A three-hour worth wait

It was one of those days which now and then every working journalists faces while reporting in the field. It didn't start well at all. While cultivating sources for the story, I came across some phone numbers. I started by calling to the office of Tamil Nadu Government Employees' Associations (TNGEA) which was never picked up for six times in a row. And, the seventh attempt didn't do much wonder either. A lady on the other side responded and just cut the phone before I could even explain my purpose of calling them. I just wanted to ask them at what time can I be there so I can talk to someone who holds official position. However, as I have to go anyway, I decided to leave as early as possible.

The same story again repeated. After taking off the MRTS at Thiruvallikeni Station, I again took the wrong root even after asking almost everyone who was passing by. After going around the place for twenty-minutes, I reached the place which was on the other side of the station, meaning I had gone completely wrong way.

There it was – the building of the TNGEA. I was reluctant to go inside as the ground floor gave the impression of a printing press office as there were piles of books and other magazines scattered all over. The first person I met there confirmed that I was at the right place.

Building of TNGEA 

I went inside and inquired about the place and right person to speak to. Alas, no one was available to talk. They asked me to wait till 6 p.m. before someone would turn up. I was hesitant. Should I stay or wait? I decided to wait as it was the not the only source I had for my story but also the most significant one. I was handed over a three-page press-release which was of no use to me as it was in Tamil. And then, my wait outside the office began.

I called the vice-president of the organization, K. Raghuraman. To my pleasant surprise, he said he would be there within ten-minutes. I waited and waited before realising  the ten-minute deadline had crossed hour and then another hour. During the never-ending-waiting period, I was scanning every face and vehicles passing by, expecting him to turn out. I was watching over all the vehicles coming towards me before they would take either sharp left or right turn. So it was three hours of wait.

This was the longest ever wait for me in my brief history of working as journalist back home in Nepal or as a student here in Chennai. However, this is what happens in day-to-day journalism when we are out in the field. Luckily, my source appeared even nearly after three hours. In some cases, they never appear. I had heard of such tales while waiting outside the office for a government official or at a café or anywhere for other sources. I experienced it today. However, it was worth waiting every single second.

K. Raghuraman, vice-president of Tamil Nadu Government Employee's Association (TNGEA). 

My source was full of knowledge and articulate as he was clear with his point and moreover he could speak fluent  English, making my job much easier. I always learn something new from my every assignment and today was not different. I learnt about so many ideas that I had never heard before. He explained to me the Seventh Pay Commission, its recommendations, its implementation and every aspects of it. Thanks to him I could learn some basics about the administrative sides of the Indian government which as an outsider was new to me.

A day well-spent waiting for my source was a day I learnt more than any other day.