CHAI NAMA

CHAI NAMA

Chai has become so much associated with our day-to-day life that it has become almost impossible to live without it. The saga of chai starts right from birth: the day a child is born, the hospital staff ask for chai in reward. Our morning starts with chai. Some like bed-tea and then again with breakfast and many rounds of tea when a guest visits or while working in an office or any other establishment. Many prefer to go to restaurants for a cup of tea after the office hours. When a brick supplier delivers a truck of bricks, he asks for chai, even if he be the owner of the kiln himself. Similarly, when you get a machine like refrigerator, washing machine, air-conditioner, etc, installed in your home or office, the mechanic, though paid for the installation charges, still demands a Chai. If one has to pursue a personal file in any office, unless the ‘chai’ is paid, the file may get lost, never to be found again.
Once a minister of the PDD said in a seminar, where I too was present, that for locating an important misplaced file bearing agreement with NHPCC, he had to pay Rs 300 to a clerk to locate the file. Recently, the BSNL installed a fibre connection at a place after the matter was pursued for about a month. The installers demanded chai for having done the favour of installation, though no receipt of the amount of about Rs. 6,500 has been delivered to the customer. They seem to have overcharged by Rs 3000, as the cost is reported to be Rs 3,500 including the installation. There is no response to the complaints made till date.
After being thoroughly disgusted with the BSNL service, the customer approached the JIO fibre service as they have good reputation as regards their services. It is over a week that they, too, have been playing hide and seek, even though they have received the payment in advance. It appears that all companies, public or private, have taken people for a ride and there is no one to hear our woes.
To crown this all, it is known to all of us that chai has such power that even a chaiwala can become the Prime Minister of our country. He promises that Acchhe Din Aayenge but when we do not know. Only God can save us.

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