Mahatma Gandhi and my Nokia Phone...

From www.manakkudiyan.com :

Mahatma Gandhi and my Nokia Phone...

It was a big queue of people in the Nokia service center and everyone wanted to get their turn immediately. I was in the queue. Reliance mobile users did not have wider options on choosing the hand sets and I was also happy with my Nokia 3105 then. It was my turn. The man with thicker spectacles, “Yes”.
“I dropped my mobile, it rolled down in the stair case and display vanished. It is under warranty. This is the purchase bill. Can you help me on getting this repaired?”
“Sir, You dropped means it is physical damage. It will not be covered under warranty. Fill this service request form and write that you do not know the cause of this malfunction and mention it happened on its own”.

“Oh… But I do not lie” .

“Boss… Where are you coming from? Just two lines can save your Rupees six thousands. And I am trying to save your money. Did you understand that?”.

“Yes sir… Thanks for that. Is there any other possibility other than this? Because I do not lie” .
“Yow… Innah? Are you normal or some thing wrong inside your head? Okay, do not waste your time and my time. Move out. Thanks”.

As I was pushing the door to come out of the service center, he stopped me with his loudest voice “Hellov” and asked me, “Are you Mahatma Gandhi or what?” and he did not wait for my answer and told the security, “Yei… Kathava thorada… Mahatma Gandhi poraaru!” (Hey… Open the Door for our Mahatma Gandhi).

I stepped out, “What is my mistake? I am honest and I am living with my values. Why there is so much sarcasm in front of people as if I committed some crime” and was going through some thing.I approached almost all the Nokia service centers in the city. The response was almost similar and no one was ready to take the phone for repair.

I did not stop myself, stepped in to the next one and told the girl in the counter, “No display. There is a physical damage. I only dropped the phone, it did not happen on its own, this is the truth and I do not lie. Tell me will you take for repair?” The girl with a smile replied, “Because you are telling the truth, we will take this for repair”. I gave my phone and both of us were smiling. The reason for my smile was “Hey Hey Hey … I do not need to compromise on my values. Truth works. Still there are places and value for my values” and her smile was on reciprocation.

I got a call from Nokia care after 9 days, “Sir… your replacement phone is ready, and you can come and pick up the handset”. I got my new replacement handset.

Years have rolled over.

When ever I see any Nokia service center name board a question comes to me ‘What is the connection between Mahatma Gandhi and my Nokia Phone?’ And the conversion lingers in my mind…..
“But … I do not lie” .
“Hellov! Are you Mahatma Gandhi or what? Yei… Kathava thorada… Mahatma Gandhi poraaru!”
…… ....
“Thoughts Unlimited” by - Manakkudiyan www.manakkudiyan.com