The commute

Everyone knows about Bangalore traffic, even if they are not from the city. I, too, was very hesitant to drive to my office amidst the city's busy routes. Surprisingly, it took me just two days of travel to get over my fear of driving in the city during rush hour. The sudden honks no longer surprise me, and I’ve learned that not every horn around me is meant for me.

Apparently, I’ve started to enjoy the different horn styles based on their sound patterns. Some horns seem to say just “hi,” letting me know they’re there. Some go “hey hey hey,” warning me to watch my way. Others totally scream “move!”—so I know they’re in a hurry to get ahead. There are many more styles as I think.

Another pleasant thing is reading the taglines or quotes behind vehicles. The one I remember now is, “Slow ba guru ennu maduve angella.” it loosely translates to “Go slow, guru, it’s not like you’re going to your wedding!” It’s funny, but also a gentle reminder to be patient. Some roads are covered with a beautiful canopy of trees, with few dashes of sunlight here and there. Every time, I ponder how much greenery has been reduced in the city over the years.

The jam-packed traffic is like what we think of our lives—hard, uncertain, boring, etc.—but still, we try to make our lives meaningful in our own happy moments, similar to finding those little spaces between vehicles and moving forward slowly and steadily. Now I know why there was a “slow cycle race” in my school. I never understood its importance until I drove on Bangalore roads.