Earphones and a Box of Chocolates

“You guys from Andhra Pradesh think life is like a movie”, one of my friend always taunts me.

I try to argue that it is actually the other way round, movies and novels are inspired by incidents in real life.
“Come on, you think all the script writers are so imaginative to conceive an entire plot on their own ?”, I keep asking but all I get is a silence and strong disapproval. A week back, I think I proved myself beyond doubt.

My Apple earphones choose the week before Diwali to stop working properly. At high volumes, the right earphone was producing a buzzing noise. Since I was aware that my ear is full of earwax, I asked one of my friend to test it. When he confirmed the presence of the buzz interrupting the music, I headed straight to forum to get it replaced; it had one year warranty.

“This is the second time I am facing this problem, what the hell is wrong with Apple earphones?”, I asked the service guy.

“Yes sir, there seem to be a problem with the apple ear phones. Today morning, a customer got his replaced for the fourth time”, he said causing my eyebrows to raise in surprise, I was under the impression that my rough usage was the reason or maybe everyone uses it roughly to get them replaced; Apple has the habit of making everything white which get soiled easily and a pure white replacement is lucrative; previously I got my white-turned-brown-earphones earphones having a similar problem replaced with pure white ones so this time I was not pissed off, in fact I was looking forward to lay my hands on ones.

“They will be ready in two working days, Sir”, he said handing me the Material Acceptance Form. I nodded and left the showroom.

Two working days later, which was actually 4 days because of the weekend, I walked in the showroom producing the form. After 10 minutes I was informed that the stock did not arrive yet.

“Please give us two more days, Sir”, said the service guy.

I was angry but because it was festive season, did not show it, it was the week of Diwali. I quietly left the showroom.

Two days later I was back with the form. I was made to wait 20 minutes and then,

“We are sorry sir. Apple had sent In-Ear earphones by mistake. We need three more days to send it back to Apple and get the correct piece”, said the service guy cautiously thinking that I might explode.

“It is ok. I will take them”, I said controlling my anger.

“Sorry sir but they cost Rs4000. We need to send them back”, he said.

With my fist clenched, I grabbed the form and left the show room. The moment I walked out of Forum, I had another idea. I ran back,

“Can I have a look at them?”, I asked.

“Sure Sir”, he said and came out with a pack of sparkling white earphones packed attractively in a white triangular case with a transparent lid. The earphones and the packing had Apple written all over it, I mean only Apple can make things so attractive. I immediately fell in love.

“I will pay the price difference and take it”, I said.

“Sorry Sir, that is not an option”, I was informed.

Highly disappointed, I left. The thought of purchasing them for Rs4000 was pulling me back.

“This is the time to listen to your mind not your heart”, I told myself and forced myself on a bus back.

Three days later, I called the showroom.

“They are not yet ready Sir”, I was informed.

I cut the call without another word. I could find no words to express my frustration. I sat in front of my laptop and composed a mail.

From: G Jayanth

To: Imagine

Subject: Horribe service

Hi,

I am utterly disappointed with the service provided at Imagine, forum. The iTouch earphones which I had given for replacement on 28th Oct, 2010 are not yet replaced. I was patient last week because it was festive season but asking me to wait till next Saturday is too much.
There was a mistake when Apple had sent the wrong earphone and I was prepared to pay the price difference and collect the In-Ear earphones but was declined and was
assured that I would get the correct ones on Tuesday (i.e yesterday).

In this competitive world, this kind of service is totally unacceptable and is very bad for Imagine too. I have already transferred my loyalty to Reliance. Collecting my replaced ear phones will be my last transaction with Imagine.

MAF: 10622

Regards,
Jayanth
(Author of Exotic Engineer Entrepreneur)

 

Within two hours, I got a call.

“Sir, your earphones are ready. Will you collect them today?”, asked a pleasant female voice.

“I will try to but am not sure if I can”, I said.

I was busy the whole day and couldn't go. The next day, I again got a call.

“Sir, I am calling from Imagine. Will you come today to collect your ear phones”, asked a male voice.

“I really am not sure. My schedule these days is a bit hectic”, I said importantly.

“Would you like us to courier it to your address?”, he asked.

“No. I will come sometime”, I said marveling at the impact the mail had.

Was it because of the signature? I have no idea.

The next day I got another call asking me the same. I politely declined wondering what was wrong.

It was the next day I had the chance to go. I had no idea I would be treated to a wonderful surprise.

I handed over the Material Acceptance Form and stood waiting as usual.

“Sir, you can have these. You do not need to pay anything extra”, said a guy dressed up in white coveralls and handed me the earphones I fell in love with.

I was speechless. I took it from his hand and could not take my eyes off it.

“Sir, here is a small token of apology from our side”, said the guy handing me a box to swiss chocolates.

I had the sudden impulse to burst out laughing but controlled myself. Instead, I put a whether-to-accept-or-nor face and just stood silently.

“Jayanth, take it”, both my mind and heart were screaming.

I took it.

“I hope you will visit us anytime you need something”, he said apologetically.

I had neither resources nor plans to buy anything from Apple but,

“Hmmm.. ok sure”, I said and took the box of chocolates. All I wanted to do was to get out of the store and laugh to my heart's content!

But there were formalities to be completed.

After giving them a rather dissatisfied kind of feedback and assuring them that next time I would rate them better, I literally ran out of the store and, out of amazement, elation, burst out laughing.

So people, remember customer is the King, one of the most important advantage a common man has in this competitive world! Use it wisely :-).

When God conspires....

The world is changing. Those who cannot keep pace will fade away and soon be forgotten. This was what happened to the canteen of IIIT Bangalore, loyal but nameless, the caterers were stuck up with biscuits and coffee. 13^th November, 2010 was their last day in the campus. They were replaced with caterers who could provide Butter Dosa.

But Deepthi Karnam, the most enthusiastic girl in IIIT Bangalore, decided that even if we would forget them they should not forget us. She made this possible with two bottles of Soft Drinks, a box of Cadbury celebrations, Haldiram Son-papdi and a bunch of her friends. We gave a tiny farewell to the dismissed four member staff on their last eve in the college campus. They were surprised and really happy. One of the staff happened to be from Kerala and talking with him brought back memories of my Kerala trip.

The trip which taught me that how much ever you plan there is just no use because chaos is a part of our life, the world and the universe.Divine intervention could disrupt even the best laid plans.

It was the first trip I ever organized and took great pains in planning everything down to the last detail. Mom, sis and me would travel from Chennai to Ernakulum where a taxi would be waiting for us. We would have breakfast and head towards Munnar to spend two days in the most beautiful part of the country. Then a day in Thekkady, where we would go shopping for spices in the afternoon. Mom would then rest in the hotel; me and sis would go on a night safari, by walk. The next night, we would spend in a house boat. Kerala, God's own country! But God tried everything to keep us off his lands.

“Where the hell is my wallet?”, I muttered looking around. I was sure I kept it in my pocket. After half a day of frantic searching, I had to admit defeat. It was lost. I was crippled. ATM cards, driving license, PAN card – all lost. It would take at least a month for me to apply and get all the cards back.

“Oh my God! I lost my driving license”, I shouted.

“I know. Apply for it. You will get the duplicate in a month”, said Mom.

“We are going to Kerala in five days. The ticket without my license is invalid”, I said sitting slumped.

Those who are familiar with the old IRCTC rules will know that the only way out was to cancel my ticket and make Mom the Master passenger with her PhotoID and that was what I did. I booked myself on a bus since the train was overflowing.

Two days before the trip, God turned his wrath on Keerthi, my sister.

“Jayanth, Abdul Kalam is coming and SASTRA has sealed itself. No one can take leave. All permissions to go home stand cancelled”, she wailed.

After half an hour of discussion, we decided that the best way out was for her to come directly from Thanjavur a day later. A dent in the best laid plans. Mom and me had to wait for Keerthi in Ernakulam on the first day and spend a day less in Munnar. I was dejected. Munnar was the place I wanted to visit the most. Also, we were split up. Instead of happily going together, I was going in a bus, mom and sis in two different trains on two different days!

It was the day of the journey. Mom didn't have a mobile phone so I gave her mine and headed towards the bus stand to catch the afternoon bus. Mom would catch a train that evening.

“Jayanth, Jayanth”, I heard Mom's voice in the bus stand. Perplexed, I turned around and saw her hurrying towards me.

“What are you doing in the bus stand”, I shouted.

“I was cleaning the house and tore the train ticket”, she said handing me shreds of her evening train ticket.

I was speechless for a moment and then burst out laughing. God has his style. Fifteen minutes were left for the bus to leave. I told Mom to somehow delay the bus if I was late and rushed towards the nearest Internet cafe to take another printout.

The trip was fun. Night Safari on foot, Speed Boat, Rowing Boat, Elephant Ride, Bugs Bunny Carrots, Echo Point we had nothing to complain. But God was not done with us yet.

We were going to Allepey for the Houseboat and were almost there when my phone rang.

“Sir, we are calling from Hotel Mountain View, we found a purse in your room”, said a male voice.

I turned around and relayed he information to mom and sis hoping against hope it was not ours.

“It has a five hundred rupee note and a PAN card. G Keerthi is the name”, he continued

I cursed.

“Oh shit! I am not able to find my purse”, said my dear sis from the back seat.

“That is because it is around 200kms away”, I told her through clenched teeth.

I requested the Hotel to courier it to our address.

“Ok Jayanth, calm down. Even you lost your purse. Don't be angry”, I calmed myself down.

“Jayanth, my return train ticket. The PAN is my photoID”, she said in a low voice.

“WHAT!”, I shouted turning to face her. She was close to tears.

“Its ok. I am an expert at handling these things now. Lets just enjoy the houseboat now”, I consoled her.

Luckily that was the last thunderbolt God had in His arsenal.

We got back home safely and I fell into my usual routine of sitting in my cubicle dumbly staring at the computer screen feeling envious of the taxi driver who took us around.

God is Human, a rather cunning one :-)

Disclaimer: Fans of Sai Baba, don't stone me :P

A friend of mine called up today and started telling me about her visit to the Sai Baba temple. Like most girls, she finds the ways of Sai Baba, like fasting without staying hungry, very comfortable and hence is a fan. Or should I call it devotee? In one of my visit to his abode, I was served Marie Biscuits as prasad. Thus I think I will stick to calling her a fan rather than an old fashioned devotee. 
"We met the guy who built the temple and he was telling us about a few miracles which happened while the temple was being constructed", she said excitedly.
Instantly, I got prepared to start ridiculing.
"In one of the photo which was taken during the construction, the marble statue of Sai Baba which faces the fans (devotees) was facing towards the ceiling", she said.
"Humans have the power of making the Lord pray or was he requesting for a real fan?", I wondered but did not comment.
"It seems they did not have enough money to build the temple but one day Sai Baba came into their dreams and asked them to start building the temple", she said.
"Bugged of his present mansion?", I wanted to ask but remained silent.
"When they started building the temple, they often ran short out of money", she continued.
"Quite understandable", I ventured out my first innocent comment.
"It seems on the sameday, someone or the other used to call them and offered them the exact amount they needed.....", she said and I burst out laughing.
"Ok one question", I said laughing.
"What?", she asked rather irritated.
"If Sai Baba wants to give them money to build the temple, why not give them at one go saving them all the unnecessary trouble. He is God right so obviously he would know exactly how much would be required to build his home, wouldn't he?", I asked
"No man, everytime they needed some money, He would make sure they get the exact amount", she insisted supporting her idol.
"Why not all at one go?", I persisted
"I don't know man, his wish, now do you want to listen or not?", she asked.
"Ok Ok, go ahead", I said with a smile on my face

Later in the evening, I started thinking if the Lord really exists, is there any reason for him not give them the money at one go? Thinking like God, I could find no reason so I decided to think like a human and instantly I could recollect Dad fighting with the contractor while we were getting our house built.
"Sir, I need Rs20000 more to continue work", the contractor used to say.
"What! I gave you Rs15000 only 3 days back", Dad used to argue.
"But sir, I had to give wages, order bricks and cement..."
"And buy a new Motorbike. Ok, give me the bills and tell me exactly how much you need, I will give you only that much.", finished Dad looking at the contractor's brand new bike.

The analogy was striking!

Dad = Sai Baba
Contractor = Devotee/Fan
"Was Sai Baba cautious because he thought the people who were building a temple for him would use up the extra money for their luxuries and demand more later?", I wondered

"Is there any doubt about it?", I could hear Sai Baba reply with a smile. :-)