uDon'tCuDon'tCu...(The ICICI Way)

There are lots of good things about parents and one of the best is that they are nature's "Alarm clocks" for everything.From waking you up early morning to reminding you that the last date for filling up the application forms for the management schools is near, they raise an alarm for everything.So here I was all worked up,after a call back home, about the application forms that I still need to fill up and the demand draft that each institues demands for.So I started with the important thing first...the demand drafts.Now that I'm wiser I figured out that even if your form is not filled properly but you have the demand draft attached to it, you have a very good chance that your form will not be discarded :).So with this in mind I went about with the task of getting the demand drafts done.

The bank closest to my house is the Punjab National Bank.I was a bit skeptical to go there as the image of these banks is that they take a lot of time even for simple tasks like getting a demand draft done.I went to the counter where the drafts are made and the lady there gave me form. I took a minute to fill it up,another minute to give the money and 3 more for the drafts to get done (along with a smile from the lady at the counter) and zoom I was out of there.How wrong was I about these banks.God forgive me !!!

On the way back I figured that I forgot to get one more draft done.So I thought of getting it done at the ICICI branch close to my office.Now these banks are private banks and unlike the public sector banks have a reputation of swift service.So I figured that it should take me max. 5 mins there too.So with full faith in the service of ICICI I entered it.

The first obstacle in my path was to figure out where exactly is the counter for getting the drafts done.The counter names were hanging from the ceiling rather than being mentioned on the counter itself.Voila! there it was the blue rectangular strip hanging in the corner which read "Demand Drafts"...first hurdle cleared...2 minutes.

I went up to the counter and the lady was busy catering to another customer.Even though I have put on weight it seemed to me that the lady did not notice me at all.Once she was through with the customer she threw a glance at me which said "Whats with you moron?"...2 minutes.Instantly my knees went week and I felt as though I was back in school and my teacher was scolding me."What can I do for you?"...flash..I returned to the present."I need a draft to be done for Rs 1000/= & I'm paying by cash",I said."For cash the service charge is 150 bucks and if you have an account with us then its free".

Fortunately I had an account with them and now that I'm wise I decided to save those 150 bucks."You have to fill a D.D form which is kept there" she directed me to a counter which was across the hall.Why can't they have it at the same counter? It still beats me. So I went there,filled up the form and gave it to the lady.I thought it was all done but how was I to know that the most annoying experience was still to come.

The lady said that I had to get a customer dd receipt from another machine which was in another corner of the hall.This machine prints out slips with a serial number on it, I pressed few buttons and there it came 'CHJIX51'.I was all happy that my dd has got an identity now.I took the slip to the lady and what she did with it I will never forget in my entire life.She rolled up the slip and threw it in the dustbin.If this was what she had in mind then why the hell did she make me walk so much?...by the way it was already 10 minutes.What sadistic pleasure would she have drawn by such an action,I need to try it on someone too.

So after another 5 minutes ...total of 15 minutes I was out of there,without a smile and a profound pity for me and the slip'CHJIX51'.I never knew that a simple thing like getting a demand draft done can leave a person with an all time low morale.