Wondering why such a long post name? I am wondering too.. but I couldn't stop myself on that line. I have been a bit lazy on my blog for sometime, all I needed was a thrust for the things to come out and fall into places. And there, goes... there came a thrust loud, clear and corrupt. Many of you might be aware of the fact that a motor bike belonging to my r0ommate (aka. Vinnie) was stolen from our apartment parking place, I have posted about it earlier (read). Apparently, the miseries didn't end, rather hassles got larger, now comes the insurance company which insured the bike.The insurance company surveyor, Mr. P.K. Das (genuine name), came to investigate later on a Sunday evening, clicked a whole bunch of photographs, starting from the place from where the bike was stolen, the roads etc., talked to our landlord for some queries, "usual procedure" he claimed. Been here, done that. After his so called "usual procedure" was over, he asked Vinnie to fill up some forms and other documentation. Here's a piece of conversation that we had with him while Vinnie was busy in documentations...
Surveyor: arey ye toh achhi baat hai ki Insurance sarkari company se hai, nahi to bohot panga hota! (its good that the insurance was from a Govt. Organisation, otherwise there'd be trouble)I was sure of what he meant to say and so was Vinnie, but we didn't want to stretch the discussion on this topic. We were done with all the formalities of the day and he was too, he also demanded some more paper work from our side, which he said, would collect a week later. Suddenly, just before leaving he came close to my ears and whispered ... "Aap humara khyal rakhiye aur hum aapka rakhenge (if you take care of me, I'll take care of your work)" and gave me a weird smile. I felt like trying to escape a murder by paying my defending lawyer, fat money!!
Me: kaisa panga? (What trouble?)
Surveyor: arey private company company waale paisa rokne ke chakkar me rehte hai. Unke surveyors ko insurance disbursement ka paisa rokne ka award milta hai, moti rakam, dus-bara hazar rupiye. (The private insurance company tend not to disburse the insured amount, their surveyors get award for blocking the money for any particular claim, good amount, almost 10-12 k)
Me: Oh! (*amused*)
Surveyor: humara to kya hai....kaam karen bhi to wahi paisa na karen bhi to wahi. Humare liye, customer ki, ki hui kahtirdari hi award hai.. jaise aapne paani pilaya fridge ka, cigarette pilaya mehenga.... (We'll get our money or salary whether we do our work or don't, for us, the award is the appreciation from customers. Like you gave me water to drink, a cigarette to smoke, thats all)
He came back the next Sunday to complete the leftover formalities, but this time he was much more outspoken. Just as it was time to leave he deliberately asked Vinnie...
Surveyor: to kya socha aap logo ne, us baare me? (So what did you guys decide about that matter?)He picked up a paper, did some scribbling and came up with a figure. It showed Rs. 45,000.
Vinnie: Kis baare mein? (about what?)
Surveyor: aapko minimum to itna mil hi jaega. Ab iska 10% ke hisab se hota hai 4500 rupiye... (you'll get a minimum of Rs 45k, so 10% of it comes to 4.5k)Vinnie stood up and took out a big black plastic bag with something in it. I was not sure what it was.
Vinnie: but insurance amount to 55 thousand ka hai, 45 thousand kyu. Aur bhaisab! 4500 kuch zyada nahi ho raha hai? (But the insured amount is 55k, why 45k? and isn't 4500 a bit too much)
Surveyor: ab dekhiye aapki marzi hai, kaam to humein karna hai. (its your wish, but we will be handling this atlast)
Vinnie: ye rakhiye, aap hi ke liye laya tha! aur 4500 pe kuch negotiate kariye. Aakhir bike to meri chori hui hai, jo loss hua hai mujhi ko hua hai! (here, keep this, i bought it for you. Can there be any negotiation on 4500? My bike was stolen and i have to bear the loss whatever it may be)The surveyor suddenly pointed out a mobile lying at the table, it was not in a working condition but was fully repairable and it was a good Nokia model.
Surveyor: ye cell phone kharab hai kya? (is this cell phone not working?)I could see Vinnie's desperation to somehow get the insured money. It was his fair share and obvious. I wanted to place a tight slap on the surveyors face or may be punch him real hard, so that his guts come out dangling from his mouth!! Nevertheless, there pops up a question, a lot more and obvious indeed...... "Aren't these people paid enough?" don't they get enough to have a good medical security, a good education for their children, a proper meal three times a day? I am pretty sure they do get, and the Govt does really take care of them, well sufficient not to make one a Millionaire, but yes....to spend a decent life. Then why such a greed and deviation exists, not only for this instance, but almost everywhere the Govt has its presence. Certainty not that we support bribery, but the fear, the fear that our works might become a hassle or might not be done at all....
Vinnie: haa! bas repair karwane hi wlal tha..Ye bhi aap rakh lijiye! (Yes! was just going to give it for repair...you can keep it)
That is not the end. The surveyor also quoted that once an FIR is filed against the theft incidence, you need to sit back, relax and forget about your stuff, or even a thought of ever getting it back. Why? because he claims, that our Law enforcement Agencies the "Police" have un-solicited tie ups with small and big groups of miscreants. Even if they somehow find out your stuff, you would never know, except if it is recovered from some unknown sources or from local thief trying a big hand for the first time on this piece of act. Some of the assets recovered are fully dysfunctional, or are never claimed back by the owner due to the hassles involved and they eventually become the center of attraction at the outposts or stations (more specific to the vehicles that lie around).
I can go on with this...but it is too annoying to for me to stretch anymore. Aren't we paying the fat taxes to the Govt. at the end of each year? Is this ever going to get over or is this what we deserve? or do we have to live with it anyway and die peacefully one day?
P.S.: The above stated facts and figures are true to the best of my knowledge.
P.P.S:The line "Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash" is from a song called "Money" by a greatest band ever...Pink floyd.
