Ever been to a Post Office in India? I am talking about those ancient institutions that we have in most neighbourhoods. If you belong to any one of the following categories, chances are that you haven't visited one lately.
- You prefer a courier to a speed post or parcel by post.
- You trust your bank more than post offices when it comes to monetary investments
- You don't really write letters (letter?! we have e-mails now). So you don't need stamps and hey! philately was too uncool to be your hobby.
- You don't belong to any of the above categories. In fact, you do avail all the benefits of post offices. But you prefer someone else in your family to take care of all that. You are too busy for these petty things.
So if you haven't been to a post office lately, let me try to paint a picture of it (well not literally:-)) for you.
Curtains raise.
You walk into a post office. And yes, you feel like you have been transported to the 1990s. (And we are not even talking about a time machine!). One of the first things you notice is the huge number of files and the innumerable reams of yellowed paper tucked in every corner(and you thought we did away with paper huh? You recall arguing with your friends that all records were computerised these days). Next, you see those big fat monitors with grumpy faced people tapping keys on the keyboards..tap......tap......tap...... goes the sound. Please note, its not the taptaptap that happens when u type:-).Actually no offense intended to those respectable ladies and gentlemen who work in post offices. But I believe our government never bothered to provide proper training to them (at least as far as typing is concerned). So even now, after so many years after the advent of computers, the post office staff take a few seconds to locate the keys and strike the right ones.
Anyway back to the picture, you look around and find the walls painted in colors like dirty green or a funny blue (somebody help them choose the wall colors). Oh did I mention the paint peeling off at places? Or the paan stains right near the door? After staring at those dismal walls that have dampened your spirits already, you are looking for a place to sit, so that you could sort out all the papers you brought along. And what do you spot? Were you hoping to find any of those comfy couches? Oh! I feel so bad for you then because all we have here to offer you are rickety wooden benches crowded with people already. :-P
So you give up hopes of a seat, even one on the wooden bench. You move to the high desk sort of thing that you just located at the corner. Right as you walking towards it, you find another man walking up to it. By the time u reached it, he has happily strewn his letters and is using the remnants of the glue in the glue bottle. As he has left you little desk space or even elbow space, all you can do is look at his work progress or just simply look around. By now, you are already cursing yourself for not organising the papers before stepping into this amazing place (all sarcasm intended). Finally when Mr.XYZ has finished pasting stamps on all the letters (there were really too many!) he had brought along, you get to take a glance at that desk. And yes, it looks so dirty, that you wondering whether to touch it or not. But do you have an option? In spite of hating it, that's the only place where you can sort out all the papers. As you sort them out, you realise that you have the proceeds of couple of NSCs to collect, a few stamps to buy and the most important one, a few speed posts to send to those colleges you are applying for an MBA.
You are not really familiar with post offices (as is obvious from your previous actions). So you ask someone at the counter, about the counters for stamps, NSCs and Speed posts. The lady at the counter does not even bother to look at you and says 'One queue for all'. And that is exactly when you realise that those fifteen-twenty people standing sort of haphazardly are actually a part of the queue!! But just to confirm, you ask the gentleman standing in front of you if he is the last one in the queue. Seeing the mess of a queue, you politely request the rest of the people in front of you to stand in a file. And you are surprised to find that they oblige (You smile to yourself thinking all hope is not lost).
Just as you are feeling a bit optimistic, you hear a phone ring. There is a man sitting next to it. But he seems oblivious to the 'trring trring trring' sound. Or may be he is so used to it that he doesn't notice it. Someone screams 'Pick up the phone'. But he just laughs and says 'Arre let it ring. I am busy.'(smiles again, getting back to reading the newspaper) You are feeling utterly disgusted with his attitude but his desk is not close to where you are standing. So you decide to give him a piece of your mind after you are done with your work.
It takes you more than an hour for your turn to have a word with the man at the counter. You first ask for the stamps. He commands you to provide exact change. You take a look at your wallet and realise it can't save you this time. So you smile and say a hundred rupee note is all that you can give him. He gets very irritated because of your last statement and says he cannot give you eighty rupees change. Not possible. And right then you remember the letters for speed post and you tell him about those. He gives you another angry look and says 'Why didn't you say that earlier?' (Your primary school headmaster had given you a similar look quite a few years back but that was for a more serious offence.) You are still wondering what you had just said to deserve that look from the guy at the counter. He sorts through your letters and checks the addresses on them. Looks at you again and asks 'MBA admission?' You say yes. He looks at you again and says 'But these are really the top institutes. Are you sure?' A part of you is seething with anger because he has made it very clear that he doesn't think you are good enough. But you do not let your emotions take control of your facial expressions. So all you say is 'Yes' (It feels good to notice the confidence in your voice). But the man at the counter hasn't heard it and the next thing he says is 'My son made it to IIM-B last year. First try. But yes, he has been brilliant always.' You manage to mumble 'Oh good'. By now, you realise he had not even finished typing the address for the first letter for speed post. Another five minutes and he is done with all the three. You pay him the money. And this time he does not complain about the change. You talk to him about the NSCs next. You show him the papers and ask him if you can collect the money. He smiles (sadistic smile certainly) and says counter closed at 12. You cannot collect the money today. You try to argue that you had been told the counter closes at 2:30. But he says but today it has closed at 12. He gives you a very unreasonable excuse for the same. You are then told to come back next Monday and deposit your NSC certificates. 7 days after depositing those, you would be able to collect the money. You ask him why none of this is written anywhere. He replies saying that's because everyone knows it. Now you are left utterly frustrated. But there is nothing else to you can do at the moment.
Before walking out you try to take a look at the notices, circulars and posters pasted on those dismal walls which dampened your spirits at the outset. You find that even the notices have yellowed with time but no one has bothered to take them off or put new ones in their place. There is something else that catches your attention. There are 2 huge boards listing the speed post and parcel rates. So the old and the new coexist and adorn the walls.
You are done with the post office. And you really aren't looking forward to the next time you will have to visit the place.
Curtains drop.
So that was the picture of a normal day at a post office from a common man's point of view.
On a more serious note, it pains me to see how these institutions are really not living up to their name. This has really worked in the favor of the various courier services though. (most of my friends don't even know how much a speed post costs) Another sad aspect is the interaction with the post office staff. They don't pick up phone calls. Or even if they do, they just pick up the phone and keep it aside. (This has really happened with me a few times.)It's also very hard to spot them smiling to a customer. I know their job is a difficult one. But a smile would make it easier I guess. I have made several frustrating fruitless trips to the post office that were not even necessary. Most of my trips could have been avoided if the post office staff gave me clear picture of whatever was supposed to be done. But they didn't. How I wish they had 'May I help you?' counters in post offices (and yes, with a patient, polite and pleasant person in charge of it). It is difficult to manage people, but with a bit more organisation, attention and adherence to the right methods, I am sure it can be done. As for the post office interiors, I really think they need to look cleaner and brighter. Those piles of yellowed paper and files scattered here and there or mounted on top of each other don't look good in any way. They also directly or indirectly do affect the mood of the people working there. And I wonder why they don't have separate counters for different services. That would really help clear a lot of confusion. Most o these post offices seem to be short staffed. The result is the staff present feel burdened by the load of responsibilities and become irritable. The GPOs in most of the cities look impressive and are more organised. I guess the smaller post offices could take a lesson from them. And if it comes to staff shortage, there are hundreds of unemployed but capable men and women who could do the job well. Why aren't they being hired? I wonder if the employees who interact well with the customers and work better, are recognised or given any incentives for their abilities.
I recently read about an IIM grad working for his internship at a political party. Would someone be wiling to do something like that for the Indian postal system? I wonder!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Loneliness
I guess it happens to everyone, some time or the other.
But No matter how lonely I feel, when it comes to loneliness, I am certainly not alone in this. It's something pretty interesting actually that there are many others who feel as lonely as me, at any given time.
On one of my lonely, not-so-happy days I stumbled upon this poem by Vikram Seth.
All You Who Sleep Tonight
All you who sleep tonight
Far from the ones you love,
No hand to left or right,
And emptiness above--
Know that you aren't alone.
The whole world shares your tears,
Some for two nights or one,
And some for all their years.
But No matter how lonely I feel, when it comes to loneliness, I am certainly not alone in this. It's something pretty interesting actually that there are many others who feel as lonely as me, at any given time.
On one of my lonely, not-so-happy days I stumbled upon this poem by Vikram Seth.
All You Who Sleep Tonight
All you who sleep tonight
Far from the ones you love,
No hand to left or right,
And emptiness above--
Know that you aren't alone.
The whole world shares your tears,
Some for two nights or one,
And some for all their years.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
I dreamt a dream!
Dreams are generally very amusing. They often reveal a few subconscious fears and wishes that the conscious mind has no idea about.
I have never thought of interpreting any of my dreams though that seems like an interesting idea,. But I am no Sigmund Freud so my interest in that domain is probably just a passing one.
All of us have quite a few dreams. A few that we remember and most that we dont. I never thought too much about my dreams until I had read 'Surely you're joking Mr.Feynmann' where Feynmann had penned down the analysis of his dreams. Found that pretty fascinating.I guess all of us have a string of dreams every night or even when we doze off during the day. Once I was telling a friend of mine, about a funny string of dreams that I had had the previous night and she smiled and said 'They sound like short stories'. Indeed, sometimes they do.
Just like most of you out there, I loved the movie 'Inception'. Apart from the concept of Inception, the idea of the nested dreams was quite thought provoking. It amazed me while I was watching the movie, but when I thought about it a bit I recalled that I do have nested dreams too. There was a dream in which I was narrating the details of a dream that I had had the earlier night, to a friend of mine. The best part was that I first remember having the dream that I was talking about and then I woke up (still in the dream), had a normal day and then chatted with my friend during the day and that is when I mentioned the first dream. I know it sounds a bit confusing. But I am sure you would be able to relate to it if you have had nested dreams too.(which isnt a rare thing after all)
All of us have those common dreams - failing in an exam, falling from somewhere, back at school again, parents coming for a visit, a meet up with old friends, finding someone you miss, at your doorstep, getting late for an exam/meeting, crazy disasters, the guy u have a crush on asking u out etc. Rarely though, there are a few scary and sad ones too. I did have a few of those about some friend or the other or my parents. I remember calling up to ask if they were fine the next day. There are times when I am having a dream and I am telling myself that its just a dream so there is nothing to worry.
I have quite a few funny ones too. There was one in which I spent a day in a prison only to find that the whole arrest and imprisonment thing was a prank played by one of my friends! But that dream was a nice one. I liked that one because it did help me shed a few prejudices I earlier had about prisons. This in fact, presented a pretty picture! For starters, the food was not bad. Then the convict clothes that I was given were brand new (not fashionable though. They were the same old white with black stripes as in Bollywood films.)The cells were clean and well-lit. There was a bed and a small but nice window. The dream ended very ridiculously too. Towards the end of the day, a couple of police men came to me and apologised and told me that my arrest was a mistake and that it was actually a prank played by a friend of mine and that they had no idea of the prank earlier. I could have fumed with anger at the mention of those words, but I didnt cause it was a different experience:-). Anyway I told the officers that since they caused me so much inconvenience, the least they could do for me would be to drop me home in a cab (not the police van by the way!). They heard that and then apologised again saying that they could not do that. They even told me something like, "Madam! We are really sorry. But you know the Indian police. We are on a very tight budget. So a cab would not be possible. However we could give you the bus fare till your place." (LOL!I actually do remember this from the dream quite vividly.) But I guess my disappointement at hearing those words from the police, woke me up because I could not recall anything about the dream after that dialogue.
There was another ridiculous one where my Ma, sis and I sort of stole a taxi. Not exactly stole it but used it to get to our destination and left it there.:-) Dreams have many of these conflicting details. Like, for example my Ma is a totally law-abiding person. To think she would drive the stolen taxi! impossible! And then the fact that it was a yellow taxi like the ones here in Kolkata but the dream was set in Chennai. (Sounds like a movie :-D). Then comes the fact that none of the ever vigilant traffic police officers or the passers-by noticed anything amiss!
The best dreams are the ones in which I am sure I am dreaming but I do not want to wake up. I love it when I can pick up a dream from where I left it a couple of minutes back.
Anyway, I do hope all this dreaming does me some good. Like some day if I make a movie out of the amusing dreams I have :-). Akira Kurosawa actually made one!
I have never thought of interpreting any of my dreams though that seems like an interesting idea,. But I am no Sigmund Freud so my interest in that domain is probably just a passing one.
All of us have quite a few dreams. A few that we remember and most that we dont. I never thought too much about my dreams until I had read 'Surely you're joking Mr.Feynmann' where Feynmann had penned down the analysis of his dreams. Found that pretty fascinating.I guess all of us have a string of dreams every night or even when we doze off during the day. Once I was telling a friend of mine, about a funny string of dreams that I had had the previous night and she smiled and said 'They sound like short stories'. Indeed, sometimes they do.
Just like most of you out there, I loved the movie 'Inception'. Apart from the concept of Inception, the idea of the nested dreams was quite thought provoking. It amazed me while I was watching the movie, but when I thought about it a bit I recalled that I do have nested dreams too. There was a dream in which I was narrating the details of a dream that I had had the earlier night, to a friend of mine. The best part was that I first remember having the dream that I was talking about and then I woke up (still in the dream), had a normal day and then chatted with my friend during the day and that is when I mentioned the first dream. I know it sounds a bit confusing. But I am sure you would be able to relate to it if you have had nested dreams too.(which isnt a rare thing after all)
All of us have those common dreams - failing in an exam, falling from somewhere, back at school again, parents coming for a visit, a meet up with old friends, finding someone you miss, at your doorstep, getting late for an exam/meeting, crazy disasters, the guy u have a crush on asking u out etc. Rarely though, there are a few scary and sad ones too. I did have a few of those about some friend or the other or my parents. I remember calling up to ask if they were fine the next day. There are times when I am having a dream and I am telling myself that its just a dream so there is nothing to worry.
I have quite a few funny ones too. There was one in which I spent a day in a prison only to find that the whole arrest and imprisonment thing was a prank played by one of my friends! But that dream was a nice one. I liked that one because it did help me shed a few prejudices I earlier had about prisons. This in fact, presented a pretty picture! For starters, the food was not bad. Then the convict clothes that I was given were brand new (not fashionable though. They were the same old white with black stripes as in Bollywood films.)The cells were clean and well-lit. There was a bed and a small but nice window. The dream ended very ridiculously too. Towards the end of the day, a couple of police men came to me and apologised and told me that my arrest was a mistake and that it was actually a prank played by a friend of mine and that they had no idea of the prank earlier. I could have fumed with anger at the mention of those words, but I didnt cause it was a different experience:-). Anyway I told the officers that since they caused me so much inconvenience, the least they could do for me would be to drop me home in a cab (not the police van by the way!). They heard that and then apologised again saying that they could not do that. They even told me something like, "Madam! We are really sorry. But you know the Indian police. We are on a very tight budget. So a cab would not be possible. However we could give you the bus fare till your place." (LOL!I actually do remember this from the dream quite vividly.) But I guess my disappointement at hearing those words from the police, woke me up because I could not recall anything about the dream after that dialogue.
There was another ridiculous one where my Ma, sis and I sort of stole a taxi. Not exactly stole it but used it to get to our destination and left it there.:-) Dreams have many of these conflicting details. Like, for example my Ma is a totally law-abiding person. To think she would drive the stolen taxi! impossible! And then the fact that it was a yellow taxi like the ones here in Kolkata but the dream was set in Chennai. (Sounds like a movie :-D). Then comes the fact that none of the ever vigilant traffic police officers or the passers-by noticed anything amiss!
The best dreams are the ones in which I am sure I am dreaming but I do not want to wake up. I love it when I can pick up a dream from where I left it a couple of minutes back.
Anyway, I do hope all this dreaming does me some good. Like some day if I make a movie out of the amusing dreams I have :-). Akira Kurosawa actually made one!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Dear Today
Dear Today,
I have been waiting to see you for a long time.
I have often wondered how you will be like. Now that you are finally here, I am really excited. Wonder if you have any surprises in store for me! Anyway, I have made grand plans for the next 24 hours.(Though I am not great when it comes to sticking to my plans, I shall try my best this time, I promise!:-))
While I feel great that I shall finally get to know you and celebrate with you, the thought you will be here only for the next few hours, makes me sad.
Anyway, I hope we will have a great time together and the memory of these few hours will be etched on my mind for a long time to come.
Cheers,
Me
I have been waiting to see you for a long time.
I have often wondered how you will be like. Now that you are finally here, I am really excited. Wonder if you have any surprises in store for me! Anyway, I have made grand plans for the next 24 hours.(Though I am not great when it comes to sticking to my plans, I shall try my best this time, I promise!:-))
While I feel great that I shall finally get to know you and celebrate with you, the thought you will be here only for the next few hours, makes me sad.
Anyway, I hope we will have a great time together and the memory of these few hours will be etched on my mind for a long time to come.
Cheers,
Me
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Just a smile..thats all, really!
Ever wondered why the guy walking down the road was smiling to himself? What was the little thing that made his lips curl up at the ends and change his facial expression totally? I remember something that we used to say a long time back at school when we were kids. We used to say that one should not smile or laugh to oneself cause thats something the insane do.
But in spite of this, there are times that all of us end up smiling to ourselves or may be if not at ourseleves, at a situation. It may be a song with beautiful lyrics or something that stirs awake the nostalgia in us or a fellow passenger's antics on the bus or could be an innovative, amusing ad that u happen to spot for the first time. One does not necessarily smile only when she/he finds something funny or amusing, it might be something that makes her/him feel happy or contented.
Coming to think of it, a smile is something very beautiful. Came across this somewhere -“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” Its funny how this tiny thing called a smile can totally change a situation. (I know how cute kids get away with their pranks after flashing a sweet, innocent smile that can simply make your heart melt and wonder how could u even think of punishing such a sweet angel!:-)). Smile is a great stress-buster, one of the best cosmetics, an ice-breaker, conversation-starter, mood-lifter and what not! A smile makes one feel good about oneself and brightens up his mood. And of course, laughter is all that and more.
Ever noticed how most people act inside an elevator? Everyone either looks ahead or looks down or pretends to read something or pretends to be seriously pondering over something and there is of course the majority who just observe the people around.:-) But there is also this minority who are so soaked and drenched in humour that they cant afford not to leave a trace of it inside the elevator. I am sure most of us would have heard those ridiculously funny comments and sarcasm often at the expense of another poor bloke in the same elevator, and silently chuckled at the situation part of us pitying the poor guy (might be a girl too).* These instances do lighten one's mood and bring a smile to their face.
When I was young, I remember many instances when I used to smile at strangers I liked or someone who happened to ask my name or pulled my cheeks or may be someone who offered to make me sit on their lap when my parents could not get a seat in the bus. I do remember those numerous instances when Deepika and I used wave and smile at strangers who passed by on the road as our school van trudged along to drop us home from school:-). Even that brings a smile to my face when I realize how naive, innocent and simple we were back then. Though I dont remember much of it,but I am sure my first friends were the ones who
smiled at me or returned a smile. I guess that was also just about the only thing which my little sister could do when she was a baby and hadnt started to talk.
As kids we laughed and smiled so often. We never even thought if teh situation demanded a smile. It just came to us spontaneously when we played with our dolls, or role-played as teachers, or watched with glee as our cars beat our friends', or as we grabbed chocolates offered by someone. But it makes me sad to think how many of us lost that innocent, naive smile somewhere down the line. Though all of us know that a smile is all that I have written above (shan't repeat:-)). We somehow dont use that so often. We use smiley emoticons more often than we actually smile. A few weeks back, I smiled at a group of kindergarten kids going to school and God! they stared back at me as if I committed a crime or something!! Rarely does one
come across kids who spontaneously smile at a well-meaning stranger.These days, there are so many times when I feel good and feel like smiling at someone passing by, but because of a few past experiences I dont do that anymore. Some ppl dont recognize a smile as just an expression; they try to read hard into it and thats the sad part. Such misunderstandings generally happen with the opposite gender. Thats sad I know. But many times when one smiles at someone (of the opposite gender), they assume it to be an act of encouraging a conversation. And then we all know the rest of the story - Barrage of pointless questions - may I know your name, what do u do, where do u stay, can I have your phn number blah blah blah. Why cant people understand that its just a smile, thats all, really?
* BTW this was about the elevators in the out-an-out corporate offices. Not talking about the cool offices where no one minds even if u don a t-shirt and a pair of shorts on a workday.:-) I am also not talking about the elevators we had back in college, where all we did was either scream or giggle incessantly (and ya that would be us girls giggling:-))
But in spite of this, there are times that all of us end up smiling to ourselves or may be if not at ourseleves, at a situation. It may be a song with beautiful lyrics or something that stirs awake the nostalgia in us or a fellow passenger's antics on the bus or could be an innovative, amusing ad that u happen to spot for the first time. One does not necessarily smile only when she/he finds something funny or amusing, it might be something that makes her/him feel happy or contented.
Coming to think of it, a smile is something very beautiful. Came across this somewhere -“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” Its funny how this tiny thing called a smile can totally change a situation. (I know how cute kids get away with their pranks after flashing a sweet, innocent smile that can simply make your heart melt and wonder how could u even think of punishing such a sweet angel!:-)). Smile is a great stress-buster, one of the best cosmetics, an ice-breaker, conversation-starter, mood-lifter and what not! A smile makes one feel good about oneself and brightens up his mood. And of course, laughter is all that and more.
Ever noticed how most people act inside an elevator? Everyone either looks ahead or looks down or pretends to read something or pretends to be seriously pondering over something and there is of course the majority who just observe the people around.:-) But there is also this minority who are so soaked and drenched in humour that they cant afford not to leave a trace of it inside the elevator. I am sure most of us would have heard those ridiculously funny comments and sarcasm often at the expense of another poor bloke in the same elevator, and silently chuckled at the situation part of us pitying the poor guy (might be a girl too).* These instances do lighten one's mood and bring a smile to their face.
When I was young, I remember many instances when I used to smile at strangers I liked or someone who happened to ask my name or pulled my cheeks or may be someone who offered to make me sit on their lap when my parents could not get a seat in the bus. I do remember those numerous instances when Deepika and I used wave and smile at strangers who passed by on the road as our school van trudged along to drop us home from school:-). Even that brings a smile to my face when I realize how naive, innocent and simple we were back then. Though I dont remember much of it,but I am sure my first friends were the ones who
smiled at me or returned a smile. I guess that was also just about the only thing which my little sister could do when she was a baby and hadnt started to talk.
As kids we laughed and smiled so often. We never even thought if teh situation demanded a smile. It just came to us spontaneously when we played with our dolls, or role-played as teachers, or watched with glee as our cars beat our friends', or as we grabbed chocolates offered by someone. But it makes me sad to think how many of us lost that innocent, naive smile somewhere down the line. Though all of us know that a smile is all that I have written above (shan't repeat:-)). We somehow dont use that so often. We use smiley emoticons more often than we actually smile. A few weeks back, I smiled at a group of kindergarten kids going to school and God! they stared back at me as if I committed a crime or something!! Rarely does one
come across kids who spontaneously smile at a well-meaning stranger.These days, there are so many times when I feel good and feel like smiling at someone passing by, but because of a few past experiences I dont do that anymore. Some ppl dont recognize a smile as just an expression; they try to read hard into it and thats the sad part. Such misunderstandings generally happen with the opposite gender. Thats sad I know. But many times when one smiles at someone (of the opposite gender), they assume it to be an act of encouraging a conversation. And then we all know the rest of the story - Barrage of pointless questions - may I know your name, what do u do, where do u stay, can I have your phn number blah blah blah. Why cant people understand that its just a smile, thats all, really?
* BTW this was about the elevators in the out-an-out corporate offices. Not talking about the cool offices where no one minds even if u don a t-shirt and a pair of shorts on a workday.:-) I am also not talking about the elevators we had back in college, where all we did was either scream or giggle incessantly (and ya that would be us girls giggling:-))
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Fear of firsts!
After close to two years of signing up on Blogspot, I guess i will pen down (or rather type out) a few words after all. :-) The problem is I have always wanted to write but somehow the lazy me never gets around to getting started with it. So after coupla years of posting long comments on my friends' blog posts, let me give them a chance to do so on mine too :-)..
As this is a first post, let me not dwell on this any more. This time i promise to make a comeback as soon as I find a compelling thought or a train of thought that drives my fingers to the keyboard and makes them dance on the keypad to compose something that might be worth everyones' time. So till then, see you soon.
P.S. this is my first post. So ppl no criticism allowed. :-)
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