He: hello hello hello . (goes on till n= 10 )

Me : (at my first chance to say something ) yes ?

He: is that my wife?

Me: pardon?

He : is that my wife

Me: nope.. wrong no.

Crazy ..how could anyone call on mobile and ask such a question? I thought husband would know wife’s no ( if not memorise..) or would save it atleast ..

Looks like some of them don’t.. in that case, I strongly suggest..do save the nos. memory sometimes does go on no-cooperation moment..

And you  may like to be a bit courteous… I am sure your wife would have some name??

And if that was supposed to be a prank… well I suggest you need training. You not only need to be more creative, funny but also need to perfect the execution of the same. Just in case if you happen to stumble upon this post… you have my number , I could advise you on getting better at pranks and do not even think of negotiating the fees.

I am loosing it and loosing it pretty fast… some Thursday after a Wednesday off…I some how make it sure (not on purpose) to carry ‘I -hate –Monday’ look on my face…Most of my colleagues who have seen me in lift on Monday morning need no further explanation…

Well so to continue. I religiously maintain the ironed face till my dear colleague reminds me that it is Thursday and that we are almost reaching a weekend… Ah.. changes my facial expression in no seconds- like that of an innocent child and I am as joyous as any kid would be on an announcement of unscheduled school break. So what am I loosing by being childlike innocent in expressing my joy? As a professional am I expected to maintain a stern face irrespective of the fast approaching weekend? An impossible task for me and I dotn even aspire to achieve it.

An then today… I happily believe that it’s a Friday (thank god for that!!!) and choose to remain content with it. What more I also declare to one of the clients- “ but we are working half day tomorrow’. Then call a friend and ask “so its your last day tomorrow hmm?” “ well no…Saturday..” that’s tomorrow right?” “No that’s day after tomorrow?”Oh! so it is not a Saturday tomorrow…and ssuddenly feel too clogged and burdened with that thought !

I am loosing…but yet to figure out what… a sense of time where my today looks like an extension of yesterday…  or love for the work I do ..

Now I almost feel like an employee of a customer service dept or may be still worse.. (pl note I don’t demean the C.S. dept here but just that I am not the best fit for the same.) They atleast don’t get blank calls on the extension.

Such a pain..imagine… you are in the middle of an important conversation with a client/ working on an interesting structure / reading ‘update – your – knowledge –type’ article (I guess I don’t get many now a days.. have my all friends given up on me already?) and tring… goes this phone.. most of the times, I ignore but some times out of guilt or out of feeling of ‘duty – to – answer my – extension’ .. I do answer… and these are the questions I get to answer:

1. “have you received my fax?” (if you could only care to introduce I might even answer!!) With a smile still (forceful) “marked it to whom sir and from where?” Some name is thrown on my face. (everyday I get to hear about a new colleague..) . “sorry sir wrong dept.” “Not a problem, pl connect me to a right person..”darn.. u expect me to leave my work n find out the concerned person out of 20000 employees that our company has? Must be out of his rockers. “Sorry sir I am unable to do that but pl speak with the reception” . smile . Click.

2. “hello, I m calling from pune. I am a director And I want to speak to the top most authority..” (hehehe… you are certainly at wrong extension.. ). I know its not my client but I also know some client wanting to lodge a complaint.. (out of sheer experience of answering these wrong nos.) “well director of which co sir?”…some name thrown at me.. and once again I have no clue as to whose client it is but I have learnt to take educated guesses and take one.i also know how to handle these people now (you certainly cant bang the phone saying wrong extension.. ) I suggest – “highest authority – chairman/ cmd?”.. “no no … not that high”… “sr vp??” “Not really” (I take a note … its time to change the definition of higher authorities ). “Ok.. may be you could spk with ‘her’and here is her no.” “thank you very much maam..instead is it possible for you to resolve the issue?” (what???!!!if I could , why would you think I have gone through the pains of identifying a right person for you?) “No. I have no jurisdiction.” (read high hopes.. I have wasted 5 min already doing customer service job for no reason and I don’t intend to waste any further second. ) “Thank you. It was nice talking to you. Maam what do you handle then?” (is he going to change the business requirement to suit that ?) “well I typically handle business requirements of say 200-10000 cr.” Wow!! That worked!! “Ok Ma’am if you are coming to Pune , do drop in. I will surely meet with you next time I visit Mumbai Office.” (What for?) “Sure Sir” (but I am not bothered any more as he does not even know my name)

3. “hello…hello. Haan.. wo mere shares transfer ho gaye?” (umm..)”whom do u want to speak with sir?) (add on…after a short break of second) “dekhiye maam aise kuch baat nahi karni sirf batayiye mere shares transaction record hua ya nahi.”Well u have reached a wrong dept.” “No I have dialed the right no.. your receptionist has transferred it to u. It could be her mistake and not mine..” (shoot… why does she has to remember my extension at such junctures? My extension is not the easiest to remember after all..) “ok sir may be her mistake but its still a wrong extension.”. “ Ok then tell me the right number” “I would not know that sir, and I could not transfer from this instrument” “ arre.. you youngsters don’t understand the value of time” (guess you are right.. why would I otherwise waste my good 3 –4 minutes talking to you?)

I take a mental note to not to answer my extension again during the day.. I was done with my customer service for the day (or still better for a week ..or so I like to believe).

 This call just falls into one of those.. “hello? Am I speaking with Ms. Thealterego?”

I knew.. I just knew it… “yes” (should I just declare that I don’t want a credit card?)

“Ma’am I am calling from ABN ..this is regarding credit card”.. “oh !” (but I have ABN credit card)

 “This is to ensure if you have spent Rs…(almost 5 figure sum) yesterday..” 

“Yes yes”  (I know I am spending a bit more but air ticks are not inexpensive you see!!)

 “Ok ma’am just wanted to confirm your DOB” 

And so I tell him that.

 He is surprised, shocked and confirms twice ..”are you sure ma’am? really???” 

“Yessss!?” (I have been having b’day parties on this day every year.. so I believe and wonder why is he so amused ? is he by any chance sharing the b’date?)

“Well may I tell u something?” (trust me not a good time man.. things are too heated up in office and this is the last thing I could tolerate.. but looks like I have decided to test my patience)

“Yes pl..” (quite finish it off  sounding polite reply)

 “You are very brave and courageous .. “ 

“What?? “(now I am shocked).. instead.. “Umm okkkk.. thanks but why you say so?” (I bet he could hear that amusement in my voice)

 “Your DOB suggests.. I know a bit about astronomy …”  

“Thank you”.. (anyone could have heard my smile in my voice!!)

“All the best ma’am you will be doing very well in life and will be achieving anything that you want.. Thank you.. “

Though my immediate future in terms of eve plans looks quite bleak.. I was honestly happy with the call…

Just want to know.. those who have ABN card.. have you also been informed about yourself .. during one of those otherwise routine credit card calls?

Also.. was a bit preoccupied that time.. but dear credit card executive friend, if you really do understand astronomy well then.. why don’t you try it as a profession? I mean I would believe that could be more rewarding a career option, nahi?

But while this patch up and pin up work was being done….i did experience password malfunctioning…Trust me, it is not easy to put with such malfunctioning and possible embarrassment .. I sincerely admire (once again) Carol Gracious for her presence of mind and courage that she demonstrated at Lakme Fashion Week.

BTW would anyone out there know as to how I could save myself from such password malfunctioning  in future?  

 The first one doesn’t look feasible and the second one is impossible for, i know if i be friends with him i will keep falling in love with him

It is an ideal relationship ..sounds like a fairy tale and hence I would want to keep it the same way and leave at that. I have heard this before and this is for all those who believe in this. I would request you to consider another perspective..

An ideal relationship.. well after “living” the ideal relationship (irrespective of for the span of time) it is not very easy to live another life. May be it is better to have diluted ideal relationship than having to let go of it.. just one thought that it could have still preserved its charm or rather got still better over the period of time.. could leave one repenting for an entire life time.