Claiming Mobile Insurance

One moment my Samsung Galaxy Note II rested safely in my pocket. The very next moment it vanished out of thin air. I frantically searched all the places where I normally keep my mobile phone (or should I say a phablet – a phone tablet) – trouser pocket, shirt pocket and inside my laptop bag. As fate would have it, someone got the better of me that fateful day and the massive Note II was deftly pulled out from my trouser pocket. I was boarding a jam packed bus when this incident occurred and I could feel a few people jostle me in an artificial attempt to get in to the bus. I had absolutely no clue that this unnecessary pushing was done only to make me oblivious of the planned theft. I struggled and managed to get into the bus and brought a ticket for my journey. When I then looked for my phone, it was gone. My heart sank. Was it some kind of a nasty dream that I often see or was it reality? I pinched myself into reality and I had to come in terms with it at the earliest. My ~40K phablet was stolen. My mind went blank. I got down from the bus – exasperated at my carelessness and agitated at the conspiracy of the thief. None of those emotions helped. I rolled the bus ticket in to a small ball and shot it off my fingers and marvelled at the skill that I had developed in firing small objects to a considerable distance. However, the grief of having lost a fortune was overwhelming than the celebration of a skill that could hardly give me any return. It was only later that I realised how important it was to have that ticket retained for an insurance claim.

I had purchased the Samsung Gaxaxy Note II in February 2013. While settling the bill I had argued against paying for insurance cover that cost me an extra 200 bucks. Sometimes when we buy expensive stuff, smaller amounts appended to the five digit figure appear monstrous. I fought my little battle to get rid of the insurance cover charges, but ended up on the losing side. I coughed up extra sum and the Note II was mine. I had spent months deliberating whether or not to buy a smart phone, and eventually the time had arrived. I felt good. I felt richer that the less than 40k phone folks around. It was an ugly celebration within my heart, but I didn’t complain. Many would have looked down at me the way I was looking down at people now. Human psychology – we are all the same flesh, blood and thoughts.

The glory and celebration was short lived and I was dragged to the ground once my smart phone was stolen. I returned back to where I came from – or perhaps even lesser - to a state of phone-less-ness. It was ruthless, but the hope of claiming the insurance made my mood a little better.

First I rushed to the mobile store where I had purchased the mobile from. He said I have to visit the Insurance office with an FIR from police stating that the phone was indeed “stolen”. I rushed to the police station and mentioned that my phone was stolen. I was asked to narrate the entire incident and I did so. I was then given an acknowledgement letter by the police stating that the mobile was lost. I argued that it was stolen and not lost, but I was made to believe that acknowledgement is what is issued in such cases and many people have claimed insurance with this document.

I read to them the “terms and conditions” of the insurance company that clearly stated the claim can be made only if it’s a theft and not in case it’s lost. The police sub-inspector looked at me like a criminal and asked to me to sit down. He called for the police constable and ordered to get lemon tea for him. The constable left the room as fast as he had entered it to fulfil the order of his higher up. The sub-inspector looked at me as asked “So, your mobile has been stolen.. Right?” I replied in affirmative.  “Did you see the thief? Did he push you, hit you or fight with you before he escaped with the phone?”

“No Sir!” I replied.

“Oh! So how do you claim it was stolen?” he asked.

“Due to the fact that I was pushed when there was no need, and the phone was skilfully pulled from my pocket!” I offered.

“Did you feel someone’s hand in your pocket? Did you realise it was being pulled out?”

“No Sir”

“So when did you get to know that you were rid of your mobile?” the sub-inspector asked, growing more curious now.

“After I took my seat in the bus. I felt something was amiss. I could not feel the phone in my pocket” I said regretting my ignorance.

“And then?”

“And then I walked up to the driver, asked him to stop the bus and got off it”

“But still” the sub-inspector said “how do you claim it was stolen? It might have fallen off your pocket and someone might have laid their hand on that!”

“It was switched off when I tried calling the number” I sheepishly said knowing very well that it would not serve the purpose.

“Oh! So you mean that everyone who finds a phone on the road or bus will duly return it back to the owner?”

“Well...that’s not what I meant....” I said and was interrupted by the constable who got the tea swearing at someone. The sub-inspector gulped a couple of sips of lemon tea and appeared satisfied. It appeared his system was craving for tea and being supplied with it made his brain work better.

“Show me the ticket that you had brought for your journey” he said. The lemon tea has started to show its effect.

“I don’t have it. I threw it off” I said resisting the temptation of exactly describing how I had shot it off my fingers

“What’s the proof that you indeed were on that bus? Did you inform the driver, the conductor or any fellow passenger? Can anyone be your witness?” the sub-inspector said as he looked around. Couple of constables were nodding at the wit of their superior and I could sense he wished to be appreciated for his case processing abilities.

“Valid point, sir” I offered “but I unfortunately have none. I am my own witness”

“It won’t help mister” he disdainfully said “we get hundreds of such cases every day. If everyone is his own witness, why have courts and judiciary?” he again looked around and got appreciative nods from his juniors.

“It’s a simple mobile theft. Why is he making it appear like a murder case” I thought to myself.

“Give him the acknowledgement and send him” he ordered to the computer guy. He obediently typed down the letter and sent me on my way. It said the phone was lost during a bus journey. I was supposed to present this letter in the insurance office and get a 75% claim on my lost phone.

As I arrived in the insurance office a fat bloke offered me a seat and asked me the reason of my visit. He asked me to hand over the documents I was carrying. He flipped over them and asked me for the FIR. I said I had the acknowledgment letter and not an FIR from police and pulled out the sheet. He looked once at sheet and once at me and said “So you think we should approve the claim to everyone who lose their mobile?”

“It was stolen and not lost” I pleaded “the police refuse to give me a letter that states it was stolen and I wonder why”

“Because that will be registered as a case and they have to resolve it. Till that time it is a part of their backlog” the fat insurance bloke said wiping his glasses, his style suggesting he had made this statement a million of times before.

“Arre Shyam, get me the file of claim cases” he yelled at someone. Immediately the file landed n front of him. He randomly showed me a couple of case papers that clearly had a police FIR attached mentioning the phone was ‘stolen’. He then offered me an elderly advise “People refuse to certain things to eliminate work from their life. They want an easy job. You are an educated man. Fight against them. Use social media and expose them. Use consumer forums. Go to the DC and complain against the police”

I sat there wondering if I was fighting the police or the thief – or both. Whatever it was I had to go back to the police station and demand my right. In a few hours I was back at the station. The guy looked at me and said “O software engineer! Have you made police station your work place or what?” everyone around him laughed and I let a suppressed smile. I was not enjoying it but looking at the few guys locked up in prison half naked, I had to be polite.

“Not really, sir” I said “I had been to the insurance office and to my surprise many police stations have provided FIR to individuals stating it as theft. Why don’t you provide me one?”

The policemen looked at each other and realised that I was not going to give up.

“Please meet the Inspector” the sub inspector said “if he agrees, we have no problem to issue one”

“Where is the Inspector?” I asked sensing victory

“He’s on rounds. Come tomorrow” said the constable.

I had to make a few visits to the station before I could meet the busy Inspector. Finally when I met him he said he knows my issue. I felt relieved that this guy wont trouble me much. Sometimes when you have fought your battles and victory appears in sight, suddenly you’ll be faced with more attacks. You need to fight the new ones as well else your earlier victories hold no value.

 “I know you are cooking up story that your mobile is stolen so that you can claim your insurance” the inspector said as he watched news on TV in his cabin. Although the second part of his statement was correct, the first part I hated listening to.

“No sir, it indeed has been stolen!” I said giving my words the right intonation so as not to sound aggressive but also not so feeble that could prove him right.

“But then you don’t have the tickets, no witness, nothing” he said. “Do you have body marks to indicate the thief had attacked you before he fled with your mobile?”

Now this guy was taking it to the next level where the sub-inspector had stopped. I wondered if their criminal questions were based on their seniority or their designations.

“I’ll put your number for IMEI tracking” he said breaking my thoughts “come back after two days”

He shot off an email to Vodafone informing them of the number that needed to be tracked. I learnt from him that if the phone is switched on the IMEI tracking can help locate the location of the device and police can recover the device. I was confident that the person who has stolen it might not switch it on for weeks/months. These guys in stealing business are far smarter than we think and evolve as technology evolves. I made a vain attempt for him to still issue the FIR and the Inspector was agitated. He said I need to wait till the process completes and asked me to see him after two days.

I was at the police station two days later and was told that the device was not yet tracked and asked me to revisit after 2-3 days. This was the point I felt like giving up. I had been to the police station more than 10 times, but there was not an inkling of confidence that I’ll be issued an FIR.

I however decided to keep visiting the police station till the time they explicitly say no. I was never told that the FIR will not be issued, so there was always a hope. This hope saw me into the station after 3 days. The Inspector called me inside and again made the same statement that I had lost my phone. I had become thick skinned by now. It didn’t matter what they said. My aim was to get the FIR from them and leave. Finally, he summoned a sub-inspector and asked him to issue an FIR. I was relieved. I profusely thanked the inspector like a child and took his leave. I had to re-write the incident on white paper for the records and eventually I was issued with an FIR. In the entire process, I was never asked for a bribe. I felt bitter on the one hand that I was made to visit the station 12 times, but on the other hand I was proud that the system has improved.

I submitted the documents at the insurance office and a few days later the insurance agent was at my house to verify if I was present at the address I had mentioned on the claim forms. He asked me for a separate description on paper with details of bus number, time, point of theft and so on. I provided all the details and after 3 weeks of follow up to the insurance office I got my claim approved. I had to shell out 8-10k extra to buy back the Note II, but I was glad that I didn’t give up in the middle. And yes, I was not given an insurance cover for the new buy. :)

Points to remember in case of theft and to claim insurance:

• ·         Keep your IMEI number handy
• ·         Keep the bill that was given during the purchase
• ·         Retain the tickets of bus, train in which the theft occurred that was taken for the journey
• ·         Take pictures of the bus or place where the theft occurred
• ·         Note the details the vehicle in which the theft occurred (bus number etc)
• ·         Note the phone number of the driver of the vehicle and inform him you may need his help later
• ·         If theft occurred in a  public place it will help to have the phone number of a person alongside you who can serve as witness
• ·         Take a letter of acknowledgement from service provider after you ask them to terminate service to the lost SIM (should contain the phone, IMEI and SIM number)
• ·         Take photocopies of the declaration that you write in the police station
• ·         For theft of mobile phones prices > INR 15,000 an FIR will be issued by the police
• ·         And finally, keep going to the police station. You’ll see and hear a lot of interesting cases there. All the best!
• 
  

-Sandeep Mahagaonkar 

Get Back on Track

The universe has a strange and mysterious power that observes you, tracks you and points your fallacies. It asks you to introspect, to correct, and to align oneself to the laws of nature, failing which, quite repeatedly that, the power of the universe unleashes its wrath that jolts the person to a predictable degree of suffering. The greatest of things start to appear seemingly insignificant and one starts to respect the laws of nature, admire the power of the universe and admonish false beliefs. Get back on track dear friends, the universe is watching upon you.

The Winner Stands Alone

Never the one to shy away, the disgruntled kid rushed to the shopkeeper and gave a mouthful, slurry of abuses. His mother was denied entry to the shop where she was employed on charges of betrayal of trust. She was held responsible for discrepancy in cash collected for a day. She had pleaded honesty, but the shopkeeper was adamant and had jostled her out of the shop. There was a gathering of onlookers, most of them attempting to have their share of fun at the hapless situation of the lady. The kid, barely 7 years old had come in for strong defense of his mother. If there was anyone who trusted the lady on the busy street, it was him. He could not control his ire against the shopkeeper and opened up a slew of verbal abuses much to the astonishment of the crowd. The mother tried to console her son, but he was determined to offend her offender. He picked a stone that lay at a distance and hurled it at the shopkeeper with brute force. He was exposed to the ruthless slaughtering of animals. He had carried cartons double his own weight.  He was strong enough to bring down a tree in a few strokes of his axe. It was the time to bring down his mother’s offender. The stone struck the shopkeeper’s right eye as blood splashed on the money that was deposited in the open drawer. The shopkeeper let out an agonizing scream that made people tremble in fear. The kid had another stone in his hand to indicate anyone getting close to him would face a similar fate. Everyone stayed back. No one ventured into the unsafe territory. The kid picked his mother, dusted her off the dirt and disgrace, and led her out of that place. There was one clear winner that evening.

Dravid's Recall is a Blunder

I personally feel the inclusion of Rahul Dravid is a step backward for Indian cricket. I’m not against Dravid. Infact, I’m a great admirer of his abilities and perseverance. He’s a gift to Indian cricket, no doubt about that. However, when it comes to picking a one day side, I feel picking Dravid is a blunder committed by the selectors. Dravid didn’t feature in the side that won us the world cup, he has not played one day cricket since two years then why is he asked to perform this duty now?

Is it because Indian team is in England and the batsmen are either injured or unable to handle the swinging deliveries? What’s happened to the younger lot? Where are the faces that might show up in the 2015 world cup? Dravid won’t hang in till then for sure… then why throw the dice at him again? Are the selectors too worried about reclaiming the right of being world champions by bringing in experienced players - players who have not played one day international cricket for years? Disdainful!!

Field in the younger crop guys…let them face the music… let them be roughened up… let them understand what genuine pace, swing and bounce means…let them get prepared for bigger battles…let them get mentally stronger… let them smell the leather… for this is the exposure our young batsmen are craving for. Denying them this opportunity is a cardinal sin.

 

Dravid shall perform. There is no doubt on his abilities. He is a fighter. But till when should this old war horse fight? Get in the younger ones. Prepare them for the future. For heaven’s sake let the team not take refuge and hide behind the wall forever. Grow up folks. Be brave!!

Expectations

A strong surge of thoughts are proliferating their way through my mind. These thoughts are about relationships we share and maintain with others. Do these relationships - good or bad, determine our happiness quotient? Can we manage to remain happy while other people whom we share our existence with have problems? Can we hurt someone and feel good about it?

Not possible. Resentment never gives happiness. Anger never gives happiness. Unrealistic expectations on others never give happiness. Happiness is subjective and it largely depends on how you share your relationship with your family and friends. You alone cannot be happy. You are happy together or you are not happy at all. Practice unconditional giving without expecting anything back, for expectation is the root cause of all misery. Expectations are burdens that we carry along with us. More the expectation, heavier the resentment - for most of the expectations are not fulfilled.

 

The story of Krishna and Sudama narrates the beauty of going along in life without expectations. Krishna is the emperor of Dwaraka and Sudama is a poor Brahmin. Krishna and Sudama get introduced to each other during their learning days under the tutelage of Sandeepani Muni. As time progresses, with the necessary wisdom acquired, both tread their own paths. As destiny would have it, Krishna ends up as an emperor and Sudama struggles with the vagaries of life, barely able to make the ends meet.

 

Upon the insistence of his wife, and due to sheer poverty, Sudama reluctantly agrees to approach Krishna to help him bail out of dire straits. He embarks on a journey of hundred miles on foot carrying with him a handful of chipped rice (that his wife borrows from her neighbors) to be offered to Krishna when he meets him. With his ragged clothes and disheveled looks, he’s blocked entrance into Krishna’s palace by security guards. Sudama’s claim of being Krishna’s friend falls on deaf ears and he’s denied permission to meet the emperor. Aghast and tired, Sudama decides to walk back. Krishna, being omniscient, envisions this incident and comes running to the palace gates to welcome his dear friend. Like a mother who embraces a child that returns to her after going amiss, Krishna embraces Sudama, tears welling out of his eyes on seeing his dear friend.

 

Sudama is given a courteous treatment in the palace during his stay. Krishna forcibly snatches the bag of chipped rice that his friend has carried for him and savors every bit of it. Pleasantries are exchanged and many matters are discussed between the two friends. However, Sudama never mentions about this poverty to Krishna and always claims he’s happy with his family.

 

The day arrives when Sudama has to depart. He doesn’t utter a word about the reason he has come to visit his emperor friend. He leaves with a smile just thinking of the wonderful moments that he spent with Krishna during his stay in Dwaraka. The moment his hometown dawns close, he feels tensed and nervous. He then realizes he didn’t ask Krishna anything for himself. He thinks of his wife and her expectations. He is filled with gloom and agony. However he just chants his friends name and makes his way forward hoping his wife will forgive him once she hears how her husband was royally treated by the king.

From a distance, Sudama sees a complete transformation of his entire village. Gone are the huts and thatched houses and replaced are mansions made of gold and silver. His own house is transformed to a royal palace by the architect of heaven, Vishwakarma. As he enters his village, he’s given a rousing welcome by the villagers and his wife. She stands at a distance, eyes closed and tears welling out, a gait bearing a sincere appreciation of what he has done for her. Sudama is clueless. He is in a state of shock. He knows its Krishna’s work, but he never asked for it. In fact, he never mentioned about his state.

Sudama never carried any expectations on his friend; however he was rewarded beyond expectations. This is how life works.

Smile is Not a Mile Away !

I posed for a passport sized photograph, and the photographer recommended for certain minor bodily adjustments. Having settled his subject with the correct posture using all his experience mastered in the art of clicking pictures, the photographer, before releasing his energy on the flash button, politely asked me to ‘smile’. Without a second thought, like a student sincerely obliging to the directions given by his master, I curved my lips a bit to let out a suppressed smile. It appeared a herculean task to get a photo clicked. The photos were handed over in a matter of minutes and the smiling picture appeared impressive. A picture is nothing but an impression of our true self. It reveals more than it hides. This made me ponder on the act of smiling.

If a smiling picture can draw attention, what about a smiling person? A child is attracted to a person who smiles. A security guard lets pass a person without much scrutiny who wears a smile. The shopkeeper attends a customer with much politeness if there is a smile. If an accident is averted, one smile can trigger another from the other end. An interviewer feels relaxed interviewing smiling candidates. Smile gets a lot of unnoticed credit and appreciation. The face looks beautiful with a smile. A stressful situation can feel lighter and greatly manageable with a smile.

 

An adage goes "Frown and you frown alone, smile and the whole world smiles with you”. Smiling and laughing are highly contagious. It spreads like wild fire. If one observes a group of people laughing, the heart yearns to be a part of that group, for the heart knows where it should belong.

 

There surely shall be times when we feel sad and depressed. There shall be times when we feel burdened with life’s challenges. There shall be times when we go through the grind of extreme pressure. But, in the midst of all this, if we realize that dawn shall invariably return after the dusk, we’ll be able to smile. Life was never meant to be easy. However, life was never always meant to be arduous as well. Happiness and tranquility can be discovered in the midst of grief and stress. Nothing is permanent. Tough situations shall make way for relaxed ones. Dark clouds shall make way for bright sunrays. Endure tough situations with a smile my dear friends, easier ones shall smile their way into your life.

 

So, if you are stranded on the middle of a highway with a flat tyre - smile. If your boss gets over demanding at work - smile. If your mother-in-law has unrealistic expectations from you - smile. If you have too many tasks and very limited time to complete them - smile. If you wish to reach office on time but the traffic eats out heavily on your time - smile. If your kid’s tantrums are making you go crazy - smile. If your neighbor’s wife always wears a frown - smile. If a baby in the adjacent compartment of a train incessantly cries and makes you lose your sleep - smile. If unexpected rains spoil your beer party – smile. If your wife demands a golden necklace – don’t smile, laugh :)). If your colleagues spend too much time on facebook – smile. If your mobile slips from your hand and faces fatality – smile. If your captain is furious on you for a dropped catch - smile. If a friend doesn’t keep his commitment as his wife doesn’t allow him to step out – smile. If an interviewer asks you a question and you don’t have an inkling of knowledge on that – smile. If your maid doesn’t turn up for work one day – smile. Last but not the least, if Sachin Tendulkar misses his century by a run – smile.

 

You gotta smile because a frown shall never change the situation. It continues to be just that. A smile doesn’t change the situation either, but it shall keep you healthy and calm, something that a frown conveniently misses by a mile.

Keep Smiling :) :)

-Sandeep Mahagaonkar

Kids and Their Kiddish Acts

Two years ago, on this very day, there was an anxious wait for our new bundle of joy to arrive into this world. The smell of disinfectant on hospital corridors and the restlessness of the people around made the situation more gripping. There was uncertainty in the air and the turbulent mind had its own fears. The ‘what if’ factor occasionally raised its hood and it was sheer struggle to lay such fears to rest.

The big moment had finally arrived in the midst of all nervousness. Perhaps it was the most joyous moment of my life to hear the birth of my baby. This is one experience that perhaps cannot be expounded. It just needs to be experienced. It’s like a burst of joy that emerges after sustained and patient battle against nervousness. Fear gives way to ecstasy and it’s an emotional moment to know that you are blessed with a tiny replica of you.

Two years have passed by on this journey of parenthood. It has been a mix of joy, anger, frustration, irritation, attachment, appreciation, pride and love, just to name a few. New born babies make you experience every emotion that is possibly identified with humans. They irritate you to the core by their tantrums and when you look at them in anger, they have an uncanny knack of making you cuddle them by the virtue of their mesmerizing smile. They are little angels who descend to earth just to teach us the power of love.

Kids are wonderful. Kids are innocent. The minds of the kids are not corrupted. Kids believe anything is possible. They learn early that by persistence they can get what they want (what we normally associate with demanding kids). The word impossible is not in their dictionary. If they want something, they just want it. Over a period of time adults start to put the word impossible in their dictionary. Don’t do this; don’t do that; this is not possible; you can’t get all that you want; live in your limits; that’s for others not for you etc. I feel this makes the kids believe that certain things cannot be achieved and they perhaps should not even try attempting that. Are we restricting them? Are we killing their instincts and their curiosity?

To demonstrate this, a leg of a baby elephant is fastened to pole or tree with a string strong enough to hold him from breaking free. The baby elephant keeps putting in a lot of effort to break free, but the string doesn’t yield. Over a period of time, the elephant starts to believe that the effort is futile and doesn’t even attempt to break free. An adult elephant stands captive with a weak string tied to a pole because he believes he cannot break free. We cannot let the kids believe they can’t break free. Can’t we tell them that anything is possible and work positively with their demands? Can we make kids achievers and self-believers at a very young age?

I believe we can. It requires patience to teach the right from the wrong. It requires patience to see the kids struggle to get something that they really need, and constantly motivating them and being their source of support. Criticism hurts kids at an early age. Never criticize and never stop them from experimenting. If they spill a glass of water on the floor, don’t be critical. Teach them they will need to clean up the mess they created. If they write on the wall with crayons, appreciate their art. Stick some sheets of paper on the wall and let the artist in them flow.

Encourage them for every act of theirs. You might be shaping up a genius that the world would take notice in a few years time.