IT ALL HAPPENED IN 48 HOURS.

It was on the 31st July 2009 when it all began. My aunt and I had gone to New Life Hospital for personal reasons.

6:30pm.
Mom had asked me to call her number, wanting to listen to her new hello tune. "I can’t find it anywhere". We both started hunting for my mobile. It struck me then that I might have left it behind in the taxi wherein we came back. Thirty minutes had passed by since I reached home. We immediately dialed my number. "The number you are trying to reach is not reachable". Numbly, I sat down and quietly prayed.

8:30pm.
We dialed my number again. "The number you are trying to reach is switched off". It was at this moment I realized I was never going to see my mobile again.
My mobile is nothing but an ordinary Nokia 6300. Sad to say, we both have been through so much, it had been a part of my life for so long. I took out the box opened it, went through the manual, the thermocol, the purchase receipt.... aimlessly, as if trying to say "Goodbye". It is hard to accept how much a non-living object can make a mark in one's life.

11:30 pm.
I tossed and turned in my bed... trying to sleep. In some quick flashes, I remembered my notes - meeting, birthdays, and important numbers - like phone numbers or my debit card pin number which had been saved. I struggled to recall.....Oh!!! I wished I could remand!!!! ..... The tossing and turning became really worse.

1st August. 2009, Saturday

3:30am.
I got up. It was useless trying to sleep. I started preparing breakfast instead.

5:00 am.
The sun is up. I promised myself - I shall buy a new phone!!! “CHEAP” - which can do nothing but make some measly calls and sms.

7:00 am.
Decided to go to BSNL to make a complaint, I want my same number back.

9:00 am.
I headed out for BSNL office. I went immediately to the Customer Care Cell. There i explained my situation. They had asked me to submit an FIR in a Police station and to bring back the documents to submit in the same dept.

10: 30 am.
With my documents ready I went back to BSNL office, submitted and paid whatever I had to pay to get my number back.

11:45 am.
The helpful woman (too bad I didn’t ask her name) concluded saying “You are very lucky to get everything done so quickly, If you had been 5 minutes later, we would have asked you to come back on monday". I grinned widely, thanking God. On the way back I stopped into few Handset stores, I couldn't find anything that satisfies my heart.

1:00pm.
Reached home, said a silent prayer again. I knew I was not going to get back my mobile. I sadly said thanksgiving with all my heart, because, I knew He was doing whatever he could.

1:40pm.
My mother retorted!! "Have you told Lalthani about the incident? Lalthani is one of my best(est) friend and she works as Nokia Promoter. I immediately took my mom's mobile and started dialing her number. After 4 rings, "Hello" I started narrating my loss, she then asked me for the IMEI number, and it took me quite a while to find the number. This was when I knew any phone had a number. I preferred to tell her through sms since it was too long.

………………….
……….

7:00pm.
I could hear Lalthani screaming from the ground floor, "Rita, It seems my friend had captured your mobile phone" I could not comprehend what she said. My whole body was literally shaking and I felt dizzy. I had to sit down. I tried to calm myself, I asked her again. She narrated the whole incident.

After I had called, she immediately sent out the msg to most of the well-known dealers and servicing stations. "Hope against hope". At last, she went to K.L communication, Khatla, which, btw was literally pushed by one of her co-worker Jimmy.

It was around 4:00pm when a friend (Mr. X) of the taxi driver (or not…. whoever took the phone), went up to K.L communication for a repair. He was denied. He then came back after 20 minutes, saw the owner Mr. Tha-a (friend of Mr.X), and explained why the phone needed a redo of the software... something wrong with the code. As, if something prompted him from within, as he eyed the phone, he quickly took out the battery and checked the IMEI number. He then explained to his friend why he needed to confiscate the phone.

8:45 pm.
With our pajamas’ Lalthani and I sprang up and found our way to Khatla. There it was !! My very own handset! I took all my documents with me. But the security code was messed up so much that it was permanently locked. It won’t start after typing the correct code. My dear phone needed the repair... All the phone numbers, dates, notes, notices would still vanish... but I cared less!!!! "I retrieved my mobile". While congratulating me, Mr.Tha-a added that I was very lucky, not all servicemen check the IMEI number when phones are kept for repair. I knew the stars were with me.


I know my bashful story would have been nothing as compared to everyday happenings around you. I had stepped aside to narrate this story for quite sometime... instead, I published my previous blog- http://ritazoye.blogspot.com/2009/08/other-side-of-our-world.html.

Forgive me; for I cannot hold it any longer. Please allow me to emphasize.....

"Mizoram is not all Gone!!!!" as some preachers would shout otherwise, not once but in multiples - in every nook and corner of the state. There are still few good amongst the bad. So that makes Mizoram is still safe. GOODNESS STILL PREVAILS!!!!!!. I for one, have been really fortunate to have experienced it.

Whew!! There! I’ve said it; as my whole breath have been lifted and my heart receives its oxygen now.

I'd like to share the details of these two remarkable persons.

The one person - who made my day - day and my night - night. (And just in case you want a mobile servicing ... someone you can count on)

Mr. Tha- a. (This is all I can get, he is well-known by this name)
K.L Communication,
Above Cozy Den restaurant.
Khatla

My dear resourceful friend who made all this come true.... (And just in case you wanted to buy a Nokia phone, she will describe it for you, eyes closed. Whatever your needs or your budget)

Margaret Lalthani
Nokia Promoter
Rainbow Electronics
Khatla