Chaotic Life

Today morning, I finally managed to pay the electricity bill. I had to manage, since today was the last day of paying the bill, after which there is a period of 10 days wherein you can pay with some fine and after that – Phut!! – no more power to your house!!!!

Staying alone can be a bit stressful in these terms. Pay your telephone bills, electricity bills and look around all the activities. The telephone bill payment also suffered the same fate, paid the bill on the night before the last date. Chennai Telephones have provided the facility of paying by cheque 24 hours in a day at selected customer care centers. One of them happens to be on the way from my office to home, so it’s easier for me.

I love the system in Bangalore for repayment of all electricity, water and telephone bill. There are kiosks, which accept bills 24 hours in a day. There are a number of them in the city. You can even pay the bill in grocery stores, which is something really good, since you keep frequenting grocery stores.

I usually have breakfast in the office, but today since I decided to pay the bill, I had to give it a skip. So with a growling stomach I made for the TNEB office near my house. I was cursing myself at my pathetic planning and execution skills, but was a both relieved and saddened to see a huge crowd in the office to pay the bill. Relieved since there are plenty like me who lead an unplanned life and saddened since I might have to wait for half an hour in the office and that too in an empty stomach.

There were 10 lines in all, and I choose the shortest one of them, which had some 11 people – so I was the 12th guy. The time was 8:35am and according to rules the bill collection should have started at 8:30am, but this is India and that too I was in a government office. The collection people entered the rooms at 8:45am, and that’s when I noticed that the line to my right is completely empty – the reason being no shutters to indicate that the counter is closed and there were books kept to indicate the same.

Today was one of the rare days when lady luck smiles on me. I saw a person coming to that empty counter and start his computer, so instinctively I went towards the counter. There were 2 others who were smarter than me, who got in front of me, but nevertheless I finished off the bill payment job in 10 minutes. If only lady luck smiled with regard to girlfriends.....

I am leaving for Bangalore today. A few of my relatives are coming down from Surat, so it will be fun. Most of my friends would not be there in Bangalore, since they would also be going to their homes.

Only one of my friends is staying back, and I will be going to watch Mangal Pandey with him. We have booked tickets for the 10pm show on Sunday at Innovative Multiplex. This is the first movie of Amir Khan after his two hit ventures way back in 2001 – Dil Chahta Hai and Lagaan. He is one of my favourite actors after Amitabh Bachchan. Lets see how the movie goes.

Anyways wish you all an enjoyable weekend and a happy independence day.