BY ANIL SWAMY  

 

 

 

EVERY top company in our country, recruits smart MBAs to push for stylish and aggressive marketing, either on phone or in person. Even if one responds by mistake, the follow up and aggressive push by the marketing team literally devastates you. For my father’s thirteenth day ritual, both of my Fauji brothers in laws, chanced to be together for the first time since their marriage due to their far off, postings on duty. After the rituals were over, we were allowed by elders, to visit the Temple, a symbolic act to announce completion of grieving period and return to normalcy. A day later my sisters, their husbands and me went for long drive and while returning, stopped at a high end, hotel near Airport, for a wet Lunch. While stepping out, in the porch, a new Mercedes Model was being launched by a renowned film star. First time we saw a film star from such a close proximity. With lot of Fun fare and gaiety, the Star cut the red blazing tape, opened a bottle of Champagne and cut a cake, served in great style by the Hotel staff.About to call for our car, when the Marketing Executive of Mercedes, sought our introduction.

 

Mighty impressed by the profile of a Naval Commander, a Brigadier and me an Engineer In charge of Coal Mine and was quick to request us for a test drive. None of us were interested, as it wasn’t our cup of tea, but as he persistent to insist, we obliged him and all of us rode in the Beautiful Car. That fantastic feeling, still lingers with us. It was a Dream come true. The Merc Executive seemed extremely pleased with our gushing remarks and saught our addresses. Both Faujis said their place of postings can’t be disclosed, as per the protocol, but I had to reveal that I worked in a Coal Mine and was posted in an interior location near Nagpur and gave him my address and we headed back home. A week later, I got a call from the Merc Executive wanting to meet me at my residence. Alarmed! What for? I asked. ‘Wanted to discuss the technical features of your Car’ he said. I told him to forget the Car and test drive as I am not buying it, but he wouldn’t let me go. After his repeated calls, I relented and invited him after a week. That day, I was unusually busy attending some equipment repairs and could reach home by three in the afternoon to find Team Mercedes waiting for me with a brand new, shining ‘Mercedes C class’. I got down from my dusty Sarkari Jeep, attired in dirty soiled cloths and shoes, invited the men inside and since I didn’t have many chairs, requested them to pull a wooden box to sit, till I freshened up.

 

After we finished the modest lunch, smilingly, he enquired about booking for the car. Now it was too much for me. Being a service class person, I revealed my salary to educate him and that it would take over Twenty years of my salary to buy, even a Twenty years old Mercedes and it was absolutely impossible for me to buy a new one. Furious, he sat holding his head, looking pretty distraught and gloomy. He admonished me first lightly and when I didn’t defend myself, he raised his voice to condemn me and my family members for taking ‘Free Joyrides’ in the most premium Car. I reminded him that we never wanted to take the ride in Mercedes but it was their marketing team who, in their over enthusiasm, literally forced us to at least ‘feel and experience’ the Car. He was almost shouting now, called me ‘Imposter’ and screamed ‘How without any financial status, we had even dared for such rides? By now my patience had exhausted, already bone tired and over worked because of the unfinished technical task in the Mine and this person had irritated me further. I requested him to leave immediately or I would report the matter to his superiors and our Security. I finally sent him back with an advice to carefully evaluate the customers and refrain from Aggressive Marketing. But I often dream of Mercedes, even now. ‘Dil to pagal hai, Dil deewana hai’.