Chennai’s Happening Place
I would either be at my home (in Srirangam) or at some relative’s place in Chennai on a Sunday and I would have no worries (and sometimes no idea at all) of the scorching heat. Last Sunday was different. I was at my home in Thiruvanmiyur and I didn’t have any plans for the day. I started to feel the heat too. Not knowing what to do after taking my lunch at hot chips, I took a bus to a friend’s place in Mylapore. It struck me while on the bus. It was quite a common idea, though. Anyway, I went to my friend’s place and watched the second half of Panchathanthiram – a movie that I would watch any number of times.
I took leave from there by about 4 pm and got into 21(bus from Mandaveli to Parrys). I was on my way to the city’s best place to hang out – The Spencer’s Plaza. Only after I got down at my stop did I notice that I had missed my cap in the bus itself. Looking back, the bus had started. Without any second thought, I chased it and got into it in a jiffy to find my cap on the floor of the bus. Relieved, I got down at the next stop and walked to Spencer’s sweat drooping. (About the cap: It was the outing gift of the year and it also saved 100 Wah points for me!) It was quite hot and once I stepped in I began to realize the comfort. Yes, it was crowded as usual. But how many genuine shoppers?!? On the way, I heard a passer-by commenting – “OC la A.C…”. “He could not have known my intentions” thought I.
Every time I visited this place, I had wanted to check into one Planet ‘M’, a musical shop but it never happened. But this day, when I asked a fellow, he said the shop does not exist anymore!
After walking (read window shopping) for sometime, I stepped into Landmark. Wow! I love this place (only the place, not the cost of the products they have; exceptions being the audio and tamil books.) I first went to the Audio section. After browsing for sometime, I picked up an Mp3 Cd that had a compilation of many slokams and moved. (Ah! I got something to prove that I came for shopping!). Quite obviously, my legs took me to the book stands. I wanted to buy ‘Kadal Pura’ by Chandilyan. I was busy searching every shelf (they have limited no of tamil books as compared to English!) when I heard a voice of a security. Driven by enthusiasm, I stood up to see what was up.
Security: “Ungalukku enna book Sir venum?” [Sir, what book do you want?]
Customer: “Adhan parthuttu irukken!” [that’s what I am seeing.]
Security: “ Nanum parthuttu irukken. Romba nerama ingaye irukkeenga. Enna book venumnu sollunga. Na eduthu tharen.” [I have been seeing you for a long time. If you tell me the book you want, I shall help you.]
Customer: “Ille. Naane pathukkaren.” [I shall see myself.]
Security: “Ille…Kalaila 10.45 maniku vandheenga. Innum pathutte irukkeenga. Eduvum vangara madiriyum therila??” [you came at 10.45 Am and you are yet to buy something. You don’t look like buying something!]
Customer: “Pathe mukkalukkaaa……” [Silently moved away]
I said to myself – I have a CD with me. Did I tell that I had a gift voucher? Yes. I had one for 400 rupees (gifted by my team for my birthday.). So, I would not have got a chance to get embarrassed!
Turning my attention back to the books (in fact I was looking at them while the conversation was on but my mind was engrossed in the conversation. ‘Kadal Pura’ was not there. I confirmed it by checking the same on their database. When I came out of Landmark, it was about 6.15 pm. Of course, I got that CD and a couple of ID holders for my room mate.
I had something to eat at a bakers’ after which I entered Music World. I consider this the best thing in Spencer’s. Contrary to landmark, whenever I enter into MW, I don’t come empty handed. I spent about an hour or so in which I got a Carnatic CD, couple of MP3s – one of Hariharan and the other a collection and also the animation movie (It only had short stories on the important episodes of Hanuman) Hanuman (on Moserbaer). Well, I can count myself in the list of genuine shoppers!
So, at about 8.30 pm, I was walking on the road towards the Gemini flyover. I thought of stopping at the Raj videos to check for a CD of ‘Sabapathi’. As bad luck would have it, the shop was closed.
Disappointed, I walked to the 1000 lights bus stop. On the way, the back wheel of a 2-wheeler burst and the person almost skidded. A maruti (I don’t remember what car it was, but let me assume – which I have been doing since I started learning Algebra) screeched to a stop just inches behind the 2-wheeler. The driver of the 2-wheeler (!) was not alone. He had his little son, his wife carrying their baby! I was, for a moment, stunned when I saw the baby. Thank God!!
That was it. I reached home by 10 pm or so. It was a dry day – nothing quite interesting. But, to spend the second half of a day in a relatively cool environment (free of cost!), seeing many beauties…er…beautiful things was good.
And yes. I have the gift voucher still. So another visit sooner is always on the cards.
Thanks for your time.
Keep Smiling.
I took leave from there by about 4 pm and got into 21(bus from Mandaveli to Parrys). I was on my way to the city’s best place to hang out – The Spencer’s Plaza. Only after I got down at my stop did I notice that I had missed my cap in the bus itself. Looking back, the bus had started. Without any second thought, I chased it and got into it in a jiffy to find my cap on the floor of the bus. Relieved, I got down at the next stop and walked to Spencer’s sweat drooping. (About the cap: It was the outing gift of the year and it also saved 100 Wah points for me!) It was quite hot and once I stepped in I began to realize the comfort. Yes, it was crowded as usual. But how many genuine shoppers?!? On the way, I heard a passer-by commenting – “OC la A.C…”. “He could not have known my intentions” thought I.
Every time I visited this place, I had wanted to check into one Planet ‘M’, a musical shop but it never happened. But this day, when I asked a fellow, he said the shop does not exist anymore!
After walking (read window shopping) for sometime, I stepped into Landmark. Wow! I love this place (only the place, not the cost of the products they have; exceptions being the audio and tamil books.) I first went to the Audio section. After browsing for sometime, I picked up an Mp3 Cd that had a compilation of many slokams and moved. (Ah! I got something to prove that I came for shopping!). Quite obviously, my legs took me to the book stands. I wanted to buy ‘Kadal Pura’ by Chandilyan. I was busy searching every shelf (they have limited no of tamil books as compared to English!) when I heard a voice of a security. Driven by enthusiasm, I stood up to see what was up.
Security: “Ungalukku enna book Sir venum?” [Sir, what book do you want?]
Customer: “Adhan parthuttu irukken!” [that’s what I am seeing.]
Security: “ Nanum parthuttu irukken. Romba nerama ingaye irukkeenga. Enna book venumnu sollunga. Na eduthu tharen.” [I have been seeing you for a long time. If you tell me the book you want, I shall help you.]
Customer: “Ille. Naane pathukkaren.” [I shall see myself.]
Security: “Ille…Kalaila 10.45 maniku vandheenga. Innum pathutte irukkeenga. Eduvum vangara madiriyum therila??” [you came at 10.45 Am and you are yet to buy something. You don’t look like buying something!]
Customer: “Pathe mukkalukkaaa……” [Silently moved away]
I said to myself – I have a CD with me. Did I tell that I had a gift voucher? Yes. I had one for 400 rupees (gifted by my team for my birthday.). So, I would not have got a chance to get embarrassed!
Turning my attention back to the books (in fact I was looking at them while the conversation was on but my mind was engrossed in the conversation. ‘Kadal Pura’ was not there. I confirmed it by checking the same on their database. When I came out of Landmark, it was about 6.15 pm. Of course, I got that CD and a couple of ID holders for my room mate.
I had something to eat at a bakers’ after which I entered Music World. I consider this the best thing in Spencer’s. Contrary to landmark, whenever I enter into MW, I don’t come empty handed. I spent about an hour or so in which I got a Carnatic CD, couple of MP3s – one of Hariharan and the other a collection and also the animation movie (It only had short stories on the important episodes of Hanuman) Hanuman (on Moserbaer). Well, I can count myself in the list of genuine shoppers!
So, at about 8.30 pm, I was walking on the road towards the Gemini flyover. I thought of stopping at the Raj videos to check for a CD of ‘Sabapathi’. As bad luck would have it, the shop was closed.
Disappointed, I walked to the 1000 lights bus stop. On the way, the back wheel of a 2-wheeler burst and the person almost skidded. A maruti (I don’t remember what car it was, but let me assume – which I have been doing since I started learning Algebra) screeched to a stop just inches behind the 2-wheeler. The driver of the 2-wheeler (!) was not alone. He had his little son, his wife carrying their baby! I was, for a moment, stunned when I saw the baby. Thank God!!
That was it. I reached home by 10 pm or so. It was a dry day – nothing quite interesting. But, to spend the second half of a day in a relatively cool environment (free of cost!), seeing many beauties…er…beautiful things was good.
And yes. I have the gift voucher still. So another visit sooner is always on the cards.
Thanks for your time.
Keep Smiling.
Labels: Spencer's Plaza, Spencers
posted by Mukunth @ 12:49 PM
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