PLEASH DON'T DISHTURB!

The story you are about to read is absolutely true and any resemblance to any person very much alive is completely deliberate.

Last week I had the misfortune of visiting a Central Government Office.

Day: Monday

Time: 10.45 a.m.

I enter this drab office and people (read staff) looked from behind their desks stared at me and quickly moved to whatever it was they were doing (includes reading newspaper, playing solitaire on the computer, reading new film reviews and connected work).

I headed to the desk of the Official I wanted to meet. Presumably, she was not in her seat. I enquired the people in the next cabin - two people were sitting behind the same computer and were gazing at something. Officer 1 behind the desk looked up. Officer 2's eyes fell on me. Officer 3 from another computer stared and fearing any question from my side, quickly looked away.

I looked at all of them and waited for them to ask me something. They did not.

I decided to start the conversation. By the way, I forgot to tell you why I was there at this office - I simply had to deliver a document and get a seal and signature from Official 4 - the one who was not in her seat.

Me to Official 1: Where is Official 4?

Official 1 to Official 2: I don't think she's come yet.

Official 2 to Official 1: No, I think she has came.

Official 3 to Me: She has come. Her bag is there on that seat, you see? (I nodded) She's gone to have coffee. Please wait she'll come.

Without being offered a seat, I decided to sit, this was going to take some time.

I sat down and did what everybody else did when they are asked to wait in an office, looked around.

3 computers, chairs, telephones, papers, papers and more papers....

2 people walked into the cabin and behaved as if I were invisible!

They took their seats (or I assumed were their seats)

One of them Officer 5 opened his telephone diary and moved his chair closer to the telephone. I thought he's ACTUALLY WORKING, POOR THING!

Officer 5 on the Phone: Hello! XYZ Gas Agency? Consumer No. 38421. ...... Yes...... Oh 3 days?..... Thank you!

My heart sunk! Is there someone in this office who works?

Time: 11.30 a.m.

Officer 4 enters, stares at me....

Me: Hi! I have come to deliver this document to you and get an acknowledgement!

Officer 4 takes the document from me scans it.

Officer 4: But I don't take care of this! He does! and pointed to Officer 1

I was enraged!

Me: But I have....

Officer 4 interrupted: You can hand it over to him!

I knew there was no point in arguing with her!

I walked to Officer 1 delivered the document and took his acknowledgement.

Time: 12.00 noon.

Long live their efficiency!!!