There was a time when I just had to open the balcony doors and all I could see was green and at night there would be almost a pin drop silence. Oh divine bliss.. !! It was a pleasure reaching home and relaxing with a cup of tea outdoors and smiling at the birds who would fly home and different animals like sheep, cows, bulls, etc… And except for two houses, that defined my neighborhood..
Once in a while we had the neighborhood insane boy shout but that was just once in a while. He was the one who would love to hear his voice. He is kind of mentally retarded and would scream and then be quiet and then play loudly. It was tolerable since it was not happening at odd hours..
And now after civilization has decided to spread its roots, the only thing I hear is either someone renting those huge trucks to dig borewells for water.. forget sleep or rest, you will breathe in smoke and dust, you will be beset with the incessant droning of that machine for 48 hours or more till they get water which is depleting at an alarming rate.
When that is not the case there is this neighborhood, dog who when his owner is out of town keeps on with an incessant barking in the same tone day and night.. day and night .. day and night… so much so that many neighbors have actually thought of something drastic, which thankfully they did not implement… to ensure some peace and quiet
When that is taken care of, I would pick up my book to read before I go to sleep and just when sleep is flirting with me, I am jerked awake by this fish market type of fight where the new neighbors are at their throats with each other for some house dispute or the other..
If that is not the case then I am awakened by a drunk beating up his wife and the wife beating him back… LOL…
Today early morning… I was dreaming I was browsing the Mysore Palace.. Why ? ? for no reason.. well the dream got unpleasantly crashed by the loud scream of our neighbor’s hen who was either being chased by the pet dog of the same house or was being chased to be stolen by some other neighbor… I wish I could define the croaks.. It was heart rending, irritated, angry and then amused….
CROAK CROAKCROAKCROAKCROAKCROAKCROAKCROAK……………..
CROAK….
CROAKCROAKCROAKCROAK…CROAKCROAKCROAK
CROAK CROAK CROAK ( it went on for some half an hour)
And imagine, me.. My hair standing at ends … and my eyes bleary… wishing for some divine providence to step in and let me get back to my dream… Sigh.. but my peace was already stolen.. albeit unknowingly by that hen..
And there was a time… when I would really enjoy the mornings.. Today I dread it… its like an inner alarm to be broken by some civilization predicament or the other…
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Worst experience in good company .. ACK !!!
Yesterday I had the worst food possible in a very long time. I greatly hoped for Italian cuisine and invited this long time pal to join me for lunch for some bonding time.. I entered and then we got the information that Portabella did not exist and it has turned to “The Herb”.
The place was empty and I should have taken my friend out to another place but thought well so what if it has changed. Maybe the food would be worth tasting..
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH !! It was horrible..
My poor friend was very sporting and tolerated the place…
I was served Ice tea which seemed like normal milk tea dumped with ice.
The pasta my friend ordered was terrible to say the least. ( my friend’s lid was about to blow every time they brought in something which looked like we would not serve at home as well GAHHHH )
The chicken steak that I ordered was overdone with salt to such an extent that it burnt my taste buds… BRRR…
The only thing decent was lime juice, the tea ( I think) and the French Fries..
I must say that when really bad stuff is shared with a good pal, it does not leave that bad a memory.. 
Now that is the positive lesson I learnt… all things good in good company…
