Silencepedia at the Mall
When I reached the mall yesterday, I knew I’d have trouble wading through the shops, and the crowd and antics were enough to preempt the problems I’d face when leaving. I had to spend a considerable amount of time at the mall, but with my incredible skill in observing people and understanding situations, it’s always worth noticing how people manage and behave in a given situation.
After all the jazz inside the mall was over, I planned to return home. As soon as I stepped outside, I was pleased to see an elderly couple standing in front of the Christmas tree, smiling broadly, while the rest of the family watched them being photographed by their 6-7-year-old grandson. It wasn’t just a photograph; it was a moment that would be etched in everyone’s memories forever. The bond among the family members, the emotions, the ambience, and the music all became part of that photograph or video. This is what I think a lot of people miss out on.
I reminisce about a similar photo of my grandparents in London when they were travelling. It was taken by one of my grandfather's friends living there. As I basked in the moment, something malls have been doing for quite a few years now, I chanced upon a group of girls singing carols and belting out those amazing, melodious songs from ABBA, Elvis Presley, Boney M, Dana, Mud, Paul McCartney and others.
The most heartening sight was seeing the elderly enjoy and sing along. It was a sight to behold. Meanwhile, some kids were dancing while their parents went gaga seeing how their little ones were enjoying the music. The visit to a mall has become more than just about shopping. It’s about events, decorations, food, balloons, music, Instagram-worthy photos, dressing up, meeting people, safety, and, above all, being part of a celebration.
After absorbing so much of the vibe, I decided to return home because I was hungry, and I’m one of those people who prefers home-cooked food. First problem, the network wasn’t great for booking a ride, so I moved outside the mall. But after more than an hour, I still couldn’t get a ride (autorickshaw) 🛺. The sea of people inside and outside the mall made me feel like an introvert who’d gate-crashed a massive party. Anyway, trying different apps to find a ride was futile, so I decided to try again after a while. The music around me kept me from feeling completely frustrated.
Finally, the time to book my ride again arrived. As soon as the driver’s acceptance window was about to expire, I was elated. Booking done. Ah, I was on cloud nine! I kept getting messages from the driver: “13 mins, madam, swalpa wait madi” (Please wait for a while). Hmm! He sent me his number to call him, and just as I was about to reply, I saw the dreaded "battery low" alert. Gosh! Without wasting time, I messaged back - "Phone battery thakkide" (Phone battery is low). And boom-my phone shut off. To my surprise, I realised I’d forgotten to put the power bank in my bag. Shucks!
What do I do now? I tried switching my phone on again, because I believe in miracles. And miracle, indeed, it happened. The phone switched on, just in time for another message from the driver asking for my location. I replied and got a thumbs-up. But boom, again. 😔
I bravely (and Bangaloreans will know why) ventured to the queue of
🛺🛺🛺🛺🛺🛺🛺🛺🛺🛺🛺🛺 auto-rickshaws outside the mall, where the drivers think they’re kings of the road and that their commands should be followed. So, imagine what they’re like when it comes to autorickshaw fares. As a wise person, I always carry cash. People here have completely stopped carrying cash; everything is done through digital payments. In fact, it’s so common in Bangalore that even people in need now has a QR code for receiving alms. 😆 On the bright side, it’s a promotion for #DigitalIndia.
Before even trying to strike up a conversation with the auto guy, guess what I did? 😁 Yes, I looked around for the auto number, hoping he’d have reached by then. But no. I tried switching on my phone for the last time, and lo and behold, it worked. To my expectation, the driver had cancelled the ride. 😂😉
While I waited for the next miracle, I kept noticing what was happening around me: there were mums trying to control their kids from running into the road, one even shouting, “I’ll slap you if you don’t listen!” The child, about 9-10, was laughing. In another corner, a couple stood together, and the guy was showering praises on his partner (my heart melted). An elderly couple, struggling to walk, had beaming smiles on their faces. A group of girls was taking pictures from every angle, giggling and showing off for the guys nearby. Happiness truly comes in all shapes and sizes. A group of guys was deciding where to go drinking, while another group ogled a foreigner walking with her Indian friends. One guy couldn’t contain his excitement and blurted out, “Yaar, maja (maza) aa gaya” (Man, this is awesome.).
As usual, a few autorickshaw drivers gathered around me, eager to offer the best deal. I have no problem paying them as long as I know I’ll be dropped off safely. I’ve never had a bad experience with the auto drivers in Bangalore. If you’re willing to pay 400-600 for a 5 km ride, you’ll be treated like royalty. 👑
I hopped into an auto, and the driver asked me to enter my destination. After some discussion with his friends, they realised the distance was longer than they had assumed, and the ride began.
I asked the driver where he lived, and he replied, “Why, ma’am?” as if I was going to complain about him. 😁 I explained, “I’m asking because if your house is in the same direction, it’ll be easier; otherwise, you’ll have to go through more traffic and get home late.” He smiled and said, “Ma’am, I live 23 km away from here, in the opposite direction. My kids will be asleep by the time I get home, but my wife (he said this with pride) will be waiting for me so we can have dinner together.” (My heart melted again.)
We talked about how much Bangalore has changed over the years. He didn’t expect me to be fluent in Kannada, and he didn’t make me feel unsafe. Despite him not asking for a tip, I gave him extra buck because he was considerate and took a safer route, avoiding the breweries, pubs and the usual chaos (as he called it gallata). Being empathetic matters to me.
He dropped me home, and as usual, I advise people to not use disposable plastic bottles, so I advised him to switch from disposable water bottles to a steel or copper bottle. I also asked him to share this information with his family and friends.
I returned home, enriched by the experience, realising that life is all about enjoying the moment and learning from past experiences. As I also believe, life is extremely beautiful, you just got to be in the moment and be grateful.
