Mission Resurrection

“MIL  - do you have a passport?” asked DIL one day.

“Of course I have one. It’s in the locker in a brand new state – totally unused in last 10 years. If someone needs one and is ready to use, I am ready to give it away at second hand price.” mumbled MIL.

“Nonsense! And then what? Go to jail?  You funny woman, here I am thinking of taking you for a foreign trip – and look at what I get to hear.” DIL was annoyed.

“What did you say? I can’t believe my ears!! Do you really mean what you said?” asked MIL doubting her generous DIL’s intention.

“I always mean what I say.” Growled DIL. “Now don’t look at me with those lovey-dovey eyes. Show me your precious passport. Let it see the light of day and breathe in the fresh air – poor passport!” said DIL looking at her MIL who was shocked and humbled by DILs heaven sent offer.

She had buried her ancient dream of visiting another country. In the past, she had pleaded with her darling hubby and two DKTs for accompanying her on a foreign trip. She was ready to sponsor their tickets. But due to one or the other reason, nothing had worked out. And now this DIL was ready to take her – without even being asked for the favour.

MIL started building a temple for DIL in her mind and also installed her statue in it and was ready to worship her twenty four hours a day.

She woke from her day dream when she heard “Arre baba, how much time you need to open the safe? Hope you are not using the wrong key like an idiot.”

MIL excused DIL for using her favourite word for her. MIL sheepishly removed her passport and handed it over to DIL.

DIL only looked at the expiry date and frowned. “Your foreign trip is postponed till you renew your passport. Did you notice that it was counting its last breath?” DIL looked pitifully at her ignorant MIL.

“Now what to do? I had not lifted my little finger to get this blessed passport. I only signed where my hubby told me to. And I got it delivered at home.” Said MIL woefully.

She added “Now who is going to help me out through this mess?”  MIL was buried under deep worry.

“Why? Tell your DIL KA TUKDA to download form from the net, fill in the details, collect the required documentation and submit it in the passport office. After that, wait till police come for verification.” DIL explained everything like a kind teacher would explain a difficult sum to a dull student – by coming down to his level.

“Police verification! But  why on earth should they do it? I don’t have any criminal record! And what would the neighbours think if they see police making enquiry about me – a poor retired primary teacher drawing a hefty pension of Rs 535 per month?” said MIL  worriedly.

“You and your silly questions. It’s a procedure – understand? And if the whole ignorant neighbourhood  thinks something is fishy, let them go to hell.”

DIL stamped her feet in frustration at her MILs  poor G.K and was ready to leave for her office.

“But last time nothing like this happened. I told you na...direct delivery.” Said MIL again to convince her earlier statement.

“Arre baba, that must have been through your influential hubby’s good contacts. Things used to be managed before computerisation.” Said DIL very confidently.

MIL fell in love again when she thought about her darling hubby.

In the following days MIL had to go through a million procedures, collect proof of her matriculation, graduation certificate, marriage, residence and what not.

She was bugged when the officials asked her questions like ‘what is your name’ and ‘where do you live’ in spite of having this information papers in front of them.

She faced the whole ordeal courageously. She waited patiently a month and a half to move the papers from one department to the other by keeping a track on computer. DIL and DKT helped her out of her depression when she could not bear the red tape delay.

All the while when the things were moving at the snail’s pace – MIL prayed for a magic wand that helps the great gundas in the society to get more than one passport within a week bypassing all the rules.

Then the golden day arrived. At one shubha muhurta the passport arrived at her doorstep – but alas she was not home to receive it.

After the maid gave her the good news, she rushed to the post office to claim it with papers to show that it was she whose name was mentioned in the address.

MILs eyes were filled with tears of happiness and she almost kissed the postman who handed over the envelope to her.

MIL carried the passport home like the Prasad of divine deity. She actually kept it on the altar and thanked god for his mercy.

Then when she was about to put her precious passport in the locker, she heard “MIL do you have a valid passport now?”

With stars in her eyes, MIL handed over her newly reborn passport to her DIL!