An update on the status of my passport application.
Yesterday evening, a police official with another person, visited our house for verification of my passport. I was delighted! I had never expected it to happen so soon. I was expecting them to take their own time and end up here sometime next month. I was also thrilled because we are planning to go on vacation next week, and I was really hoping they wouldn’t land up when we were away.
The official was very nice. He had a bunch of applications and as he took out mine, asked me for my proof of residence documents. I was a little taken aback as we had submitted copies with the application, but it seems those are not sent to the police. So I sat them down, and went hunting for my trusty BSNL Bill (which went into hiding and took some finding). They asked me a few questions – how long had I been living here (which month/year), how many people lived here, what does my husband do, what do I do..etc. etc. They also wanted to know if it was our own house or rented. On confirming the former, he wanted papers showing the same. I told him it was in my husband’s name, but he was ok with that. Luckily, I already had a copy of that from my mammoth application document gathering time. So, a copy of the BSNL phone bill and I thought we were set.
But not quite.
The official took out a fresh sheet of paper and noted his observations down. That I was so and so, w/o so and so, living at this address, since this time, occupation etc. Then he bowled his googly. He wanted that sheet verified by two of my neighbors as witnesses. Huh? Umm..what about the reference on the form. Well ma’am, we need this witnessed by your neighbors. Lovely. My ungregarious, not-knowing-neighbors, keeping to myself attitude had turned back and was kicking me in the a**. However, with a confidence born of the inevitability of the moment, I ventured out of the flat to knock on the doors of my nearest two neighbors. The first one isn’t a stranger. In fact, she was one of my references in the form. She was the easy fruit, so I went for her first. Unfortunately, she was doing Puja, so I had no choice but to brave the next door. Now, that’s a family I have seen in the lifts, but never even spoken to. I didn’t even know if they were home! I hoped someone was…because the alternative...of leaving the sanctuary of the 3 flats in this wing and going to another wing/floor of the building was not a happy thought. Luckily, the lady was at home. She was gracious enough to go through the document and sign it for me. I came back to wait for the other neighbor. She already knew the history of my passport application pain (having met me on my frequent police station affidavit trips). Her husband was at home, and she got it witnessed by him. And that was it.
Wow! Was it really over? I double checked with the official. He said all was fine. They’d put the verification into the mail tomorrow and another 10-15 days and I should get my passport. Gosh! Wow! I wondered what would have happened if I hadn’t been at home. He told me they generally visit twice, for himself he said he even visits thrice. They may call on the numbers given. If they don’t get the person, they send that back as a remark. Uh oh! And can a person come to the police station to get verified? Well the person could come, but the verification would have to be done at home so a) it can be checked they really live there and b) witnessed by the neighbors. Wow. Was I glad they caught me at home at the first go!!!
As they left, I immediately called up and told my hubby. He thought I was lucky. Not to get it done, but to get it done with such ease. Ease? I wondered, thinking back on my door-to-door foray. Well, the police official was nice (not general perception) and he didn’t ask for anything (no greasing palms, no hints even!). And I thought back and realized my hubby was right. Generally, any interaction with the police is approached with trepidation, because we expect them to dilly-dally, expect humbleness and something to grease the wheels, and generally act unhelpful. In my earlier affidavit police station visits, though they hadn’t acted unhelpful or greasy, they HAD made the process longer and bureaucratic and just plain frustrating. This verification experience on the other hand, apart from testing my asocial behavior, was a breeze. The official was well spoken, informative, completely un-greasy and focused on getting the job done. Maybe because it was in his favor to get it done quickly, but still…it was a change to see them go for closure, rather than put bureaucratic hurdles or behave in a unwelcome manner.
Yet another milestone crossed. Ab Dilli door nahin!!!
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