Passports's for Passouts

Part 1
Who is the genie?

A valid passport is among the most optimistic and pious documents that one tires to secure, on the verge of getting placed in the final year of graduation. It is a sign that one is looking forward to be among those who were going to “go places “.

Unlike my childhood days, when all one needed was Aladdin’s Magic carpet. Which on my command would have taken off with me, up above the Big Pepal Tree outside my house to nearby “Sandhya stores” for a packet of crunchy “Yummies “!!, Or to the Toy train at Bal Bhavan, Cubbon park within seconds, Take me Far far away from School, tuition and homework to maybe “Gulf “, where all my uncles were making lots of money to buy me presents. Alas! No more Genies, No more wishes …..No more Magic Carpets, in the final year of my engineering graduation, I would need a passport! And I have to get it by myself.

Wait a minute! Talking about Genies, I do have a Genius if not a Genie to help me.
Known for his,” ahem, sorry! “ Heard for his voice , which generates mega decibels laud gyan and never stops bombarding ones eardrums until night fall. Neighbors and friends knew he was approaching miles away .In fact, we even think that a percentage of sleep disorders in the US were due to him being awake and talking in India 12 hours away on the time zone.

His earthshaking arrival to college on this modest moped Luna reminded everyone of the Hindu God Ganesh traveling on his mouse (Mooshaka – vaahana). His unlimited talk time and activated roaming did help him connect very well and he became the one stop solution for any problem with his arsenal of friends, contacts, information and smart tips. So I did earnestly rub my telephone mouthpiece as I dialed to connect to my genie, who was more than willing to come to the passport office himself with me the next day.


25th of August, 2003.
A long queue was ahead of my genie and me on the Monday morning, outside the Passport office in Bangalore. All, including the care taker of the two-wheeler parking woke up on our arrival there, thanks to my genie. We were approached by a lot of middle men who offered their service in getting a passport for a hefty fee of course. My genie was quick to turn them down; he was the man who knew this process in and out. In fact this was the 3rd or 4th time he was our here to help his friends with the passport process.

In return, all one had to do was to listen to his philosophy and experiences the whole time. There were no techniques yet to ward of the laser like speech rays, no way one can switch off mentally, he had one gifted, deeply penetrating voice.

The queue did move quickly, we managed to get the Passport application form, now i needed to get a few photographs clicked. “Yes, passport size!” This was the term I used every time I needed a photo for any application right from school time, finally I get was about to get passport size photos for my passport. So we ran off in search of a photo studio nearby, on a rather sunny day.

We did find one ,about two blocks away on Brunton road. Little did I know that this photo was one that would be stuck to me , as my main identity proof for years to come?
As luck would have it, that day I had sported a funny hairdo, worn a blue jean shirt and an carved an awkward French bread, to add to that, I let out a goofy smile while my picture was taken. Thanks to a funny heroics of my genie behind the cameraman. I filled in the application form and stuck the photos with great care and concentration, while my genie was ,for a change quietly gulping down a vegetable sandwich and sipping on the Cappuccino at the Coffee day outlet Prestige Towers, M.G road. We returned the application at the passport office with all the documents, stopping on our way home for a game of snooker. That was half the task, now I needed to wait for a call from the local Police Station for an address confirmation and then the passport would arrive home.

Part 2
Who is Aladdin?

Now as most people my age, I too had a crush on one of my batch mates. A real cute gal, whom I had come to know pretty well. She was now in our group of friends, we all used to hang out a lot. (At that point of time at least). She had denied any feelings for me a few months ago but wanted to be my friend as always, always. All I needed was some time with her to convince her of my undying love for her etc etc…all I needed was an outing with her; a date was too much to ask.

I happened to tell her that I had applied for my passport the other day. And Bang , she sprung into anxiety “ I too need to apply for one, can you help me please ?”. Who else could see the flame of hope in the eyes of Jasmine, than Aladdin himself?
I am Aladdin

29th of August, 2003.

Aladdin was up and ready to go by 7:30 am, a full night’s wait was about to bear fruit or at least passport. Aladdin called up Princess Jasmine to inform he was flying off to the Magic carpet office i.e. the Passport office. The princess as usual arrived at the Magic carpet office much later than her slave lover Aladdin.

Aladdin though all excited about meeting the princess was very nervous. Aladdin feared the thought of bumping into his Genie here. Then the Genie would take away all of his tasks and Aladdin could easily forget his private time with the Princess, as the both would have to listen to Genie tales.

Luckily, nothing of that sort happened. Aladdin went guided the cheerful princess through the routine process. Applications , Photos , documents all followed with a clinical precision. The Application had to be submitted at the office upstairs by the princess herself. Here Aladdin was required to wait outside all alone. In what seemed like a wait for Cauvery water in CMC layouts, Aladdin waited.. and watched.

A gal dressed in blue jeans and t-shirt was swearing at the gatekeepers. Oh no , then it seemed like she was talking to herself, then she was again cursing the timings. Apparently she was late to the Passport office and was not to happy about the system and timings in place. She a girly red watch with a thick red strap that caught my attention. She provided some entertainment in the self proclaimed Aladdin’s wait for the Princess Jasmine. Finally the gal realized that she was now the centre of attraction, she smiled sheepishly and left , I caught her attention for a split second , in an eye-to-eye glance where we quickly exchanged an empathetic look, to be cut short by both of us looking away with raised eyebrows and zipped mouth. Her, Aladdin decided to christen as Ms .Little Red Rowdy hood.


Aladdin had not told his mother that he was going out with Princess Jasmine and she would think he was in college as usual. Nor had he told his Genie. Even as thoughts to getting time out with Princess excited Aladdin, his non disclosure to mom and the genie disturbed him. Aladdin was brought back to the busy street outside the passport complex from his day dreams, as Princess Jasmine stepped out in a hurry to cross the road.

Now he was hopeful, she was thankful.
As they took a walk on the busy streets, cracking jokes , exchanging views , giggling …. Aladdin had his passport to paradise. Sheer Bliss !
As they strolled by the possible eateries on M.G road, Canopy, Ebony it reminded Aladdin was he was on a fast that day in remembrance of his dad. Also that he had to wind up from paradise and reach home soon.

Part 3
Who are you?

Aladdin calls up his Genie, to tell him that he too has now mastered the Magic carpet skills. His Genie although happy to have him as an apprentice, was curious about whom he had helped out. Aladdin told that it was Jasmine as though she were just some gal and diverted the Genie with the funny tale of Ms .Little Red Rowdy hood. Aladdin also added a bit more elaborate description of her mannerisms, her red watch just to engage his Genie fully in this topic. Far far away from Princess Jasmine..

Aladdin is me.

After the phone call , I was exhausted but content. Was happy about the whole day.
All I had to do was have a quiet entry and good nights sleep.
At that time, I lived in a building that housed 7 apartments and a Music school.

The owner of the building was a musician with several interests like construction, travel, quality leisure and sports.He had installed a brand new table tennis stand and three seated Iron swing with soft cushions , in front of our house on the ground floor for common use for all the inmates of his building .

That night as I pulled open the Huge Metal Gates of the building to get in , I saw my mom at the door about 10 yards from the gate , chatting with a lady who stayed upstairs .
I casually closed the gates behind me and looked to the right, beyond the table tennis stand.
I simply could not believe my eyes, sitting right in the centre seat of the Iron swing, swinging in a mellow rhythm, with eyes locked on me , the intruder ,was none other than Ms .Little Red Rowdy hood!!

“Who are you?” She asked.
I rebutted, “What are you doing here? I stay here”.
“She’s my niece, do you know her? “said the lady who stayed upstairs.
Ms .Little Red Rowdy hood quickly added “Oh I am sorry!”

I had to sum up all my senses, the red watch!!
My eyes were searching her arms for the red watch, if its her then she will have the watch.
And there it was , the fancy red watch , with big red strap on a pretty wrist. It was indeed Ms .Little Red Rowdy hood.
My mind was brimming with questions.
Did she need a passport to come to my place?
Does my mom know i bunked classes and went to the passport office that too for my friend?
Who gave her the stupid watch?
Am I hallucinating?
Is mom going to be cold and angry with me?
Will have to fast the rest of my life?
Is this gal a spy?
….

“Do you know each other?” My mom cleared my mind with this final question.
“Yes, I think I saw her at the passport office “, I looked at her with my eyebrows begging her to add some lines…
“Yes yes,” She added, then she introduced herself to me and left with her aunt bidding us goodnight !
Phew that was a close shave.

I took excuse of my mom, ran non-stop for about 200 meters to the local telephone booth, had to shout my lungs out about the appearance of Ms .Little Red Rowdy hood to my Princess and my Genie know about the strange twist in the story. Both of them were very excited and surprised with the coincidence. My Genie was along strangely quiet, letting the reality set in.

My take on this: If you don’t stay in a lamp, then leave the job to a Genie!