Yeah, I’m careless…
I have now officially lost my NIC. You know what’s worse? I can’t remember how or where or when I lost it.
I waited for two weeks, hoping that someone would’ve found it and sent it back by post. But no! Nothing. Nada. Zilch!
So, I went to the police station on Tuesday, for the first time in my life.
There were a few people behind bars and policemen walking all over, idling (not surprising now is it?). We were directed to the complaints and reports areas where there was a long queue. It was fascinating for me because I had only witnessed such scenes in movies, dramas and soaps…. There were people in slings, bandages soaked in blood, women in tears, all making their statements and complaining away to this single policeman who probably didn’t give a rat’s rear about their problems. He was writing away - pages and pages of how it happened, why it happened, when it happened and the works.
“Oya miniha karapu balu wadeta oota hena gahanna oneh.” a woman wailed.
“Mama dannawa oya gaanita karana de” a man bellowed
“Mama balan innaddima eka mage minihata gahagena gahagena giya raalahaami” a woman whimpered.
All this was written word-to-word on that book of complaints.
After 3 hours - it was finally my turn.
“Mokada missy prashne?” the policeman asked me.
“Mage NIC eka nathiwela raalahaami” I replied.
“Aah aththada? Padinchiya thahawuru karala graama sevakagen liyumak genaawada?”
“Er…mama gaawa passport ekai, driving licence ekai thiyenawa. Madida?”
“Baa baa, ara liyuma arang enna! EELANGATA!!!!”
He pushed me off.
So basically, I sat there amidst murderers, rapists, people who were quarreling, women who were wailing; for 3 hours, all for nothing. I went back home.
I was told that the graama sevaka came next, on Thursday.
So, on Thursday when I went to get my letter from him, he took out his anger and frustration out on me. He bellowed in my ear for everyone around me to hear saying what a nuisance this was to him, and how corrupt the police was.
I just sat there listening to him. (I owe the patience factor to Mr Sandypwants)
After a big ha-ho, I was on my way again to the police station.
And once again, I was faced with that long queue of people. Atleast this time there were few people who’d visited the hospital minutes before they came to the station.
I also saw this prisoner in handcuffs walking about. o.O
Just when I got there, the officer-in-charge of the complaints section just left without a word. After an hour we got to know that there was no one to write in the complaints book till next week.
“Meh mona wikaarayakda meh? Poleeciya wasaa atha kiyala board ekak daapalla!” A man threatened and spat before he stormed out!
I smirked.
“Poleeciya mewata nisi piyawarak ganne naththang, apita piyawara ganna wenawa!” another man spat.
I was loving the drama.
A new officer was sent to the complaints desk. When it was finally my turn, the officer was like, “Oya dannawada NIC eke issue date eka?”
“Naa neh.” I replied.
“Ehenang birth certificate eke copy ekak genna!”
I WAS FUMING BY NOW.
It was the 2nd day that I came to this dump and they were making such a huge fuss just to WRITE a complaint saying I HAVE LOST MY NIC on that SHITTY BOOK!
I stormed out of the place, went back home, got my birth certificate and came right back, only to realize there was a new officer at the desk. When I showed him my documents he said “Aiyo, birth certificate eka oneh naa neh!”
THAT WAS IT!
I literally turned red in anger.
I kept my mouth shut and waited till he wrote down my complaint. It was all done in 10 minutes.
So yeah, the job that usually takes 10 -15 minutes took me 3 days to complete.
SRI LANKA - A LAND LIKE NO OTHER!
