3 minutes is equal to 60 minutes, Chennai Traffic!!

3 is equal to 60 not logically possible but, practically Yes!

Everyday of mine starts like any-other usual day, sometimes early most of the times lately  I am working as  a Graphic Designer in Cognizant for the past 5 months. I would not refer me as a freshly joined employee because, i spent close to 6 months in home after graduating from my college. During that period of time i did internship in a company based in Pondicherry owned by a Frenchman (Terry Leger) scaling 6 and above in height . A man full of energy, enthusiasm and sarcasm .  I made good friends there and the experience which i got is always a remarkable one, either its fun or work i enjoyed both .

I joined Cognizant on 25th  of January, since then i had started to live the chennai life, i would say Chennai IT professional life rather. Initial days were little miserable as i had to stay in a couple of places like, with my friend of friend’s house, friend’s relatives’ house. In one month, i found a PG along with my friend, so far the place and the stay is good Well, coming to 3=60, usually i go by the shuttle provided by the company to office. Boarding time is 8:00 am, RTO stop, but due to city traffic i can expect the shuttle in between 8:05 to 8:10.   Which means i should start from home at least at 8 sharp. It would take a 3-4 mins walk from my house to stop, a little faster walk than the normal speed of walking.

But i will always fail closing my chores from bathing to getting ready before 8:00. I will get on the nerves of my friend daily as she expects me to be on time. Even after 5 years i am not able to convince her that “i am like that”.  That morning, as usual i was getting ready for the office i saw my digital watch, it showed 8:03. I am 3 mins delayed but, at times i will catch the shuttle even if i am 2 or 3 mins late. So i was doing something inbetween running and walking. At a 7 feet distance i saw my shuttle crossing me or i would say i was standing in one side of the road waiting for the green signal when the driver drove the shuttle on the opposite side. simply i stood It was like waiting for bothe signal and the shuttle to pass.

So as my policy i tried to enjoy that inconvenience, and then i took a share auto and reached the bus depot. I saw a M49, the bus which i am supposed to take, came out of the depot with no single seat left to sit. Also i saw one or two people standing without place. Though it was a meager number, but when the bus crosses Adyar it will be fully loaded. Fearing the crowd i didn’t  get into it. Also i  saw it was only 8:13.  Another M49 was standing inside the depot. Even if i start at 8:15 i can reach the office at 9 am that was my simple calculation.  So only 15 mins delay from the shuttle time to reach office. I was waiting and waiting for the bus to start.It was 8:25 in my watch by that time the bus had one or two seats left and others filled. Eventually,  the conductor and driver came.  :)

I was thinking ok, only 15 mins delay so, i will reach office by 9:15 am. But the tragedy struck me at all the signals. i saw my watch at adyar cancer signal it showed 8.55 am. Look how horrible was the traffic . To tell,  i have covered only 30% of the travel distance at that point.  One good thing was that i got a window seat, so seated comfortably from the stuffed otherwise pushing and pulling standing crowd. As i neared Ramapuram, now only 10% of the travel distance was left,  i saw my watch showing 9:35. At 9:40 i reached office entrance. From there i had to walk for 5 mins. When i settled myself in the cafeteria i saw my watch showing 9:50 am. If only i had come in my shuttle i would have been there at office at 8:45.

This is the reason i titled my post as 3 mins delay will lead to 60 mins delay in Chennai Traffic.  :)

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