Just like India...

Typical.

Actually, the situation in India might still be a little better.

1:30: Get through a somewhat-English-understanding official at the National Human Rights Committee.

"I don't understand what you say," she says. "Come here. Come to office."

"But you close at 2.00 right?"

"Yes, but still... come here."

Outside temperature: 45 Degrees

Humidity: KILLING (That's all I know and you need to know)

But when did that ever stop me?

Reached there. Where? Near there somewhere. Another point I should really make is that there is no system of addresses in Qatar. There are no addresses. Like for example in Delhi my address is B-25 Press Enclave, Saket, etc etc. There is no such thing here.

People direct you to places by saying, Qatar Airways yellow Building, then right from there and then left from the next turn till you reach a White Building... etc etc.

Exactly what she told me, "Mid Mac Building... take right... come straight... then you see a Yellow Building. That's NHRC."

Okkk.

Once I turned right from Mid Mac, I saw 300 yellow buildings and then got confused. The cab driver refused to go any further without me knowing the proper address. So got off there, looked around for some signboards. None.

Called up again, standing in the heat, in the middle of the highway.

"I am at the SAS Sports Centre, where is NHRC. There are so many yellow buildings here," I say, sweating like a --- whatever the analogy is(?)...

"Oh no no. It's 1:49 now. Closed."

"What????!!!!"

I screamed and shouted, but she didn't understand a word I was saying. Just kept telling me, "Come tomorrow."

And I return, the anger subsided, I sit here (well aware I just gotta deal with all this)... waiting for tomorrow.

The point being the official does not know yet I am a reporter/journalist. She thinks I, aggrieved, have a complaint to make. It's what I've told her. So I kinda know now how a common person must really have to find his/her way around here.

This happens in India too eh? The same thing. Office closed now, lunch time... come later.

Same thing... absolutely same thing here. Only, unlike India, here they're absolutely dead sure they won't work a minute beyond their working hours. No matter who you are.

In India, a great contact, or some money under the table... and the hours can be extended pretty much till as and when you want.

(Refer to post below if you have no idea what I'm talking about)