Che-nahi (Part 1)

You sat at the Mumbai airport at 5 in the morning, wondering what the next 6 weeks are going to be like? You had had a tough day going to Ghatkopar and Lokhandwala the last day. You did not have much clue as to what you had learnt going to these places and how would that help you in your project. But all that was last on your mind. Right now, you felt a bit sleepy, a bit tense and slightly excited. Travelling has never been your forte. Confidence has been. Although you had been a bit low on confidence and had been really lonely for the last couple of days, you had harboured a secret feeling that change of place might enthuse you for the time being.

You heard the announcement for boarding the plane and you made your move. Flying Kingfisher was any day better than flying GoAir and you had a nice flight to Chennai. You landed in Chennai and tentatively looked around for the guy your boss had promised he would send to pick you up. 

You spotted him with a placard in his hand, ADAMYA - JJMI written on it. You pointed towards him to get his attention, he nodded and put the placard away, you now wonder where?. You were still inside the airport when this had happened, and this all had taken place across a glass wall. You plodded along dragging your luggage and tried locating the driver again. There were hoards of other drivers there, and they all looked similar - dark and moustached. This guy waved at you and you made your way towards him. He asked you to wait as he brought the car.

Now you were on your way to somewhere, you say that because now you had doubts whether you were with the correct person. So to check, you started a conversation. You said, "We are going to Lotus Hotel in T. Nagar, right?". He replied, " No, Office". Your doubts had just balooned big enough to take up entire of your thinking space. 

"No, we have to go to hotel first", you said. He took out a paper, kind of a receipt and you saw your name written on it. Now you were cool, he could as well take you anywhere, you knew you were in the right car. He struggled with his english and said, "Hotel first, then office". You said, "Yes". Just to keep the conversation going, "Office is on Anna Salai?", you asked. "Aama", he said.

"Oh, Aama Salai?", you corrected yourself.

"No, anna.", he said shaking his head vigorously.

"Ok, Anna Salai".

"Aama."

This could have gone on, but you decided to stay quiet. Later in the day you realised 'aama' is 'yes' in tamil.

You always knew, Chennai would be fun.