Priceless

Jakarta never ceases to amaze us. This one incident had Pratap and me throw up our hands in the air and resign to our fate.

The relocators (‘movers and shakers’ as I now call them) had damaged the frame of our Ganesh Tanjore painting. Photographs were taken, damage evaluated, forms filled in triplicate and the claim finally forwarded to the insurance company headquartered in the US. Pratap insisted, as is his wont, that the Ganesh painting be restored and returned in time for Christmas. (?????) The Indonesian staff of the relocation company looked perplexed at this strange request but abided. The picture was returned on Christmas Day!

With much correspondence going to and fro between a Ms Heng, a Mr Tam and ours truly, Mr Rana, a claim of $18 was approved and agreed upon. The cheque, which was issued by the HQ of the insurance company arrived from New York with the new year and a gleeful Mr Rana went to bank it.

The ‘wanita’ at the bank greeted him with a warm cheerful smile – and Pratap smugly placed the $18 cheque on the counter. “No ploblem mistah,” the clerk announced, “ but it take one month.”

“Oh! Not a problem,” said Pratap with a superior wave of his hand.

“And there will be $10 charge as transaction fee,” she said.

“Okay never mind,” said Pratap with a resigned shrug “something’s better than nothing.”

“And $7 fee for correspondence banking,” she continued.

“That leaves me with $1,” said Pratap thinking aloud.

“Not really Mistah” said the clerk, “finally $2 will be charged as processing fee” hammering the last nail into the coffin and sending Pratap back home with the cheque tucked safely under his arm.

Well we’ve now framed the cheque and intend to keep it on our mantelpiece back home – for there will be many a winter evening over a cognac, beside a log fire and in the company of friends when it shall be the focus of our conversation – bringing back fond memories of Jakarta and making this $18 cheque absolutely priceless!