- Honest Officer
- 13 years ago
- 2961 views
How difficult is that...?
Its a little old story. But I thought I would share it.
It was some 6 years ago that I applied for a new passport. Ever since I had heard of passports, I'd heard of the difficulties one has to go through to get one. I had just completed my graduation and didn't have anything to do, i.e. all I had at that time was time. I decided I would try to take go through it, honestly at least once. If I could not acheive, there are always those middle men who would throng you even if you casually pass by the passport office. I bought the form. To the dislike of entire middlemen fraternity I decided to fill it myself. It was a lengthy form, but nothing which I could not fill myself. I submitted the form and was told that a police verification would be done in 3 weeks. Though I would have liked to get a exact date, but I wasn't obliged.
I talked to everyone I knew who had a passport. And all of them, in fact some more than them, told me that I will have to bribe the officer who comes for verification, if I want to get my passport. I thought they knew better. I was prepared. Some 18 days later the officer came.
I would be honest, he was not a pleasing personality to be impressed of at first sight. And his mannerism and style of speech were also not the most polite I had came across. Now when I think of it I realize that the tiring job he is doing, can do that to anybody.
He came in, sat down without being offered. I knew what he wants, and I knew what I had to do. I was just preparing in my head, how do I ask,"how much ?" or would he himself would tell me...?? should I negotiate..? I was prepared to give upto 1000 rupees. But he asked for something I was not prepared for. He asked to bring my class 10th passing certificate to verify the date of birth. We (me and my father) were a little taken aback. I had the money in my pocket, but I didnot remember where I had kept the class 10th passing certificate. But you cannot argue with a policeman, do you? So I went in my room and decided that now he is making me search for documents, he has reduced his income, I would definately negotiate the "bribe". But he kept reducing his income and made me search for 3 other documents for verification. He even checked my father's office Id card for his verification.
My father asked for "kuch chai paani" both literally and figuratively. But to our horror, he declined. Both. We thought he would take both in the end. Then he asked to come with him to at least 2 neighbours who would confirm my identity. Now I was sure he is not getting anything more than 200 rupees from me. We went to 2 neighbours, they confirmed my name and that I lived there, he took signatures from both of them and we came back to my house. We were ready, this was the moment... he is going to ask his "chai paani". I had already signalled my father with my fingers that he is not getting anything more than 200. We both were looking at him... expecting the call for bribe... but he again surprised us. He smiled. For the first time in last 20-30 minutes, he smiled. And said, "Everything looks fine, you should get your passport soon". We were taken a back again. My father thought he was not comfortable asking himself, so my father asked for "chai paani" again. He said, "ek glass paani de deejiye" (I'll have one glass of water). Me and my father looked at each other. A little shocked.
"is that it... a glass of water..? did we did something wrong... should we haved asked chai paani much earlier.. is he annoyed by our ignorance to his "verification fees... am i not going to get my passport..?" too many thoughts. But you dont argue with a policeman, do you.
My dad could not resist and when the officer was leaving, my dad asked... that he had heard that police verification is difficult and "expensive" process... but this looked simple.
The officer knew we were talking about. He smiled again, and while keeping his pen back into his pocket said, "this is all what the procedure says, this is what has to be done. I dont know why cannt all officers do that. How difficult is that...?"
He left. I recieved my passport after 10 days. Today, 6 years later I am in woking in different country with visa stampped on the passport. But I still could not find the answer to that simple question... "How difficult is that"