Looking Down Over Bengaluru
This flash essay is part of a collaborative, constrained-writing challenge undertaken by some members of the Bangalore Substack Writers Group. Each of us examined the concept of ‘BANGALORE’ through our unique perspective, distilled into roughly 500 words. At the bottom of this snippet, you’ll find links to other essays by fellow writers.
“Mooru idli sambar dip, ondu chow chow bath, yeredu benne masala dosai, ondu puri!” yelled the waiter. The plates hadn’t even clanged on the counter before he’d turned around to fetch the next.
“Yes, that’s us,” I said, to nobody in particular. I picked up all seven plates, my eighth hand occupied with my little axe. My golden crown was askew on my head but I walked back to the others with as much grace as I could, setting the food down in front of my colleagues, who sat on clouds.
“Hot delicious meals!” said Indra, clapping with excitement. Sounds of thunder rang out throughout the sky and another shower began.
“The sambar is steaming hot,” said Vayu, blowing on his spoon. Cold winds blew through the trees, threatening to uproot the smallest ones. Women and men alike yelped and shielded their long hair from blowing behind them.
“The finest grains have come from my fields for these meals, you know. I hope you all enjoy yourself!” said Bhudevi. The others all nodded to her with respect and as she blushed, the gardens of the city bloomed with colour and vigour unlike any other.
All the illustrious guests present tucked into their meals. The two dosa eaters were the first to finish, and sated, they settled into a languorous mood, smiling and looking at each other. They then got up from their seats and at once entered into a divine state of bliss. Saraswati maa called her veena to her and played a rapturous melody, even as Nataraja danced with such precision and rhythm that no further percussion was needed.
Between the two of them, the city below rang with colour and life. The musicians, dancers, actors, craftsmen and artisans, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, looked out to the rain and felt their love for the city grow. The tapestries they would weave would be a culture unlike any other, a truly unique providence that makes life worth living.
The guests were in a mirthful mood now, and as Saraswati and Nataraja held the attention of the other gods, the last two of us quietly spoke to each other.
“The city is alive with such wondrous gifts, my lord,” I said quietly to the other. “The gods have truly lavished the people with their greatest blessings. I cannot help but feel we do not belong here.”
“Nonsense, my good man,” said Lord Narayana Murthy. “I have given the people the gift of industry and the pride of productivity. Look how the city flourishes beneath us.” He sat back with a full belly, and I couldn’t help be skeptical.
Because I looked down at the people in their offices working on IT services, and while Lord Murthy’s gift was appreciated, I felt ashamed of the little I could offer. I am the weakest and the strongest, the least beloved god. My name spreads far and wide and brings ill repute to the city. I am Sanchara, the god of traffic, and my gift is a curse upon the land.
The food was delicious though.
Thank you for reading. See other fiction here.
Stories of “Bangalore” from Bangalore Substack Writers Group
Looking Down over Bengaluru by Vaibhav Gupta, Thorough and Unkempt
Blossom Book House, Bangalore by Rahul Singh, Mehfil
A Walk, A Pause by Mihir Chate, Mihir Chate
Bookless in Bangalore by Vikram Chandrashekar Vikram’s Substack
Bangalore: A personal lore by Siddhesh Raut, Shana, Ded Shana
Bangalore,once by Avinash Shenoy, Off the walls
Bangalore Down the lane of History by Aryan Kavan Gowda, Wonderings of a Wanderer
Nagar Life by Nidhishree Venugopal, General in her Labyrinth
Belonging by Shruthi Iyer, Shruthi Iyer
The Street Teaches You by Karthik, Reading This World
The Wild Heart of Bangalore by Devayani Khare, Geosophy
A Love Letter to Bangalore by Priyanka Sacheti, A Home for Homeless Thoughts
Movie Dates, Bangalore and Them by Amit Charles, AC Notes
Between Cities by Richa Vadini Singh, Here’s What I Think
A Haven? Awake in Bangalore, by Lavina G, The Nexus Terrain
My love affair with blue skies by Sailee Rane, Sunny climate stormy climate
A City That Builds Belonging by Sathish Seshadri, Strategy & Sustainability
There and Back Again by Ayush, Ayush's Substack
I was smiling at the start of this story, grinning as Lord Narayana Murthy was introduced, and chuckling by the end. Very clever!
You've somehow convinced me to want to root for the underdog Sanchara! 😆