Actor is the Same…the Set has Changed.....a Village called BURASS

If you read my next post, some of you would be painting a picture of the village called BURASS in your mind. It is located somewhere in the Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab. Let me pen down a few key indicators about this village as I have experienced in the first week.

1. The nearest ATM is nearly 13 KMs. away. I might have been able to save for a Car at least in the last two years had I been faced with such a situation in Hyderabad.
2. Have survived for a week with Rs.73 in pocket and in fact have opened a new Account with the Bank as well but waiting for the weekend so that I can withdraw some money from the existing accounts and put the same into the new account. Till then zero balance is fine.
3. The nearest Cyber Café is next to the nearest ATM. (Facebook updates are being affected through my mobile).
4. It’s damn cold out here but I love winters. However, I need to buy some woolens immediately.
5. It requires lots of guts and motivation to take bath with freezing cold water and that too at 7 O’clock in the morning. There is no Geyser and I don’t have an Immersion Rod. This is No.1 on my weekend Shopping List.
6. There is no Dhobi in the village. So, I have started washing the clothes myself but then what’s the use. There is no way to iron the formal clothes as well unless I think of buying an iron.
7. No breakfast available. Lunch and Dinner at “Pappu da Dhaba”. Dinner by 6.45 PM. (It fees like I am on a train…). Menu is simple… Roti and Sabzi with an occasional Omelet depending on Pappu’s mood.
8. Chicken, Meat and Fish are unheard of…looks like so. Or may be God had taken my Doc’s advice too seriously.
9. The monthly rent for the house is Rs.700 (quite a change from the Rs.7500 rent of the last house in Hyderabad). Anyways, the house is guarded by high walls on all sides. There is a provision for 6 tenants to co-exist. Currently, I am the only one there. The rest of the house is in darkness as is the approach road to the house. Hence, I finally decided to by a torch.
10. The last Bus into the village from the nearest town is at 4.30 PM and hence there is no chance of going out of the village after working hours (Yeah post 4.30…it’s referred to as “after working hours”).
11. Have not seen a beautiful girl since I left Chandigarh. Had been to Sector 17 that day and really felt good (so much to see….I mean so many stores and in fact the first store that I entered was Levi’s….as I told the VM in me wanted to check out the newest campaign on Curve ID). I wish the Desi version of “A Simple Life” was being shot here. The village would have been lit up. Oh by the way, electricity is not a problem here and thanks God for that).
12. No English or Hindi Newspapers to read. Cable is available but TV is not.

I have decided to spend every weekend away from the village. I don’t know what I will do and where I will go. For a start, today I am off to Ludhiana (to watch a movie and of course buy some woolens), next weekend I would be in Chandigarh and the one after that in Amritsar perhaps. The schedule might change depending on the training schedule which might come any moment.

However, I am enjoying the long brisk walks after office hours everyday on the nicely laid roads (thanks to Prime Minister’s Sadak Yojana) through the fields breathing in the fresh cold air that rejuvenates both the body and mind. The thrill and excitement of Pace is not there but Peace is certainly here. The best part is that everyone in the village recognizes and greets me. People are very friendly and caring here. All said and done, hoping for a quick move out of this place though.