Road Trip to Chennai

We decided to visit my parents in Chennai for Diwali. I always enjoyed being at home for Diwali. Watching one of those new tamil movie songs on sun tv, seeing interview with movie stars, eating mom's wonderful food, bursting crackers & visiting my grandmom & relatives.

So my wife, 7 month old son and myself packed our bags set off by road. Trunk was filled with pram, bathtub, toys, diapers, Arjun's bag of clothes. We somehow managed squeeze some of our clothes as well. My dad had earlier dropped off his SX4 so that we can have a smooth ride to Chennai. I ambitiously wanted to leave by 6am, so that we can avoid traffic and sun and reach Chennai before noon. But, with my son refusing to sleep early, we ended up getting up at 630am. We went to my inlaws place in bangalore for some quick breakfast of Poha and left from Bangalore around 10am.

It was a smooth 350 odd kms. The route was Whitefield - Varathur - Athibelle - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Vellore - Ranipet - Sriperumbhadhur - punnamalli - Chennai.

On the way, near athibele, I clicked pictures of the interesting onion shaped temple. Some puja was being performed in one of the road side temple and they were distributing curd rice prasadam to all. They offered us as well even though we were siting inside the car. I did not have the heart to refuse someone giving something with affection. It was hot curd rice. All of us already had breakfast and so we did not quite have the appetite for eating some more curd rice. My wife went on " who asked you to get this curd rice now? you should not have opened the window...huh..now you only eat it" i thought i will give this to some other hungry soul. So, I had curd rice in one hand and car steering on the other. After some 2 kilometers, i spotted one old man walking in the sun. I stopped the car near him, unrolled the windows and told him "hudi prasadam" and offered him the curd rice. He took it fom my hand with both his hands. I was happy to see the contended look on his face.

We went on with the journey. Vidya & Arjun slept through most of the journey, while I dutifully drove the kilometers. But, SX4 was a pleasure to drive. I did not complain. I was averaging between 120 & 140kms throughout. In addition to the road side pee breaks, we made the usual customary halt at Adyar Ananda Bhavan for some late breakfast of hot pongal at around 11am, and one halt for lunch at some Shree Ganapathi restaurant (not very good - won't go again) at around 230pm. The weather was slightly warm, but there was no traffic. The drive overall was pleasant.

Just as I entered Punnamalli, I had couple calls from my VPs, which I later repented for having answered the same. One was from my VP "G, are you available for another project? we might want you to travel to Chicago for an immediate requirement" I tried my best to dodge it. 15 kms later, I got another call from my immediate boss. She wanted me to check if i was interested. I told him, "I am not very keen, but if it is required, i will do it" I was like shucks, these guys wont let me celebrate my holidays at peace.

Finally we reached my home at around 445pm. My parents received us near the gate with a huge grin and whisked away Arjun immediately. I was like "ok, how about helping a bit with the luggages? and saying hello to us as well "