An hour in prestigious public bank...
With my father I entered the bank to find all 6 counters extremely busy with customers. To my surprise all 6 executives were present on their counters. I knew 3 of them well and was happy to see them all with a computer to work on. I knew these people for almost 15-20 years and was delighted to find that even at 40's they all had interest in learning computer technology.
Then came a voice with my name asking how I was doing. Voice was accompanied with pungent alcohol stinks and I tried to ignore it completely. But no, it was a familiar face who worked for my father for quite a few years. I remembered the innocent face which was now turned to a day-drinker permanent "Bank Employee". Anyways, the guy still had a sense of respect for my father and asked him what needs to be done. I thanked him saying that I'll manage coz' I expected the bank to have become better in last 7 years. I started trying my luck at various counters:
First counter (executive, in late 30's, known to my Dad):
Executive was calling his colleagues "Computer me transaction failure error aa raha hai, shayad compute ki light chali gayee hai". (believe me, it wasn't a joke). The guy had 4-5 girls waiting and he asked them all to go to another counter.
Second Counter:
Executive was trying to help his old colleague sitting next to him, what if there were tens of people waiting for him. After all, he was being a social help.
Third Counter:
Busy receiving help from second counter person.
Fourth Counter:
Exec was badly searching for an envelop. He wanted to pack INR 101 in envelop for the wedding token of another bank employee's daughter.
Fifth Counter:
This guy had already packed his contribution for the wedding and was nicely writing his name on the envelop. In the mean time he saw someone and suddenly woke for consultation. For next 15 minutes he was busy consulting about the amount he decided to give as the wedding gift.
Sixth Counter:
Occasionally serving the customers but for very specific requests. More than using the computer in front of him, he was busy searching for old files.
I got a feel that I won't be able to get my work done at all. So, I tried to go Indian way. Went to the first counter and without caring for the people standing around, I used my father's good will to put forward my request. I thought it was fine , after all not even a single person was in mood to form/follow a queue. The "uncle" was nice to me and referred me to a special counter rarely visible otherwise. I entered the counter hoping my turn to come the fastest. This exec, nearing 50's, (without even moving his head) asked me to come after 2 hours. I re-emphasized on who had sent me to him. He says "that's why I'm calling after 2 hour".
The upset myself decided to go to the Branch Manager immediately. Tried to search the BM for couple of minutes and realized that the manager was out for some time". (meetings??? I hope so)
So I turned to the junior manager's room. Even before I could enter, manager said "Madam, please don't come this side. I have hell lot of work. These people don't fill the forms properly. I won't be able to fill your form too. Fill it again and come tomorrow". Surprised!!! I clarified that I was there for different reason coz' I couldn't talk to the Branch Manager. "Then don't come this side at all. I have other jobs to do. Wait for Bade sahab. He will come any moment", said the person.
Yeah, there I see a man coming with a bag filled of fresh vegetables and directly rushing towards "Branch Manager's" room. As I rightly guessed this was the man designated "Branch Manager" who went to buy fresh veggies for home (during office hours... That's ok in India I guess). I went and explained him my problem. "I don't know Madam. We have lot of jobs these days. I simply can't help anything. Government has asked us to give salaries & pensions to all government employees in the city, may it be a teacher or a sweeper. So, we can't help the system. For your convenience we have got the computers, I can't do more". In the mean time, he realized whose daughter I was and changed the tone. He called the guy at special counter and asked him to do my work with priority.
I decided to cool down and went to the special counter more positively this time, after all this time I had Branch Manager's influence. I showed my docs to the exec. "Come after an hour", says he. I said, BM has sent me here. "So What?", was the answer I got. I requested the guy to talk to BM again. Gazing his computer screen he gave the response, "I have talked to him and all other BM's too. I said come after an hour". (at least it became from 2 to 1 hour, BM the great:-))
Anyways, I went to the BM again and indirectly told him the kind of respect his exec's have for BM. Finally BM said sorry that he could not help. In a very soft voice he started giving me all references as to how he knew my Dad and me. Ultimately he suggested us to come after 5 days when his wages business will be over to quite some extent.
Fully disappointed me & my Dad were almost at the exit door when my father's worker, turned permanent bank employee came to us. Even after his alcoholic actions, we gave him all our docs. He asked us to wait for 10 minutes.
We waited for nearly 5 minutes when he returned with all our transactions done successfully. He wished me a good time at home town and disappeared.
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An experience I simply can't forget and I still hope myself to be a proud Indian!!!
posted by Tanu Mutreja @ Tuesday, November 22, 2005
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