Delhi Times

Delhi Times

It was 13^th August, Saturday. Myself Dilip Narayanan K and my room-mate Rohan Prabhu T were getting up in the early morning around 2.00 to take a cab for the start of onward tour to Delhi for next three days.

We have decided to leave around 3.00, I've booked the cab already in OLA but was having suspicion whether the same could be confirmed. Luckily, I got the message around 2.40 that the cab is booked and got the driver number, the car was waiting near to our flat.

We walked out of the flat and took and the cab without any difficulty. At once, Rohan called Yogaraj mobile and it was picked up by Anandharaman stating that Vairamuthu was getting ready and Rajmon was ready.

On the way, Rohan felt asleep on the cab, I was looking through the empty roads and recalling myself that I used to come to this way for the IIBF exams but after few days I would never by coming this side.

We reached airport in approx forty minutes time and we have got abundant time for fight departure. The flight is around 5.15 only. In the next fifteen minutes, we got the another cab and all our friends have arrived. We have already made the seat selection and check-in and so the tour is set to go.

In the airport, we took selfie photos on excitement and everyone was out of sleepy mode. We crossed the security checks and decided to have some food, I took the Steamed Momo Chicken and Yogaraj took the Steamed Momo Mushroom. Anandharaman was asking for Main dishes but no one was agreeing from initially, and then he himself went and took the dishes for him.

Everyone was assuming that the flight is only at 5.15 but the boarding gate closes at 4.45. In the last moment, we ordered Thupka (Soup) for Vairamuthu & Rohan but both went waste as it was very hot and didn't serve the purpose of time.

We rushed to the boarding gate and boarded the airport.

At the boarding point, Anandharaman requested to sit near the window seat and I replied positively. Rajmon was sitting in the aisle corner of opposite side. There were two foreigners sitting near to him (Mentioning about foreigners is something special, I think so!!!) and the other three were sitting together back to us.

I have planned of tasting a sip of coffee, but in the flight everyone was very much damned tired and everyone felt asleep. I woke up around 6.45 and assumed that it was 7.45 and was little worried how we are going to catch the bus as per schedule. Then, Anandharaman told me that the flight is arriving before time and we have sufficient time.

The flight landed at Delhi Airport, it was domestic terminal and everyone was wondering that the airport was not up to the mark as expected. We have booked a hotel (The Southern at Karol Bagh) and they have also arranged a pick-up facility from the airport. I called up to the person and he requested us to wait near the Hoardings before the exit. The hotel driver came with Innova vehicle. Anandharaman took the front seat, Myself and Vairamuthu in the middle and other three the back side. We informed our plans and car driver informed us that we will reach by 8.05 and have sufficient time.

We reached the hotel and we were asked to pay the room rent and to show up our individual identity card. It was said, the PAN card was not acceptable. I don't have any other ID proof other than PAN card and Employee ID card. Considering the group booking, they accepted my employee ID card.

Then, we started to walk towards the room alloted to us. The was they took us was not clean and all others have started to tease and comment on whether the room booked will be up to the mark or not. However, the room was neat and well good. On the way to room, we were talking about the condition of the place infront of the room service. We had a quick fresh-up and we were running out of time. We have to catch the One day tour bus around Delhi (Booked in Panicker Travels, Karol Bagh). The boarding point was near to our hotel and just besides the mithai shop Bikanerwala.

In the office of panicker travels, we paid the remaining amount for next day tour to Agra and we were informed that the driver number will be provided by evening. The tour of the day bus was standing in front of us, we informed that we will be having little breakfast and then we will board the bus. The travels hesitated and said the bus would leave at 9.00 sharp. Also, it was written that Red fort was closed due to Independence Day. We went to nearby Amma Mess and had Idly and Vada. Both the food were simply superb. Everyone had a very good breakfast after long days. I felt the rate was on the higher side. Then, Rohan bought snacks and water bottles for the onward one day tour. We boarded the bus. On the left side of the bus, I sat with Vairamuthu, Anandraman and Rajmon infront of us and Yogaraj and Rohan at the back of us.

The bus was roaming in and around Delhi for long time and finally one person (tour guide) picked the mike and started to address and explaining about the schedule of the day. His tone was such in a way that looked stylish and everyone started to tease. First, we visited Qutb Minar, we had good time pass over there and later moved to National Handicraft (it was a time pass and waste place). We roamed the place and didn't want to purchase anything. Most of the things looked expensive. We came out and had fresh juices. I received a call from Chief Manager and asking me whether I've sent any mail regarding statement and replied “Negatively” as Branch Manager didn't want to. Later, I heard that Antony and Vignesh has went to branch for sending this mail. It disturbed me a little. Then the tour operator announced Lotus Temple, I was telling everyone to be fast and click photos very soon. Later, the bus stopped at Tamilnadu Bhavan for food. Myself and Anandraman sat in a table and others in a different table. The service was fast and food tastes good, had good Briyani after long time. It was almost 2.30 pm and the operator resumed the tour with giving sufficient time. We went to Indira Gandhi residence and Nehur residence. Later from the bus, the tour operator showed various Foriegn Embassy passing and he was also teasing with little bit about our politician. And there, we couldn't enter India Gate as it was closed and later bus stopped at a place near Rasina Hills and we clicked photos of Parliament and PMO from far as both are closed. The bus strictly announched only ten minutes. Clicked here and there some photos randomly and later as the last place of the tour, we went to Birla Temple and the bus again dropped us at Karol Bagh.

We reached the room and had a small sleep, meanwhile we have orderd for the extra mattress and Rohan has looted all our room coffee and milk powder which i thought would be using it for making coffee. by around 7.00 pm. We decided to go for dinner but when we step out from the room, we had different plans and decided to roam. Except Anandraman, everyone went to Connaught place and did some window shopping. I got a call from the tour operator that tomorrow whether we can able to start from Delhi around 6.00 am instead of 5.00 am. But I informed that it will be 5.00 am only. After a while, we reached Karol Bagh and I called up Anandraman for dinner at Amma Mess. The mess was very much crowded and we stood for a while for the table. Inspite of some difficulties we had good supper and went for sleep. We all have planned to wake up early and get ready by 5.00 am in the morning. But there are little difficulty in implementing as myslef, Anandraman and Rajmon stayed in a room and the other three in another room. We had the habit of waking up early and they had the habit of waking up late. In our room, I slept in a separate mattress which was offered.

Next day, as said we got up early. Anandraman called their room through phone and woke them up. First, Rajmon took bath and I went for the bath. When I came out I found there are series of missed calls. I found that it was from Car Driver. When I checked out with the other room, no one was ready and everyone has just woke up. It took around another hour for us to get ready and by the time it reached 6.00 am and it was informed by the company that the car driver was furious. Anyhow, we took the car and he was blabbering for some time.

On the way, we took photos from the camera in different angle. Anandraman was our guide and he sat in the front seat and then Rohan behind him, right to Rohan was Vairamuthu and we all at the back with Yogaraj in the middle and myself behind Rohan.

On the way, we passed through Amity University and F1 ground. We stopped at a Motel and had good breakfast with good coffee. The bill prices were skyrocketting. We reached Taj Mahal and we found there was a huge line standing for security check-up. Later, we found a photograph person and decided to take alternate route for entering the monument. The condition was that, we have to click photos from him. For entering the monument we agreed and went through the east gate which was comparatively less crowded. After entering the Taj Mahal, we clicked some photos and told we don't require further photos and switched him off. We roam there for another long time and everyone was taking lot of photos. We saw the Agra Fort from here and the Black Taj Mahal. Then, we entered the chamber of Taj Mahal and came out. The driver again called me and said it was getting late. We came out and waited for the photographer to arrive and so that we can collect the photos. He was taking long time and so Anandraman and Rajmon moved to his place and collected the photos. We decided to skip the dinner for the purpose of completing the schedule ahead. Instead of food, we had some drinks alike Lemon Juices.

We reached Agra Fort and stayed for short time, clicked random clicks and started to move towards Fathepur Sikri. The driver was blabbering there is nothing to see in Fatherpur Sikri to Anandraman. We reached Sikri and there i found everthing was changed and we have been taken to different vehicle operated by the government to visit the monument. We boarded and the travel went like going on a hill range. Everyone came with the expectation of the movie Jodha Akbar and thought of clicking many photographs. But after looking only at the building, everyone got little disappointed but anyhow we enjoyed. After clicking random clicks, we came and waited again for the bus. But it was taking time so we decided to walk down as it was only slope. We moved towards the final tourist spot for the day “Mathura”. No one had food from the morning and Anandraman was pleading to stop at some point for having food and at-least some fruits. We reached Mathura, inititally Anandraman decided to stay in the car but he changed later considering the history of the temple. However, Rohan stayed in the car and expecting us that we will come soon. We were accompained by the local tour guide and he gave good history about the temple and Gods. The photographs were not allowed inside and we all dropped our phone and camera at the car itself. After good Darshan, we were dropped to a store and told if interested we can purchase. Initially everyone was not interested but the sales person explained about the statues there and the glowing lights of it. It turned our interest and everyone decided to purchase something and our price budget also expanded. We were fully in force of buying and almost took one hour in the store itself.

Rohan was waiting, waiting and got irritated and came down to the shop and he was out of mind due to his hungerness. We enquired with the shop person and he told that he is a student and doing this job as a part time, his home was about thirty minutes from there. We felt he was doing a great hard work than us. We appreciated him and moved to the car. No one talked about Dinner and we were moving towards Delhi. Rohan at one point of time, became very angry and shouted, at the same next moment he surrendered completely to Vairamuthu; everyone came down with heavy laugh. We felt asleep due to tiredness and Anandraman took to a restaurant nearby Delhi NCR and he told all other hotels were closed.

The hotel was very much crowded and we all ordered Dosas. It was self service and we found eveyone had ordered Dosa only. The line was very big and it doesn't have any coupon system and all are fighting for the food, we were in doubt that whether we can able to take the food or not, we paid heavy prices for the food. Eveyone was hungry and so we couldn't move out or wait. Anyhow, we got the food we ordered at short time and we took the food by standing. Later, outside the restaurant we purchased water bottles and finally we reached Delhi around 12.00 am of the next day. We thought we would be charged double the amount but it was single charge only, everyone took a good sleep.

The Final Day, we had the flights at the night. The actual plan was to check-out the rooms and roam in the prepaid car booked. But we haven't done the prepaid booking and Anandraman said he wanted to take rest and the next day he said he will be sitting in the cash counter, so we checked out one of the room and kept another room for another day though we would be leaving that evening. We had the complimentary breakfast at the hotel and Anandraman decided not to out for the day, others we took Metro and went to the Humanum Tomb and then to India Gate and later we went to the Red Fort, it was the Independence day and the Red Fort was closed. We took photos from outside and it was very hot almost everyone got drained completely. We booked for a cab to the hotel back but we couldn't locate it and we were standing in the hot sun for about twenty minutes. Later, we took an auto and reached the hotel where we stayed. We had the lunch at the same hotel and slept in the room for three hours.

In the evening, we left the room and took two cabs for our journey to airport. Yogaraj, Rohan and Rajmon took a cab and by mistakely they went to Terminal 3 and they paid heavy fare compared to us. We took the flight and reached Kolkata in the mid-night. Myself and Rohan took a cab to our room and they to their room. On the way, Rohan was sleeping like anything. We reached the room and it was good memorable one.