Issue 8 | 06 Jan. 2007

So which age-group do you fall into?
By Deepak M. Rao

Monday, Tuesday and then death. Of some actor or a political figure or some orbit socialite. Who cares, sometimes all that matters is, is tomorrow a holiday? And if the stars are located in such a way that they shower upon us the exact amount of light that proves to be lucky, we get a holiday. And then on such a day what is it that Bangalore has to offer. Does it always have to be a day when none of the shops are open, none of the malls spreading out the visual feast that has taken the fancy name of retail therapy? Will pelting of stones overtake the boredom inherent in people especially on a day mid-week? For all those new to Bangalore and are right now nodding your heads with such vigor and energy like one who has answers for all the questions above and more so like one who is sure that he's going to get it cent per cent, chillax. Cool it, dude. I have something else to say.

Mid-week, what does Bangalore offer? Well, in case the deceased is not a Dr.Raj ( and I say this with utmost respect to Annavru) it is going to be one of the days that fall under the to-be-remembered list. This is precisely the time when you get to visit the book store you discovered a few months back just a few kilometers from your house. This is also the time when you spend those extra minutes at each store bargaining a price that is totally illogical for something that you don't want and especially don't like just for the fun of doing it. For those who have just cleaned their messy houses the weekend-last, it is like a total vacation with no work to do at home at all. In such a time here is what we find Bangaloreans doing.

Age group 80+: Feeling more at home with all the children around them on this odd day of the week, they start with a list of things that you have been promising to do for a very long while now. Just how long, they don't remember; and just what work, no they don't remember that too. It is a general malaise that is so common with elders which they get by seeing the youngsters free.

Age group 50-79: They try and act as if nothing bothers them. They still read the newspaper like a schoolboy studies his lessons. And at one point of time, generally ten minutes after breakfast, they start skimming through some papers filed just the previous day. And it is best not to disturb them at that point of time.

Age group 35-49: These are the people who act like they did not require a holiday. After a few calculations they start telling everyone around about the number of crores of rupees of business that we lost because of such a holiday. And then after a few coffee mugs of coffee has wet their throats, they stick to making a few calls which last long enough for the others to get irritated enough to break a huge mud pot on his head.

Age group 17-34: Ah ha, these are the ones that enjoy the most. They leave the house at just about the same time they would leave to catch their mode of transport to work. They simply hang out or chill with friends - the same people who they meet at work everyday. They return back at the last hour of the day only to crib about the nest day's work.
So which age group do you fall into?