kerala from Bangalore. I usually used Indian Post to send parcels and documents but that day I thought of trying private courier company which promises next day delivery. 

I walked into reputed courier company office and checked if they can courier the documents to my place. They checked the pin code and said we can deliver it tomorrow but it may cost you 190 bugs. Since it was next day delivery I didn’t mind paying the extra amount. I paid them the money and left place assuming promises will be met. It happened on a Monday

Tuesday evening when I was checking the status of the courier I could see it is yet to reach. Till Wednesday afternoon when the courier didn’t reach its destination. I went to the booking office and checked with them about the lacuna, to my utter surprise they told, “Sir I have done the work from my end, it is pending from the receiver side”. I was shocked to hear this blame game from a reputed courier company like theirs. They gave me the number of the office close to my house to enquire about the status of the courier.

When I called that office to check, they said load will come by 4.00 pm and they don’t have their service at the address mentioned by me. I was fuming with anger on hearing it. I told the same statement to the booking officer at the courier company and she told, “they are like that only sir, we have good service in metros but other places the service get delayed”. Ridiculous I asked if you couldn’t deliver it on the promised day why did you charge me so much. Reply this time was “Sir, we did the things from our end if they are not doing it what can we do?”. When I told them, I will escalate the issue, she said, “please do it SIR, only then they will improve.”

Worst was yet to come for me, the courier reached destination on Thursday against the claim of Tuesday. And we had to go and collect it personally, courier guy didn’t deliver it at home also. I have never come across such situation with India Post so far. They have on time service and their tracking system is also better than private players. 

I think that’s the reason people say “old is gold”

Flipkart's apology a small step but major impact

Asking apology from someone for the inconvenience caused is a small step to resolve an issue going out of control but people are reluctant to do it. Some feel seeking apology as an insult to them but they forget the fact that, very few people have the courage to do it. And the ones who do it are very courageous, and people respect them for it.

Recently Flipkart also did a similar thing but in a personalized manner first of its kind at a scale like this. Filpkart launched “Big Billion Day” where by online shoppers were given amazing discounts on products purchased on that particular day. The launch was a hit among shoppers but only for few hours.

Flipkart website crashed twice during the day, things got over and in some situations the payment process was not getting through. There were issues in placing orders as well. Few lucky ones were able to get things at extremely discounted prices but others were left fuming.

Though Flipkart took all necessary precaution to make it a big hit but it failed to impress the visitors on the page. Lot of negative reviews was written about Flipkart in print and online media. But one step by Flipkart silenced all.

Flipkart dropped a personalized email to all visitors of the page who placed difficulty in placing order from its founders. Then they called all those people whose order had to be cancelled due to confusion or other reasons and steps were taken to refund the money to them at the earliest.

Years ago cadbury dairy milk chocolate also faced a similar outrage from masses when fungus was found in their chocolates. They roped in Mr. Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador for cadbury dairy milk and campaign was carried out, where Mr. Amitabh Bachchan took viewers to the factory and showed them about the hygiene factor. And for the betterment of the product, chocolates were wrapped with additional foil other than the outer covering.

But seeking personal apology to everyone who has been hurt by the usage of product has been done only by Flipkart at a very large scale. We can just image about the volume of the email rolled assuming the fact about website being crashed twice due to high traffic volume.

I was also one of the visitors to the website and was very disturbed when my order was not processed but post receipt of the mail and very happy. And I order few things after that.

Unconditional love of parents

Nothing can replace the love of parents towards their kids in this world. Parents are the only people in the world who love their kids without any return. They take pain for their children with smiles which can’t be seen in other relationship. Seems like am also getting it, post attaining parenthood.

I have been travelling all alone since I came to Bangalore for higher studies. Mode of transport depends upon the availability of tickets. I prefer to travel by train but availability of tickets is a big issue. Because plans are made in very short span of time and the only option available then are bus, which has great connectivity.

For this vacation I was lucky to get train tickets to and fro. The moment I board train, worry meter of my parents are on alert. If I don’t call them, they will call me to check whether I have boarded the train or not? Till I reach home keep getting calls from them, about my whereabouts. To avoid some calls, I ask my dad to come and pick me from station.  But while coming back my dad will drop me to station and wait till train/ bus moves.

This time was also no different dad came to see me off at the railway station but just before the arrival of train dad made a statement which touched me, “If anyone offers you tea, coffee or biscuits, just refuse them. You want anything to eat or drink buy it yourself.” Dad knows I have been travelling all alone for quite some time and may be aware about these things but still he wanted to tell me.

This clearly shows his love towards and the fear which he has in his heart when he is sending me off. More than love it was his fear of my well-being that prompted him to say it to me.  I just loved it.

Fear is a form of love but the way dad hid his fear to instill courage and sensibility to face certain situation in me was amazing

A mother’s plight to save her unborn child

Attaining motherhood is the biggest joy in the life of a woman. She can go to any extend when it comes to the safety and security of her unborn child. At times pregnant ladies show extra ordinary courage to ensure the safety of kid in their womb. Yesterday one such story in newspaper touched my heart.

9 months pregnant women had to swim for 90 mins in river to reach another village. This lady comes from a very poor family, both her parents are daily laborers, who could hardly meet both ends after day’s long struggle.  Even the husband of this pregnant lady is not in a condition to take care of her. Hence she was staying with her parents, they stay in a village close to the banks of river krishna.

When this lady entered into her 9^th month, she requested her parents to shift her to hospital but parents ignored due to financial crunch. They assured her that when the time will come, they will take her to hospital. “The water level of river will not rise as monsoon this year may not be good”. But destiny has its own say to this prediction.

It rained heavily and the water level rose beyond expectation, as a result of which boatmen declined to ferry people from one side of the river to another. With every passing hour heartbeat of this lady was increasing and she decided to venture into the river, as staying back was risky. She will need medical support any time. When she asked her father to take her across the river, he told her to jump into the river and sail across, out of frustration. He couldn’t do much because the situation was not in his control.

Finally she decided to swim the river, her father and 2 more of her relative ventured into krishna river. They tied few pumpkins as life guard to ensure she floats in river. In this situation also, she swan half the way, post that she couldn’t swim any further. She had even consumed water also as her body was tired. Then one of her relative lifted her and covered the remaining distance.

After 90 mins they reached another village, villagers saw them coming and came to their help. They shouted at girl’s father for making her swim the river in this critical situation. But her father’s reply silenced them all, “what to do, we don’t have hospital in our village”.

Immediately she was taken to hospital when doctors declared both mother and baby are fine. All throughout her pregnancy she just had ragi roti with chutney. Her circumstances were like that. Now she is in hospital, hope she gets good food there.

I am running out of words to express my feeling towards the courageous task undertaken by this lady. It was highly risky as anything could have gone wrong at any point of time. But the courage and determination of the mother to bring here child to this world, kept her moving.