Koi   mil    gaya !!

I was doing few photocopies in the office corridor when a mobile shrieked. I wondered who has this college-goer ringtone in a UN organisation! As I approached my desk, to my horror  I realised that it’s my phone. Kids have again set a different tune. Sheepishly I put the mobile on silent mode. The number flashing was an unknown one. There are so many schemes and advertisements via phone, I do not respond to these unidentified callers. If it’s important, I would get a call anyway.

Last few days have been very difficult and stressful. It was my first summer in Delhi and was intolerable. The schools had summer vacation and my kids were back at home in Bhopal. We were trying to find out a clear week where a family vacation can be organised. It seemed a challenge to zero-in on any dates navigating between French classes, guitar classes, relatives visiting us, my official travel, unavoidable family functions and my daughter’s entrance process for a post-graduate course. In addition to that we have recently acquired a 58 days old puppy.

We keep on talking about work-life balance which is easier said than done. Finally it was decided that we all meet in Delhi which will be helpful in many ways. I don’t have to worry about leave and continue my work; my daughter can appear for the entrance exams, all of  us will be together and can go out in the evenings when it’s a little bit cooler. The only challenge was to get our house-help on board to take care of Crystal, Chloe and Sparta (our pets).

Metro has made life in Delhi quite comfortable. Every day while my ride to and from office, I can’t resist myself admiring the network that has been set up. Hats –off to Japanese meticulousness and Mr Sridharan. Its safe, clean, cheap and criss-crossing the whole city. Our family has become not only metro-literate but champions of metro travel! Information on our visiting spots always revolve round the question- which metro station is nearest? At the entrance and exit we produce metro smart card and take the travel in a clean and air-conditioned train. The only limitation was the Cinderella-feeling which crept in late evening as the metro service stops at 2315 hrs.

Its well experienced that when you feel comfortable and conditioned, you become callous and lose guard. This is what actually happened one day. My husband lost his wallet which had all sorts of credit cards, membership cards, driving licence, PAN card. In short he lost his identity. He spent next 3 days in trailing the route on which we had travelled the previous day. It was an experience in itself. At Kashmiri gate metro station, there is a lost-and-found department. Valuables, cell phones, bags, umbrellas etc. were stacked there unclaimed. Either the passengers were unaware of such a service or they did not bother to find their belongings succumbing to the apathy developed towards the system. Arvind also filed an FIR at the local police station. It took him 3 hours of being volleyed around . That’s why people feel intimidated to approach the police station, hospital and the judiciary system in this country. He came back to Bhopal with a feeling that he has done his bit and left it to the fate. All the credit cards were blocked, applications were written for renewal of the other cards and we counselled ourselves for getting over it.

The phone rang again and brought me to the present. It was the same number. I picked it up with a determination to turn down any offer , no matter how lucrative it was.

Is it Dr Aboli Gore?

Yes… who is this?

Mam, this is Sandeep… Sandeep Gaur (the voice did not have marketing finesse, he cant be selling anything)

I had already opened my mental checklist of saying NO

I am not interested (if it's an offer)

I am in a meeting ( if somebody is asking for a favour)

Please contact my husband (if it’s a bank or insurance company)

Ok, how can I help you?

Mam, have you lost anything few days back?

(Of course I have !! I have lost my sense of humour, my appetite, my patience, my confidence… what are you talking about man?)

Sorry, what do you mean?

Is Arvind Gore your husband? Has he lost something?

Yes, yes, he lost his wallet.

Suddenly I didn’t want this man to hang up.

 Mam, can you please tell me what all was there in the wallet?

I could visualise him flipping through and checking each item as I enlisted them.

Yes mam, that’s it.

 I was overwhelmed by the statement. It’s a miracle to get everything back! He sounded like an average Delhite who takes pride in conversing in Punjabi-english.

 Thanks a lot. Where can I contact you to take it ?

Where do you work mam?

Aha !! That’s an interesting question ! He wants to assess what he gets back in return before revealing his identity fully. I gave the information and asked back the same. He turned out to be Sanitary Inspector with Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). One of his cleaning men found the wallet dumped in a trashbin. The wallet did not have either mine or Arvind’s phone number. He traced us down through the library membership card. He took my mobile number from the library. He verified all the details before he revealed his whereabouts.

We agreed to collect the wallet after 2 days when Arvind was back in Delhi. It was a convenient decision as I was at loss on how to handle the situation. Is he expecting any money or favour in return or he will feel offended if we offer him anything. It was a complicated situation.

On the fixed date , Arvind was met with a middle-aged , average looking person. He came all the way in his 12 year old Maruti 800. He refused to take favour of any kind except the word of gratitude which my husband was very liberal in showing. I have heard so many stories about Delhi that its difficult to accept that we got back the lost property without any cost? But that’s true as of today. Being from Delhi and working with the government , I easily stigmatised him as a corrupt, dishonest and irresponsible person. I thank  god that I am proven wrong .