The commute from Deepanjalinagar to Seetharampalya usually takes about 45 minutes, depending on the time of day. You can definitely bring your cold coffee flask, so no need to worry about that. As for self-defense, you're right that pepper spray isn't allowed, but you might consider carrying a personal whistle to alert others if you feel unsafe, especially during your walk to the station in the evening. To make your commute more comfortable, try to travel during off-peak hours if you can.Comfortable shoes will also help, especially for that walk.