Girl Steps: Arai yen 356 yil Kadavul!

This visit was no exception. I went in and as I intended to ask the counter 1 lady where to collect my mark sheets, she was busy fidgeting with her mobile and never cared to look up. I was irritated by that attitude but then again I mellowed down and put up a smile on my face, tapped the counter again and said: Good afternoon ma'am. Can you please let me know where to collect my mark sheets.

Me: Thank you ma'am (Never leaving that smile). Upon this, finally she gave me a smile that was indicating her peace to get back to her mobile!

It was extremely sunny and sultry that afternoon and as the lifts weren't working I climbed to the 3rd floor. After ten minutes of maze running, I found the Room No: 356. It was like entering a X-Factor stage wherein you have to perform really hard to get what you want! (In Vadivelu's tone: Ferformance bayangarama irukanum)

There were piles of papers and files throughout the room with chairs and tables scattered amidst of all that. There was 1 ceiling fan running like the old man from the Nanban movie (ipovo appovo!!). Below that was a thin man, with pants pulled up till his chest who was searching for something for a while and looked at me through the pile of papers as he sat down.

I had to approach him, because he was the only person sitting in that entire big room. I went and asked him (again the 'close up' smile!) about my mark sheets. He took a good look at my ID card (Probably he was wondering if it was me !) and told me he doesn't know anything on the mark sheets and I had to wait until some other staff members comes who has apparently gone for a meeting.

I along with few people who were just like me waited there for more than an hour. Here and there well all go ask that thin guy something and all he would respond is 'I don't know'. I don't know what got into him, he again asked for my ID and had a really good look this time. He lit up and said, 'This batch is taken care by Rajesh Sir. Please wait, he will be here'. I was glad I atleast got a thread and a reason to wait now.

I was so irritated I wanted to write how lousy and frustrating it is to wait in these kind of government organisations where they make people run here and there and take so much time in getting things done. I was experiencing different levels of irritation as I seen an old father bending down and pleading for something and people on the other hand carelessly answering and pointing to the other person for a simple job. As I was drowning in my thoughts, suddenly heard a voice from the door. Two men were talking and walked into the room.

All the folks who were waiting rushed to man1 and I was directed to man2 who was 'Rajesh Sir'. I held out my ID again to him wishing 'Good evening Sir. I've come for my mark sheets'. To my surprise he smiled back and asked if I had the fee chalan or hall ticket. I didn't have anything except a long, paawam face!! But he never got angry and said he will look into the records and got engrossed into a pile of files.

In parallel, he worked on two more requests from a lady and a young chap who was also waiting so long. He was smiling throughout the time. He was funny and quick. Within minutes, he completed the lady's request and got back to the pile of files to address my request as the young lad's request was in process (the irresponsible thin guy was made to work this time!). He searched for a while and voilà found my mark sheets. I was glad I got my sheets and also that I passed in a subject that I feared to flunk!

My perspective changed the very moment. Not everyone is bad or irresponsible. I whole heartedly appreciate people like 'Rajesh Sir' who is of real help to people in such government organisations. My respect for him grew as he pleasingly kept asking that 'young lad' if anything else is needed even after his request was processed.

Have a story/ experience in a government org? Do share it in the comment section below. Would love to know :)