Chapter 1: Belgium Visa
Suddenly in September we were informed that the husband needs to be at the Brussels office on a 6 months stint. And the company was willing me to join him there.
Wow! Brussels? Europe? Wow!
Yes, but the stint begins mid September.
WhhhhaaaaaattttT????? Did I hear that right?
Yes.
Ok.
Uhfljsanvflmsznvfkdzvlmsz.,cxmzpoisejfd;lksajdf,.mszcxizjsnvflkdsncxznfsdmnvckixzjd
Suddenly life was moving 10 times faster than the day before - what to do with belongings? The apartment? Visa?
Belongings? Google hai na. Search for “Packing and Storage Bangalore” and voila! Narayani Packers. Inspect their packing methods, storage area that’s about 40 KMs outside the city, toil with the packers for 3 days, shell out Rs. 19,000/- and then some, and all should be well for the next 6 months. Hopefully. Done.
Apartment? Sorry Mr. Reddy, we love this apartment, but we will need to break the rental agreement. This is one of those situations, you know, where we need to be in Europe for 6 months. “Ok. Penalty is a month’s rent - Rs. XXXXX/-. Here’s the cheque for Rs. XXXXXXX/- your deposit. All the best!” Done.
Visa? Oh! Can’t get the work visa for the husband and dependent visa for the wife at such a short notice, noway! Husband can go on his valid business visa for now and the office will get the wife a tourist visa. Be back by November end, ok? We will investigate and keep things ready by then. You just come and get yours stamped. Ok.
And back we came. Good news was that the husband’s work visa white-card had come through. Yay! Now they would apply for mine. The passports were sent for stamping. Husband’s comes back and the travel agents come for my documents.
This was the first mistake. No, not coming for my docs, but engaging these travel agents, the godforsaken Uniglobe.
Wow! Brussels? Europe? Wow!
Yes, but the stint begins mid September.
WhhhhaaaaaattttT????? Did I hear that right?
Yes.
Ok.
Uhfljsanvflmsznvfkdzvlmsz.,cxmzpoisejfd;lksajdf,.mszcxizjsnvflkdsncxznfsdmnvckixzjd
Suddenly life was moving 10 times faster than the day before - what to do with belongings? The apartment? Visa?
Belongings? Google hai na. Search for “Packing and Storage Bangalore” and voila! Narayani Packers. Inspect their packing methods, storage area that’s about 40 KMs outside the city, toil with the packers for 3 days, shell out Rs. 19,000/- and then some, and all should be well for the next 6 months. Hopefully. Done.
Apartment? Sorry Mr. Reddy, we love this apartment, but we will need to break the rental agreement. This is one of those situations, you know, where we need to be in Europe for 6 months. “Ok. Penalty is a month’s rent - Rs. XXXXX/-. Here’s the cheque for Rs. XXXXXXX/- your deposit. All the best!” Done.
Visa? Oh! Can’t get the work visa for the husband and dependent visa for the wife at such a short notice, noway! Husband can go on his valid business visa for now and the office will get the wife a tourist visa. Be back by November end, ok? We will investigate and keep things ready by then. You just come and get yours stamped. Ok.
And back we came. Good news was that the husband’s work visa white-card had come through. Yay! Now they would apply for mine. The passports were sent for stamping. Husband’s comes back and the travel agents come for my documents.
This was the first mistake. No, not coming for my docs, but engaging these travel agents, the godforsaken Uniglobe.