Bundh benefits

Driving in my car... driving really far... driving in the sun... having lots of fun!

That was exactly how I felt, driving yesterday, during the bundh, on a journey that normally would take me anywhere from an hour to ninety minutes, but which I accomplished in thirty minutes flat!

Initially I was a little hesitant to step out. But the thought of staying indoors all day with two rambunctious kids helped change my mind! Anyway, I figured that if I saw any trouble on the roads I would simply turn around and come back home (assuming it's as simple as that). So here I was driving through one of the most sensitive areas of the city and thinking away as usual...

It is Saturday and there are burkha clad women returning to their homes with baskets of groceries. Nothing unusual. The traffic is scant and I wonder what everyone is doing if they are not on the roads. Are they sleeping in? Are they cooking up feasts and spending quality family time together? Are they watching videos? Or maybe TSTV (Time Shift TV for you uninitiated!) or some pay-per-view movie or Showcase on their Tata Sky PLUS....

It feels so strange to be zipping a long like this. My car was happy too, I could feel the engine humming and opening up as we sped along swiftly with no staggering halts at every traffic light.

There are posses of policemen (I've always wanted to say that!) at various intersections along the way, to keep an eye out for trouble. I am truly impressed at the restraint the ruling party has shown in not instigating violence here today. After all it isn't every day that the Chief Minister is allowed to be prosecuted (hopefully will be convicted too) for corruption charges. Of course, I only find out later that there has been violence in some other parts of the city and the State. Buses as usual are targets (makes no sense whatsoever as buses are the transport system of the masses and if they burn them themselves... isn't it a but like "cutting of your nose to spite your face"?).

As I drive I find myself wishing that every day I could get from A to B like this. With no slowing down unnecessarily and continuously. I find that the roads are not so bad. The flyovers are solid and the views from the top - now that I can actually see them - are lovely. I point out various things to my kids as we zip along. They too are chirpy and alert, not grumpy and fed up as they normally would be on the long drives.

As we pass the opulent Forum Mall, I am struck by the deserted look it sports on this fine Saturday morning. I have NEVER seen it like this! I am chuffed by the power of a bundh to do this to one of the busiest malls in the city. Imagine the amount of money people saved by not going there today! And then, imagine how much business the Mall would have lost too. Then I have the pleasurable fantasy of the Forum Mall going completely out of business and that I never have to contend with traffic outside its gates again! Too much to ask for, but a little fantasising never hurt :).

As we approach the outskirts there are shops that are still open and people going about their business as usual. The Total Mall looks forlorn and deserted and once again I am happy people are doing something more worthwhile than loitering around spending cash. It's a great day to be outdoors and I am looking forward to the rest of it. We are on our way to a farm where the kids can run around and play, pet the animals and learn about them, and breathe clean air and just be kids. To think, if it were not for the Bundh, we'd be inside one of those malls, inside an air-conditioned auditorium watching Tangled. Hmmmm!