Today was
a busy day. Please do not get the idea of a busy schedule with hectic time
frames. The idea of me all over the place doing a thing or other scares
me. Back to my point, it was busy because I had to pay bills for the
water company that supplied water to my house today. If it’s any indication to
what I am about to write, the whole trip to the K.U.K.L. (Kathmandu Upateyka
KhanePani Limited) was not pleasant. I know this has been overstated fact that
government offices here in Nepal are as inefficient as my study schedule but
then again here we are talking about it again.
I was at
the billing counter, a trip 15 minutes from home. The road as it has been for
months has been a picturesque form of a war zone My cousin described
it the other day; he told me it reminds him of the “Call Of Duty” franchise war
simulation. I have to agree with him. The dust, the destruction and the
traffic, all pile up to everyone’s frustration. I would say a revolution is on
the way but then again if I said that I would quote one of Nepal’s political
leaders and trust me I don’t want to be political. But anyhow with these
thoughts rambling in my head I reached the supposed destination.
There I
was irritated by my short trip and totally confused about the procedure of bill
payment. So, I decided to go to the help desk as labeled in the office. The
office of the whole corporation lay beside a large water container that was big
enough to hold a supermarket. The help desk lady asked me for my consumer
identification card and she advised me to go to Counter No.3 to pay my bills.
Then just like a law abiding citizen (unlike Gerrard Butler) I got in line for
my turn in Counter No.3.
A lot
happened when I was in the line. A bee flew past me without stinging me,
government employees finished gulping their tea in his office
without even offering to the normal folk, an entire episode of HOW I MET YOUR
MOTHER aired on TV, Obama finished his second term as the president of USA and
the apocalypse finally happened in 21st December 2050
A.D. There were only 2 people in front of me and the lady behind the counter
took more than 20 minutes to finish their deal. It seemed like an eternity when
I finally reached the counter and when I gave her my consumer card she informed
me I was in the wrong counter. I was to go to the Counter No.1. I was
misinformed by the help desk. Well, 20 minutes down the drain.
I got in
even a longer line this time but magically this person at this specific counter
was more efficient than the others. He completed the job in over 30 seconds per
consumer and neatly I was there under 3 minutes. He wasn't much for
chitchat. He took my car, appropriate fees, bill was issued and I was off. What
an efficient employee and he didn't even use a computer. He did all
of the work manually. I was impressed. A government controlled corporation with
an efficient officer is hard to find these days in Nepal. They exist, are large
in numbers but simply hard to find just like unicorns.
I hope
such unicorns do exist in the road reconstruction offices as well because this
road rampage or road kill (waiting to use that one for a long time) is
unbearable. The broken houses, the dust all need to be settled very fast. It is
hard for us common folk who rarely have a day without a dust induced asthma and
bronchitis. If it is hard for the unicorns to do alone call on the Dragons
(private contractors) for help. Just an opinion!
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