Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The Phone Call ......

With my marriage on cards, I tried my hand, or should I say my luck, at the online matrimonies hosted by various organizations. I tried the popular ones like bharat matrimony, jeevansaathi and shaadi.com, but didn’t find them interesting. The other day I was searching on google for marathi matrimonies when I came across this site; matriseach. The site intrigued me and I registered to have a look and feel of what it offered. I didn’t know my life was going for a roller coaster ride.

The next day I had a mail from matrisearch saying that Samo was interested in my profile. What a hit rate, like a desperate bachelor I immediately replied asking for her photo and other details. The next day I received the following mail from Samo……

Hello Sweet heart,

I thank you for your mail and it gives me a great joy to know your mind. I believe if i tell you my problem you can still help me. my ready name is jessica k thomas.

I am writing you this mail only to sick for your assistance in good faith. After reading my mail i will want you to bear with my request and be of good assistance to me, because bad people in this world has made us not to trust the good once again. Before anything i will want you to put all your trust in God, with his holy and merciful name all things are possible.

Well, My name really is Ms.Jessica E Thomas an 23years old girl, the only daughter of My Late Father Dr. Edward Thomas , for your information, I am now in a refugee camp here in Abidjan-Cote D’Ivoire, for the transferring of our Money to your country.

Be informed that my father and mother died 5 mouths ago in a car accident, when they where coming back from Church. Before my Late Father died, he called me personally that he made a deposit of (US$8,500,000.) Eight million five hundred United state dollars. In a BANK here in Abidjan-CoteD’Ivoire.
In addition, all i needed is a God fearing person that will assist me to transfer the money to his account, because i am too small to receive the money myself,and the law of this country those not allow anybody in refugee camp to open an account. So that is why i needed your assistance as i am the next of kin to the money. And after you receive the money in your country all i will need from you is stated below :

1) A letter of invitation that will enable me to obtain visa to your country.
2) For you to assist me to further my education in your country.
3) To assist me and invest the money in a good business in your country.
iv) What percentage of the total money will be ok for you.

As soon as i read from you, i will give you all the vital documents that covers the Money in the Bank, and write a letter of authauthorisation your behalf that will
authauthorise as my partner to make claims of the Money on my behalf.

Thanks and God bless.

YOU CAN CALL ON THIS PHONE/0022506307863

Yours.

Ms. Jessica Thomas


I was shocked, an expatriate had initiated a contact and now wanted me to get her back India. A nice bait of 8 fu**ing million dollars, a percentage of which I would be entitled for on her safe and legal entry into the country. This was a plot, a trap or someone really fooling around with a 5 milligram tumor balanced on her shoulders.

But out of sheer curiosity I called up that number from my office landline as I had international access from my desk. To my surprise Jessica picked it up and we talked for few minutes. She was soft spoken and she broke into tears as she narrated her story. I said I really couldn’t help her out much as I didn’t even know where Abidjan-CoteD’Ivoire was and was not aware of legalities of getting an expatriate back to India. She sobbed and then said it was kind of me to at least call her and wished me good luck in my future endeavors.

The next morning was as if hell breaking loose. I was seated in my cubicle when my desk phone rang flashing ‘Reception calling’. I answered it and to my horror, it was the Admin head on the line requesting me to come down as the police wanted to see me. The police, I thought it was a joke and simply hung up. Within five minutes the company security personnel came and seized me. They asked me to coordinate otherwise they would have to use force. As I walked out of the escalator, I saw a bunch of policeman waiting for me. They said they will have to take me for interrogation regarding some international links. A big plan was being hatched and funded from here. They had my phone records, my email printouts and I was in mess.

As we started walking towards their jeep, I pushed one of the guards and started running down the stairs of the main porch. I slipped on one of the steps and lost my balance and there was excruciating pain in my foot. I woke up in the middle of the night only to realize that I had banged my foot against the wall due to which it was hurting.

The next morning I promptly deleted Samo’s mail from my mail box.

Ps: You all know me, I leave it to you to believe it or not. Some facts: Abidjan-CoteD’Ivoire is a place somewhere in Africa. There is a matrisearch online matrimony.