Getting the Attestation (Part 2)

After calling up Regional commissioners office literally every day for over a week, on 18th March I got a confirmation that the document was back from VTU and I was asked to come the following Tuesday to get my Certificate attested as the commissioner was on trip to Bangalore due to election duty.

I booked my tickets for 24th on sunday itself and to be on a safer side I called up Shivananda, in the Commissioners office, if I were to get anything other than the Graduation document. I was taken a back when he told me that the commissioner was not in on Monday and he was not sure if the commissioner would be there on Tuesday also. He suggested that I come on Wednesday, when I told him that I had already booked my tickets, he told me to call back in the evening to check again.
I had my fingers crossed. I though of canceling my tickets as it was still in the waiting list. But when I decided to cancel, the web page started to show error stating that it was undergoing maintenance.
I had not booked my return ticket this time too. I was not sure how long the process would take. I was planning to book a ticket in the train which was scheduled to leave Belgaum by 1:45 however when I saw that it would reach Bangalore not before 6am next morning I decided otherwise.
By 5 I called up again. Shivananda still didn't guarantee me anything. He told me that according to the message he had received, commissioner was suppose to be in office the next day however, if there happen to be a change in plan due to election duty he could not help.

I decided to take my chances and packed my bag for the night train. By then my name had moved from waiting list to confirmed list.
I took the same train that I had taken previously. "Channama Express". But this time around I had side lower berth.
I finished reading "State of Fear" in the train. I was so much engrossed in the book that a cop had to warn me to switch off the light as it was pretty late.
I had a pretty good nap for about 5 hrs. The train reached Belgaum by 9:30. About 45 min late. I had extra energy this time around as, I though, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel in regards to my document getting attested. I offered to help 2 old ladies who were struggling to carry their bags up the stairs. They were a bit apprehensive however they gave in. I carried their back and at the end of stairs I handed over the bag. They blessed me and that itself was a kind of kick (as in when you get drunk).

I decided to ignore the auto drivers, I wanted to take the bus instead. I took the bus to the chenamma circle, had a quick breakfast and then was on my way to the commissioners office.

I met Shivanand. I was relived when he told me that commissioners was in. I handed over the Certificate.I had to remove the lamination from the back of the certificate. If you have lamination then its better to remove it, it won't hold the impression from the rubber stamp. I was asked to wait for about 2 hrs.
I had started to read "Witch of Portebello". I don't know why, it was really not my kind of a book but as I didn't have any other choice. Probably because one of my classmates had read it and she had told something dancing... I went on with it.

I happen to see two other guys loafing around the building with their backpack. I assumed that they too were waiting for the attestation. One of the guy was from Mumbai and was in Belgaum from past one week to get his work done. The other guy was from Bangalore, he had traveled to Belgaum atleast twice before and had to stay for couple of days during his second visit, trying to get his work done. Hearing their story, I really that I was lucky.

By 1pm we got our Certificate, signed by Reginal Commissioner, Belgaum. After handing over the xerox of the attested document I realized that it was time for lunch and i was suppose to feel hungry.... :-D
With newly found pals, I decided to have lunch with them and shunt my plans of leaving to Bangalore immediately after my work was done. As one of the guy was from Bangalore, we decided to take the bus together.

He did have some nice experience to share about his previous visit to Belgaum. Previously, he had left for Bangalore around mid-day, caught a Red bus to Dharward (he was told that he could get a lot of bus to Bangalore from there). After waiting for couple of hours in Dharward, he took a bus to Davengeri ( Again he was directed to do so by the locals, stating he could get buses from there) Finally in Davengere he caught the same red bus which was scheduled to leave Belgum, 4 hours after he left the place. So he was a bit skeptical about leaving early.

We had nice lunch near the bus stand, the place was suggested by the mumbai friend. He was pretty aware of the place after staying there for about a week.

We parted ways with him around 5, not before he had told us his story and what he was doing for a week in Belgaum :-D.

I decided to go to hubli and was pretty sure I could find good buses back to Bangalore from there. The other guy decided to tag along. We took the red bus. I must admit, I though that it would be difficult to sit in the red bus for over 2 hrs. But surprisingly, my new pal kept me company, talking non stop. I didn't even know how the time passed. oh.. yes.. it also rained.. really odd to rain during summer.. :-D

As per plan, we reached hubli by 7 and Rajahamsa was ready, waiting for us.. :-)

Once I boarded the bus, the next thing I know was conductor yelling "jallahalli cross". I got off in navarang and took a rick home.

My mind was already racing, planning the trip to Chennai to get the appostile.


PS: I have not even done the first reading of the above blog so you will find spell errors. and sometimes my mind races faster then my fingers can type so you might find certain words eaten up. :-) I know some people are waiting for this post so here it is.. :-)