12.34 PM - I now realize how boring it can be when you have to sit in office with no work, while pretending to do some work. These are perfect moments for rants such as these. At least when other people will see you typing so much they might think that you're coding real hard. That is one big advantage of working in a non-profit organization where you're the only technically-aware person in office.

This morning, I went out exploring the other end of the Masab Tank flyover to see if I could find something interesting. There is a hot-chips shop here, which will suffice my evenings. Apart from that there is a grocery supermarket nearby. I bought two maggi cup-noodles to spare myself from the Amul Pro breakfasts, and some brown bread too. There was also a long stretch of the footpath occupied my fruit vendors who sold only mangoes.

Harsha Didi is actually the most friendly person in office. When she got to know that I'd go over exploring in the evening she gave me her number so that I can call her if I need any help because she lives nearby.
Today morning she invited me to come along with her to a movie (Ek Villain) that she'll be going with her friends. I accepted because I was going to watch Ek Villain myself. And I guess I need to learn how to socialize.

Chandra Sir stayed over at the office last night. We went to have dinner at a Paratha Stall near Jubilee Hills along with Prashanth and some other guy. I'm looking forward to visiting Dine Hill for dinner tonight.

9.55 AM - The telecallers Hema and Shravanti (the talkative one) were the first to arrive. Last night was a wonderful experience. I stayed in the office all alone!

Although I was tired and went to sleep too early to make proper use of the high speed internet here. The power went out at 2.30 AM at night. I woke up to mosquito bites and pitch black darkness.

The inverter power backup was only available in the central room. After a lot of sleepy indecisive moments, when I was about to relocate my mattress to the central room, the heavens sent the power back on.

It was a wonderful moment, as I went back to sleep immediately. My parents (especially my mom) were worried about me staying alone and burglars and other stuff which were amongst none of my primary concerns (come on! honestly!)

Anyway, I am really looking forward to visiting some of the amazing places around here, especially the Golconda Fort. I guess I'll have to wait for weekend to arrive for all that.

Look at me. First day in office, and I'm already looking forward to the weekend. *facepalm*

7.30 AM - Woke up. Packed my bags. Checked out.

It was a bit weird for me that I did not talk to anyone for two hours after waking up. Its more weird when you can't talk in your mother language all throughout the day, except when some family member calls you up.

9.30 AM - Took an auto-rickshaw from Nampally to NMDC, Masab Tank. My novice attempts at bargaining were only good for saving 20 bucks as I had to pay a hundred bucks to get there. I feel ripped off.

Oh! Who am I kidding! I am ripped off!

5.00 AM - The Bengali family in my compartment just promoted themselves to the top of my most-annoying-people-to-share-a-journey-with list.

Firstly, I hate waking up at 5 in the morning. Secondly, I hate waking up to the sound of shrieking kids. Both happened. It was like my worst nightmare.

The parents wanted to switch off the light so as not to disturb the other sane people who were sleeping. Their son wanted to keep the lights on, for no perceptible reason on earth.
Maybe that is just what kids do. I remember being a very considerate kid myself. Just ask my parents. (ta
da!)

So there was a period of 15 minutes when the lights came on and went off for more than a zillion times in an unprecedented fashion, before the parent had to accept defeat to the incessant enthusiasm of the kid. Good Morning, world. (Add sleepy emoticon here)

8.00 AM - I'm at the side upper berth, and the lady below me (not figuratively, please!) in the side lower berth, doesn't appear to be an early riser. Well, that is acceptable. But it is 8 already - well past what you can define as 'early'. Its late afternoon for the people around me as they are already discussing about lunch. I haven't even had any breakfast. And the lady looks nowhere near to waking up as she lies in deep slumber (or fake slumber, as I greatly suspect). The shrieking kid should relocate himself nearer to her - and be of some help to humanity.

Unknown - Checked into Hotel Royal Grand. Big words, small hotel. But when decent prices are what you're looking for, this isn't a bad option. At 700 rupees, I got myself a small room, with an attached bathroom, tv, fridge, cupboard and a clean bed. But there weren't any windows. So I had to leave the bathroom door open... which isn't very pleasant, trust me.

11.57 AM - I looked through the window at my parents standing in the rain. They could have moved under the shed, a bit further away from my window. They could not even see me through the one-way window from outside.

But they just stood there, getting drenched in the rain. And for the first time before this journey, I felt sad to leave them.

I never shared a very verbal relationship with my parents. I never had to say, "love you mom, dad" or "miss you" when they received the message in simpler words or actions.

I called them up, and asked them not to get drenched in the rain. So they moved to the nearest shed. I could still see them. They still couldn't.

And suddenly the train jerked alive, and began to move, away from my parents standing under the shed, who were still staring at my direction.

And soon, I couldn't see them any more.

5 weeks. And so it begins.

I always believed that I was a free bird. That I had no bounds. That I could move away anywhere I wanted to, at the slightest of opportunity, without ever looking back.

But my parents were my strongest links. I am home, where my parents are.