Unhurried life in Chennai

Today was one of those days when I had to take a photocopy,send out a courier and it had to be done this morning.Most often these days I get the office boy to do these things and one has forgotten what its like to go to the small out of the way places and get it done.
At around 9.30 am I set off believing it was a decent enough hour to get this work done.My angst starts with two auto drivers hurling abuses at me for putting the wrong indicator.Yes I wanted to turn right but as there was no parking I decided to turn left.Sandwiched as I was between two autos,they decided that as a woman driver I probably had no clue which was right or left.Jokes aside,this was a classic case of pot calling the kettle black.Since when did auto drivers in Chennai have the right to comment on any ones driving?.They are classic examples of how not to drive.
Having found a parking lot,I was locking the car when I noticed a security guard of the house near the parking lot,eye me with some glee.He had that look that most security guards get when the realise that the car has been parked and the occupant is on their way.That's when most of them decide that this is a non parking zone.How anyone can claim that a public road belong to them is beyond me.Thankfully the chap must have seen my face and decided not to react.
So some fifteen minutes later I reached the shop which housed the courier and the photocopying place.
Its a fact that shops in Chennai don't open before ten so I find that the courier place is not opened but the other one is.The gentleman who runs it is busy cleaning out his shop and when I ask if I can get a photocopy done,he ignores me.So I wait in the heat, sweat pouring down my face and back while he finishes sweeping and dusting the place.I also notice that there are atleast 20 different gods pictures around his shop.He finishes his cleaning and I hope he would switch on the machine but hey wait a minute,the gods have to be kept happy.A child of around 6yrs old comes over with flowers.She also waits patiently while he lights the incense and waves it around all the gods present.The next step is to light the lamps and say his prayers.The girl waits like she probably does every day but my patience is running thin.I wonder if I should go over to another place but some quick calculations later I figure that that will lead to more delays so I wait.
There is a little board in the shop that says customers are important etc but obviously business can wait as there would be no business if the gods don't bless you and I figured that he had probably done the same maths that I had and knew how futile it would be for me to move from there so the business could wait.
It was the girls turn so the flowers are handed over and he doesn't pay her in the shop.He takes the money and steps out and hands it to her.Wonder why ?.The flowers have been strung but he cuts them out individually and places one flower per god.Then another set of prayers.In the meanwhile the courier man has arrived and he is not so keen a housekeeper so he takes out his order book.I rush over and tell him that I am waiting for a copy so could he get started on my cover and I leave the envelope behind so he can fill out the address and save me some time.Finally some twenty minutes later the shopkeeper turns to me and asks if I want a photocopy.For heavens sake what did he think I wanted,Darshan?.Once again he steps out like I am some untouchable and take the papers from me and gives me my copy so off I go to courier man,only to find that he hasn't done a thing about my envelope.So we start at the beginning and get it all over with.Forty five minutes later I jump into the car and drive into morning rush hour hour.What is the problem here.Is life really so laid back and unhurried or have I lost the ability to enjoy the simple things in life,have I forgotten how to do small chores,where has my patience gone.Give me a break the corporate world exists in the rarefied corridors of plush office,the reality on the ground is very different....or is it?.Have I seen and office run like clockwork where everyone is super efficeint.Oh dear,no really those are just tall claims and the only difference between the corporate world and the chaps who run small businesses is that they don't make tall claims!!!!

services for the old

I am not a great fan of corporate hospitals or the catholic church.Corporate hospitals simply because I cant understand how one can make money on someones ill health.Wasn't medic an meant to help mankind.The catholic church because in my opinion they are rather outdated,and ritualistic.
In the last few weeks however I have had to review my opinion on both.
Looking after old parents at best of times is taxing,especially when one has a full time job.Looking after them in sickness is worse.So in despair I searched the local news papers for agencies that would provide a nurse for a short time.Except for loosing money to some tall promises nothing materialised.I then discovered Unique Health services run by the Apollo Hospitals.They actually has a service that one can become a member with and they would provide a trained nurse and doctor on call.Sceptical at the best of times,I decided that I had no option and paid up the fee.The doctor arrived and the nurse followed.When they told me she was 22,I was most worried,but the result of the experience left me well and truly hooked.Here was a nurse who was trained,college educated and well equipped to handle old people with care and patience.Half my stress disappeared.Of course this facility comes at a price that few of us can afford full time but then it is a service with possibilities.
The nurse left and my search for a companion for the old folk started.Agencies are a dime a dozen but each one as unreliable as the other.Huge fees,advances and unorganised they can get ones stress levels to an all time high.Till a friend suggested a church.Not being a regular church goer myself,I wondered if this was yet another agency and sent my sister to check it out.Looks like the catholic church gets something right.They have over the years housed many services which cater to the larger interests of the family,be it counsellors,priests or housemaid and companions.The service is efficient,accepts payments by cheque and their follow up is superb.Besides which they make no tall promises.The local St Lukes church runs this service called Sneha Deepam.
It may be too early to take a judgement call on both but Chennai is a great place for medical care and options and people remain to some extent honest