We were happily talking over a cup of coffee, in the evening, just over three days ago, little realising that our happiness of the moment was just short lived by an interruption in the guise of a tele call.

She was a tele caller from a reputed National Bank who called me up over my mobile, around eventide. Introducing herself as Sheela from S..., she said, "Sir, we are calling from S..., and congrats sir, you have been conferred the privilege of Gold ... Customer, and as such you are entitled to an insurance for five years. You need to pay only for the first year. There are a lot of benefits accruing to you cos of this insurance, and you need to pay only for the first year. The rest of the years you need not pay.. bla bla bla... "

Finally she concluded her first phase of talk by saying,

"Sir, shall we freeze Rs.4300/- from your credit limit for the insurance?"

I said, "No madam, look i've to consult my parents, since i dont take decisions on my own, as i am not married yet"

She said, "Oh sir, your parents will definitely not stand in the way of a nice policy, and that which comes with a lovely offer."

To which i said, "But still madam, i'l just talk to them, and then give my consent."

By this time it was a solid 20 minutes by my watch, and prof.Dany & co were passively watching this tele caller trying to catch hold of a 'gullible' customer.

Then, she said, "Ok sir, pls wait, while i pass on the call to my Customer service representative."

Now, the customer service person sounded very polite in his talk, as he began with a word of praise, saying,

"Sir, i've been hearing your conversation all along, and i really appreciate your regard and respect for parents. Even i too have got five policies, but i've consulted my dad all the time, before taking each and every policy."

"Thank you" i said, happily, relieved that here at last there was a person who understood my words.

But then it was that he started his rhetorical tactics cum verbal antics to persuade me gently by saying,

"Sir, but do you think your parents will stand in the way of something good happening to you?" Do you think they will prevent you if you are getting some prize money.. Tell me sir.."

I said, "nope, but still i feel that i need to consult my parents."

He did not leave me at my words there.. He said, "Sir, just answer me.."

Now, Dany sir, seeing my plight, got the mobile from me and cut the call... and said, "rufus, we'l see if he calls back again."

No wonder, this time it was Sheela who called up and said,

"Sorry sir, i think he confused you a lot... but you see it's quite simple..."

Now, i disconnected the call.

The tele caller called back again, but in vain.

I felt i was relieved.

But my relief was only short lived. Cos, the next day, around twelve noon, Sheela was there with her kitty of verbal antics, to clown me again. This time, i picked up the call and said, "Sorry i'm not interested."

But she said, "Sir, we'll just send you the brochures home, and you'l have a full twenty one days time to peruse it and cancel it any time you wish to."

I cut the call..!

Later, pondering over the whole EPISODE, (rightly so, cos it continued to the next day,) I felt that I had 'wasted' almost forty minutes of my precious time on 'nothing.'

This leads me to pose a question to the Bankers of Repute, "SHOULD YOU PEOPLE OF GREAT REPUTE, STOOP TO THIS DEMEANING LEVEL, TO CONQUER?", thus COMPROMISING YOUR OWN MANNERS IN WINNING OVER A CUSTOMER?."

The next day, even as i went to the same bank to transact some business, i saw Gandhiji's quote where he calls the client to respect the customer. I thought that it would do more good if the Bank officials hung another lovli quote by the FATHER OF THE NATION,

"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use"