Yes! Finally I got it. I got my passport yesterday after a long torture of 6 months. I had almost lost all hopes of getting one when I last visited the passport office. All the formalities regarding my verification and the one problematic Delhi file were over and I was quite sure that I’ll get things straightened this time. As always, I got the appointment with the PRO and then was called by a lady sitting in the PRO office (I’m sure she’s not the main PRO, but only someone who’s sharing the burden). This lady seems cunning in the first glance itself. It seems as if an expression of frown is permanently etched on her face and yet she manages to wear a plastic smile every time you go to meet her. So, she called and told me to sit. She opened my file, had a careless glance and immediately reacted, “The procedure for your case is still not over!” I asked her what the problem was, for which she started turning the pages of my file. Seeing a fax attached with my file, she told, “A fax has been sent to the Delhi office and we are still waiting for the response” Fortunately, I had checked the status of the fax just before meeting her and confirmed that the Delhi file has been closed. So I told her, Madam, the Delhi passport office has already responded for that fax and the file has been closed. Now, she started hitting me with other excuses – Local address not verified – Delhi address not verified – Police report not received – etc. Finally she told me (Plz note the politeness) “We haven’t received the Police repot for your Delhi verification. Don’t come to us again and again and bother us. Go and check with the police department, this is not our headache.” I was really startled by this rude reaction and felt red-faced in front of so many people. I had a why-the-fuck-did-I-come-here look on my face. Tears waiting to roll out, I went to one of my friend’s father’s contact in the passport office and told him the incident. He told that he’ll look into my file and asked me to call the next day. By this time I had lost all hope of seeing my pic on a passport. I called my Dad with a heavy heart and told him all that happened. Suddenly I was feeling very lonely and vulnerable.
Next day I again went to the passport office and asked that uncle whether he checked my case. He informed me, to my relief that everything was fine, the Delhi report has come to the office but is not physically traceable. He said that he’ll take up my case with a different PRO and get things done in 2 days. The was he had worked till now (making me wait for 4 hrs daily and never picking up my calls) I thought that this is one more of his delay tactics. But to my amazement, within two days the status of my application had changed on the website. Now it read “Your passport is being prepared. It’ll be dispatched within 7 working days”. There was no limit to my happiness. Next day I went to the Post Office to talk to the postman, so that in case he comes to deliver the passport and I’m not at home, he would call and inform me. The guy there told that the postman will be available only after 2’o clock. I thought that I’ll take a leave and meet him tomorrow. I started my bike and started towards my home. As I reached home, I saw to postman looking human beings standing in front of the door. I asked them that my passport is about to come in a couple of days and I wont be here at home, so please in case it come … as I was saying this, he asked “What’s your name?” To my amazement he told “I have your passport right now with me” I felt like dancing on the street. He verified my identity and handed over the passport to me.
So finally the journey came to an end. I got what I was yearning for. Finally I was a proud passport holder. I realized at that time, that the happiest moments in your life come in the most unexpected way.
Also read:
My passport Ordeal
My passport Ordeal - Contd...
