The fiddler of Kodihalli and other stories

Amit had gone to the bank to get a demand draft (DD). He had to pay 50% advance for registration to some course. He got a token from the token vending machine and waited for his turn. It was a busy day at the bank. When is it not?

The clerks behind the counters had their hands full. They had to process at least twelve tokens in an hour. That meant five minutes on average per customer. In these five minutes, they were expected to help customers with incompletely filled out forms, be courteous, answer unrelated questions from the customer, key in all details accurately into the temperamental banking software application and not frown at its often sluggish response. If this wasn't enough, every once in a while, their phone would ring.

Of course, the typical customer couldn't care less about all this. As far as he was concerned, the bank was almost hopeless. First, they made him wait ten odd minutes with token in hand. Once at the counter, all they cared about was getting rid of him in a minute. How outrageous.

Sitting on a chair waiting for his turn, Amit noticed that all clerks wore an understandably harried look on their faces. All except a lady at a table called 'Enquiry'. She seemed to be very composed, almost serene. Not that she wasn't busy. Her table was besieged by customers. You didn't need a token for enquiry you see. Everyone had something to enquire.

"Can I have a pay-in-slip form?"
"Here you go sir."

"Do I need to take token for depositing cash?"
"Yes sir. Over there."
"Arre, but I am giving money to the bank. Why make me wait with token?"
Smiling, "Many customers today, sir. It will only take five minutes."

"Can you update my pass book?"
"Over there sir."
"But she is saying that the system is down."
"Sorry about that sir. Maybe if you can wait for ten minutes, the system will be back up and running."
"This is happening to me third time. Every time I want to update pass book, your system is down. You think I don't have other work?"
With a sympathetic look, "Sir why don't you give me your pass book and come back after finishing your other work. I'll keep it updated."

"Madam, yeh application zara dekh lo na. Muje loan milega kya?"
"Wahan, us counter pe jaaiye."
"Aap zara dekh ke bolo na."
Glances cursorily at the papers, "Salary slip laaye ho kya?"
"Han Madam", hands over salary slips.
"Lagtha tho teek hai, par confirm wohi batayenge."

Amused and impressed, Amit was taking in the scene when the speaker announced, "Token number 203, counter number 5." Amit's token. He walked over and gave his form and cheque for the DD. The clerk punched some keys, waited a minute and said,
"Its okay sir. It needs to be signed by a manager. You can collect it after ten minutes from the enquiry counter."
Amit was prepared for this. He knew that a DD would take some waiting. He had brought a book along, Tarun Tejpal's 'Alchemy of Desire'. He walked over to the calm lady over at enquiry and said, "Excuse me, I am expecting a DD for ten thousand. Please give me a shout when it reaches you." Miss.Equanimity nodded and said "Sure sir." She motioned him to sit in a nearby vacant chair.

Amit promptly took the seat and opened his book. The bookmark indicated he was halfway through. He placed the bookmark at the end and started reading. As he got immersed in the story, the world outside began to fade. Two pages later, he felt someone patting his shoulder. It was the enquiry lady standing beside him with a coy smile on her expressive face. Handing him a DD, she asked,  "May I know what you are so engrossed in that you didn't even hear me calling?" Amit was caught between the story in the novel and the pleasant surprise of seeing Miss. Enquiry beside him. "Thank you". He handed the book for her to see.

"It is his first novel. Do you read?"
Miss.Enquiry glanced at the cover. "Tejpal? Is he the Tehelka guy?"
"Yes. It is quite good. You should read it sometime. I could lend it to you when I am done."
She smiled.
By the way, asked Amit "May I know your name?"
"Komal."
"I'm Amit. Nice meeting you."
Amit turned back realizing that he was holding her up and the soon-to-be-irate customers waiting at enquiry would not tolerate their chit chat any more.

The ride back was a pleasant one for Amit. He couldn't take Komal off his mind. She was like an angel of peace in a noisy bazaar. Damn, he should have asked for her phone number. After all, she had walked over to him. What a smile! She was interested in what he was reading. Maybe he could ask her out for coffee and talk about their reading interests. For a start. No worries, he had to get another DD in a month's time for the remaining 50% course fee. He would surely ask her then.

The month went by and Komal faded from Amit's mind. It was only when he went back to the bank after a month did he remember her again. But where was she? The enquiry counter had a different face. He glanced around. There she was, behind one of the teller counters. Counter number 2. Oh oh. It wasn't going to be easy now. There was no guarantee that their paths would cross in the course of his DD transaction. He would still get to collect his DD from enquiry but that was not his girl. If only he got assigned to counter number 2 for submitting his DD application. There were six counters in operation that day so he only had about 17% chance. 

Amit took a seat and nervously watched the token display system. It said token number 185, counter number 4. And then it changed in front of his eyes.

Token number 188, counter number 2.

Amit looked at his token. 197. This was going to be a game of roulette. There was no way to predict what his counter was going to be. First, the token numbers had gaps in them. For what reason, he couldn't figure or bother to think about. Second, the assignment was not in sequence. Each clerk pressed a 'next' button when she was done with the current customer. The token system simply assigned the next token to her counter.

Token number 190, counter number 1.

Amit bit his nail.

Token number 191, counter number 2.

What the heck? Komal was already onto her third customer while the other counters were still processing the first. After what seemed like an interminable wait, the display flashed again.

Token number 193, counter number 5.

And again.

Token number 194, counter number 4.

This wasn't going to be his day. Surely he was going to get counter 3. Miss by one. Maybe he could take another token if this didn't work out. But what would he do? Update his pass book maybe. No that won't do. Pass book update was another counter that did not need token. Maybe he could just deposit 500 cash. Try his luck at getting counter number 2.

Token number 195, counter number 3.

Hope hung by a slim thread. But no, it looked like counter 6 was just finishing with her customer. "Thank you sir." The man turned to go but realised that he had forgotten to ask something, "Err, excuse me, he started off again at the harried lady behind counter 6." God bless him, thought Amit.

Token number 197, counter number 2.

Jackpot! What luck. Surely this was a sign. He trotted off to his beloved counter and said "Hi, Komal". Komal seemed to recognize him. The angelic smile was back. "Hello sir.", she said taking his papers. Amit didn't like this 'sir' business. Had she forgotten his name? Or was she just sticking to protocol? Heck, did she even remember their little chat the other day? Or was it just another random conversation from an automatic politeness machine? The glass partition between Amit and her didn't help. He had to speak through a small hole. What perfect setting for courtship. Amit wanted to remind her of their chat by the enquiry counter.

"Have you got promoted?", he ventured. "You used to be at enquiry na?"
"It is regular rotation sir." That irritating 'sir' again. He noticed the lady from counter 1 glancing at him. That 'promotion' word had alerted her antenna. What a rotten setting for small talk. He was still thinking of how to extend the conversation when Komal handed him a slip and said,
"Sir, Please collect your DD from enquiry in ten minutes"
This was his last chance. "Very busy huh?", was all he could manage.
"As usual sir"
He had to go now. Shit. Lady luck had handed him his 17% chance on a platter and he clean blew it. Marbles in his mouth. He trudged back to the waiting area to wait for his DD. Opened his book. The same one. He had been very busy last month. This book was meant for idle time reading. He hadn't progressed much. Then the bulb lit up. He had offered to lend this book to her. She hadn't said no. This was his excuse to go to her counter again. So what if he hadn't finished the book. So what if it was very interesting. He'd rather hear the rest of the story from her.

He went over to counter 2 with the book and the DD receipt in hand.
"Excuse me", he said to the customer at the counter. "I just need to give this book to her."
Before the customer could make up his mind he slid the book under the counter to Komal.
"Hey I got this for you. Take your time to read it."
Komal wore a knowing smile on her face, "Thank you. Sir"
"Please call me Amit." he turned the DD receipt over on its blank side and asked,
"Could you please write your phone number here?"
Komal looked at him for a moment. Amit could sense the clerks at counter 1 and 3 staring at him. Their antennas were highly sensitive to such lines.
"Err, just in case I have to remind you to return the book", said Amit.
A grinning Komal scrawled her number on the now precious DD receipt.
You wouldn't call Amit a bank robber, but he certainly thought he was on his way to stealing a banker's heart.