Alpa vasool in auto

After the fantastic treatment at the reception (read previous post), I stepped out of the Hotel to return home and shortly was brought down to Chennai earth at a rapid speed.

Courtesy - auto drivers.

There were 3-4 fellows standing near the gate. The conversation between self and one of them went like:
"enga saar ponum?"
"besant nagar"
"polaam saar", accompanied by a movement that suggests that he is heading towards his vehicle, but in reality he has not budged even an inch in space.
"evlo"
"polaam saar, vaanga"
"evlonga"
"besant nagar-la endha edam saar"
"maharaja store theriyuma?"
"theriyum saar"
"adhukku pakathla"
"maharaja store-na, bus stand thaandi varumay, adhaanay saar?"
"amaam. evlo?"
"kudunga saar. oru 120".

thats when a whole of thud sounds were heard inside me. me falling back to Chennai earth!

think of this. i came to the reception at that same place only 15-20 minutes back. I'd given 80 bucks to that fellow then. And suddenly, its become 120 bucks to go back to the same place?

I presented this case to the coterie and heard a cacophony of "varaadhu saar" "10 mani aavapodhu saar" "angaendhu galliya varanunga" "70-80 rooba petrol-kay povum, idhula naanga approm ennatha pozhappa pannardhu" "idhellam paakadheenga".

I simply started moving out. And the conversation continued with the typical "evlo tharuveengo?" and "100 rubees polaam saar".

I didnt look back and continued walking. In the meantime I touched base with Superthumby and like the true gentleman that he is, he offered to drop me home if I come there.

So I flagged down another auto on the way and asked him the rate to Luz. After another round of bargaining exorbitant prices, we settled at 70 bucks to Luz.

After a couple of minutes, the dude switched on the FM radio in his vehicle. The way he bent down to reach the controls which were below his seat - that's a whole different story in itself. Net-net, I suddenly heard some Ilayaraja melody blast out behind my head. I turned back in disbelief and found two giant speakers in the parcel tray!

The driver continued his driving and also fiddling the audio system to locate his fav radio station. On normal days, I ask these fellows to turn off the radio. But today, the alpam in me surfaced out and told me to make him continue with the radio. At least, for the money I was paying, I get to listen to some music.

Thankfully, the station he finally stopped at, played the Remo song from Anniyan and so in a way, a got some alpa vasool in the auto ride.