The Waiting (aka bureaucrazzy, the sequel)

To continue from where I had left off, when the report finally arrived, I came bright and early with my bundle number and stood in queue at the information counter for another hour where the nice lady gave me a note so that I could go upstairs and meet the PA to the great man himself, the RPO. The PA asked me to wait, and that was what I did till 1. Then he asked me to return after the lunch break for more waiting. By 3:30, when I was bored out of my wits, he called me and told me that my file hadn't been found and that I should call him the next day and come. I did call him and he told me to call him again at 2. Instead I went in person at 2 and upon checking the data on his computer, he confirmed that the file had been found and asked me to go downstairs and get a token for the next round of running around.

However, the token could not be issued because it was past the token issuing hours. I went home to return again the next day. Unfortunately, the queue at the information counter was much longer because one of the clerks was on leave. To make matters worse, it was drizzling and I had to stick to the wall to avoid getting wet. This time though, I had brought a book. I immersed myself in the story to keep the monotony of the stagnant queue from getting to me. It was 2 hours and 126 pages later that I finally reached the front of the queue where I was issued the token that would take me to the office of the RPO. The book I had with me was 'Morning, noon and night'. Quite appropriate, under the circumstances.

But the waiting did not end there. They had to first find my file, pass it on to the person responsible and then direct me to the location. Again, there was a lunch break, and by 3pm, I was starting to feel that I should have brought a few more books and newspapers to keep me occupied. Finally they did call my number and after a few mistakes I finally found the person with my file. But, wait. It doesn't end here either. They discovered that there was another form they wanted me to fill up and another certificate I had to present in duplicate. Another emergency phonecall and hurried trip later, when I was thinking of giving up this quest entirely, they finally felt they had all the papers they needed to issue my passport. I thanked the lady and asked her when I could have it. I was prepared to come and get it the minute it was ready, but she would have none of that. She said she would give orders for it to be despatched by speed post and that I would receive it sometime next week. I would have liked to collect the passport personally, but it didn't look like there was any way I could change her mind about that. The only consolation is that I will not have to go back there (till Thursday, at least). All in all, if I never see the passport office again in my life it will be too soon.

Note: All credit to the staff though. They really do the best they can. And they've completely stopped the practice of standing in lines stretching to the road. It happened sometime after my first visit there. Apparently, a visit by a minister can do wonders for the system.