In Search of Rupee in Bhutan

BOB token

I think many will agree without a second thought, that going to bank is the most distasteful and often unsuccessful errand. Long queue with grumbling people, restlessly gazing at the token board are the first images that comes to our fore in any of the banks (in Bhutan.)

In my recent past, I had experienced one such moment in Bank of Bhutan. I was out in the bank looking for few thousand rupees. 

As I entered the bank, I was given token No. 32. And in the queue, I was closely observing the time taken to clear one person by the teller guy. I found out that it was dead slow. -Slower than the one I observed in Hospital. The reasons were very obvious. A teller guy had to verify tons of documents before a bundle of those elusive notes were finally disbursed.

Few hours into waiting and I came to realize that rupee has become elusive and scarce. Few more hours and I got a rough idea as to how rupee has gone extinct in Bhutanese market! But in the words of our Government, we are not in crises yet! 

When the token number 14 reached for final clearance, I asked the security guy at the counter. I asked him whether my turn would really come that day. He giggled and said, 'sure but not too soon!' 

In my mind, I could feel many things rushing. I had this urge to tell him that 'I am your customer, -your king- and you cannot keep your king waiting like a dog. and you see, I have come to my own bank' (as per their catch phrase that read, "Bank of Bhutan, Your own bank" )

More than half a day wait in the bank was awful and boring. I even felt bit sleepy. 

Bored and exhausted, I gave a call to my friend. Calling up my friends when bored is something that I do most of the time. That time I called up my friend who is a Member of Parliament. I called him not to express my grievance or vent out my frustrations! I also did not call him for any favors. He showed up in a wink of few minutes and I was pleased to see him beyond description. Not many thing have changed in him. Even at the height of being my MP, I sensed little difference between us. 

That day, we discussed every thing between the earth and the sky except politics. That is because I am civil servant and I have a mandate to uphold my apolitical status even with my closest MP friend. As we lunched together, we talked about our family, friends and most importantly about our past mischief in Ura. 

By the time we were done with our talking, the bank was closed for any further transaction. But one thing was painful and ironical. I went home knowing how difficult it was getting rupee and how confusing our PM's report was on economic front. I can't say about rest, but on rupee report, I am  still not convinced.

April month, My retrospect.

Apart from my alto car, a ray ban sun glass and a digital camera with 7.2 mega pixel was the most valued asset in my possession until I lost both of them.

On 22 April 2011, I took my car for a servicing in Sonam Automobiles (also known as Sonam Workshop) in Thimphu. I also bought a  pair of new tyre which I got it fixed in Ajit Tyre services.  Back in Sonam Automobiles, I wanted the technicians to check my wheel alignment. Soon a guy named Novin, drove away my car. It took a while before Novin and friend could actually fix my alignment. Nevertheless they did it. I paid my bill and also gave them small tip.

I straight away drove to vegetable market and before I got out for shopping, I Checked my belongings in my car. To my horror and disbelief, I found my sun glass missing form its case. My immediate suspect was Novin and I rushed back to workshop but found it closed for a day. On 23 April 2011, I had to drive till Bumthang in the sun but without a sun glass.

To make the worse situation more woeful, I lost my camera while coming back. It was a great loss for me and I couldn't even eat my normal extra rice for my lunch. However my father and mother were there to console me for the loss. Amazingly the consolations form my aged parents worked and soon I forgot about the thing I lost.

I reached Thimphu in the evening hours of 24 April 2011. Next morning I immediately rushed to Sonam Workshop and complained about the incident. The management told me that Novin went missing since then and have never even returned for his work. 

And Today on 29 April 2011, I found my bank ATM card missing and called the the bank immediately. I told them to freeze any withdrawal from my saving account. The person on the other end responded and told me to write an application but  never told me that application was a mandatory thing. 

Coincidentally, I had a very busy day taking my father to the hospital and attending him all day. To this note I called the bank again and told them, it's kind of emergency request from me and that they can block any withdrawal from my saving account even without my application. But a person with this number (17610871) even refused to talk to me. So I had to write an application as under and rush to Thimphu town to dispatch it through fax.

 

 Today I had to go back to workshop again because one of my front wheel buckles. There, I also came to know that Novin actually stole my glass and was found using it before he finally sold it.  I really felt a need to  teach Novin a lesson  for that and even called Police (113) I Told my father, (who is currently sick and unwell) my mother, my brothers, my sisters and my in-laws. They all told me not to teach poor man a lesson. 

So I have now decided to withdraw my complain from Police. Tell me if I am being very nice by letting that thief go free and also wish me luck so that I can have means to buy a better camera and a sun glass next time.