“My way of joking is telling the truth; that is the funniest joke in the world”... George Bernard Shaw
Goof-ups had always been my constant companion. The latest in the line is washing my Passport & I94 in hot water & soap for 30 minutes. In layman's terms , its like "I'm currently an illegal immigrant of US. If caught by Police , I would be deported to India." Only good thing about it is that, I'll get a free air ticket . :-P
After sending the application for new passport , I was waiting in a bus stop when this old man started talking with me. After the normal ice-breakers like Weather condition, my opinion about Phoenix ...etc our bus was nowhere in sight. So I asked what brought him to Phoenix. His story was amazing. "My home is in Florida and I was there looking after my mom. She has dementia. Two months back , my cousin asked me to take a break from caretaking of mom. They said they'll take care of my mom. I too felt, I needed some time with myself. One month after I reached Phoenix, I hear the news that my mom has been sent to a old age home & my florida house is sold off by my cousin. I just didnt see it coming. The sold off my house. Today, I came downtown to meet my lawyer. He said, it'll take ages to get this sorted out. Still, I'm going to pursue it . I sweated it out to build that house. Nobody is going to take my mom or home away from me."
I felt really sorry and told him what Aju ( my local guardian) told me. "In US , nothing is permanent. Everything changes and the changes would be fast too" . He nodded his head in agreement as we parted ways. What always keep myself going is the knowledge that it could have been worser. I atleast have an appartment to go back to & a company which cares.
Next day I went to US immigration office in Phoenix to see if anything could be done. As I explained my stupidity to the man in counter, he asked me to meet the Duty officer. I waited another 30 minutes for the duty officer to arrive. Duty officer was a lady in uniform and had the toughest look I had ever seen. I started explaining my situation but she didnt give an ear to it. She just took my damaged I94 & passport and asked me to wait in the lobby.
So there I was, wondering what she would be doing & thinking. I knew that she will come out any second and give the news. Whether the news is good or bad, I've no way to know. I felt like I'm back in my school . It was like waiting for the teacher to read out the marks of a class test. Babu sir had a bunch of papers in his hand , as he walked in to the class. Without much introduction, he started reading out the marks of everyone. As he calls out the name, the particular student stands up while the rest of us eagerly wait to hear the mark. Once the mark is read the student goes to the platform & collects the paper.
" Akhilesh Menon "
Akki stood up as Babu sir read out the marks , "23 out of 25"
"Denu Apraim Thomas ... 18 out of 25"
"Sojish Krishnan ... 16 out of 25"
As I reached back in my seat , I heard Babu sir calling the next name
"Unni Krishnan ....... 1 out of .."
Unni stood up. Babu sir repeated the mark in a questioning factor , "Unnikrishnan, 1 out of ??"
"out of 25, sir" , Unni completed it sadly. There was a hushed giggle inside the class.
"No!", Babu sir's sound was loud & crisp that it brought an end to the giggling.
"Its, out of ... MERCY".
The entire class burst into laughter. Lady officer came back with a duplicate I94 and said , "Never ever wash it again!!"
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