  Pehla ya Doosra? Let’s face it. We today cannot live without the idiot box. It is after all our biggest link to the outside world and at times to home itself. But then the term home has become relative over the years. The local television channel service we opt for is called Pehla.
We fall into the bracket that is called the Pehla Silver Subscribers that offers the same bouquet of channels we watched when we were in India – well almost. Anyhow the due date for the payment was July 6, 2004. Here goes what happened. July 3, 2004 Apoorva the diligent honest boy that he is calls Pehla. Apoorva: Hello, I need to pay for my subscription Customer Care: Sure, we will take care of it. We will send someone to collect it Apoorva: Yes please do that (gives details) July 4, 2004 Apoorva the diligent honest boy that asks me if anyone from Pehla has come.
I say “no” and hop along like a careless care bear. I am caught in the neck and told to call them and remind them. July 5, 2004 I call Pehla I: I need to pay please send someone asap or you will chop off my connection.
Customer care: Well, you are calling after 5pm we can only send someone tomorrow. I: Well, we called earlier as well Customer care: Only possible tomorrow I: But you will cut off my connection Customer care: Well, I cannot say anything about that it is not my department I: Then whose is it? Customer care: You are calling after 5pm no one is here to help I: Well, you are there Customer care: Yes I: What’s your name?
Customer care: Eithaad I: Please leave a message Eithaad that we called Customer care: Ok July 6, 2004 No sign of Pehla, the connection gets cut off Apoorva calls them up, by now smoke is curling out of his ears. Apoorva: What happened guys? This is just not acceptable. This is truly bad customer service. We have been calling for ages please take your payment. Customer care: Sure sir, we will be sending someone asap to collect payment after which your connection will be restored. Apoorva: I have been calling for ages. Customer care: We will be sending someone to collect your late payment. Apoorva: Just do it fast ok. July 7, 2004 Man comes, collects money, no sign of the connection coming back. Apoorva calls customer service. Apoorva: I paid restore my service. Customer care: Your payment is late so wait till our systems get updated. Apoorva: When will that be? Customer care: I pray to God and hope it shall be soon. Apoorva: Soon is when?
Customer care: Inshallah soon. July 8, 2004 No sign of Pehla. Apoorva gets SMS saying - thank you for paying. He cribs, complains, but is sick so crashes out in bed and blames life! July 9, 2004 No sign of Pehla. Apoorva completely looses his cool. I am watching him become a raving raging monster all violet in colour.
In this state, a bit short of gun in hand, Apoorva calls Pehla. Apoorva: If my connection is not restored I am going to…. Customer care: Please press two buttons on your receiver Apoorva does that and the connection comes back We go about our day with a renewed faith in the Almighty. P.S. The mentioned dates are not completely accurate. After all this is written under the influence of half a bottle of vodka and a lot of grilled chicken. However, the sequence of events is completely authentic. 
