Last night I had a dream. I was standing somewhere in the Himalayas and doing some sort of a penance. When Lord Shiva (I think!) appeared before me satisfied with my performance, sorry penance (appraisal terms are hard to forget) and asked me for a boon, my happiness knew no bounds. The winds blew violently, the birds sang happily, the temple bells rang loudly to celebrate my happiness. Without missing a beat I said,
‘Thank you Lord Shiva! As for my boon, please make people respond to my mails.’
Lord Shiva was puzzled at something which he thought was too simple to be worthy of a boon. He repeated what I said and asked if I was sure about what I wanted. I reaffirmed and briefed him about my experiences.
Some people consider themselves way too important to respond to a mail immediately. It is considered good manners to respond to an email at the earliest possible. So naturally not many respond. It would take about 4 to 5 carefully timed reminders, luck and some black magic to get them to respond. And if they don’t provide adequate updates, we need to mail them again and start praying.
Some people delay responding citing 2 reasons. Either they don’t have the required information or they aren’t the right point of contact. My point is what’s wrong in letting the other person know that instead of making them wait. Some people have been courteous enough to let me know that they would need some time to get back to me. I appreciate that. At least I know what’s going on. The worst of all is when you keep following up for something and after a week the recipients say that they aren’t the actual point of contact.
I realized Lord Shiva was getting impatient and spared him the story of those who do not respond even after a hundred follow-ups. After listening to all this Lord Shiva smiled to himself. I was wondering what could be funny about this. He apologized and said, ‘You human beings seem to rely more on luck than your skills.’
I smiled and said. I’m sure the manufacturer wanted the humans designed that way, lest we forget the creator. 🙂
He smiled, granted me the boon and disappeared. I woke up with a start and went over what happened in the dream. I felt different. I felt happy. Something told me that the boon was not a dream. Something about that felt real. I couldn’t wait to test my new power. If only this boon helped me to get quicker responses. Only time will tell!
As the Mind Wanders... 
No chance – the boon becoming real. I have even got responses months after I sent the initial mail! I wonder how they even find my mail after so many months. Some strange email etiquette, that 🙂
Destination Infinity
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Interesting and a very refreshing read for a Sunday morning. With a coffee in my hand..i smiled as i read each line you had written…
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You should have checked your mails to see if your boon was granted!
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Be careful what you pray for, you just might get it
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Hahaha… I can so relate to it. So, if I write you an email, I will get a prompt reply. Btw, this seems work related.
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You have wasted the boon for a flimsy cause!!!You could have asked for something better.
Not responding to mails ,official or personal,is akin to not answering when a question is put in person to another.It is bad manners.If the response needs some extra information,an interim reply would be appropriate.Keeping silent is incivility..Sadly this malaise is widely prevalent.
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The post would bring smile to any face. It is earnest and fanciful. Hope Siva would go cyber to make the boon happen. There are people who do not attend calls on the phone until a dozen odd rings. Sense of being important and busy!!!
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Interim reply? In India? Here is the interim reply (my imagination):”Received your mail.. The issue you have raised is under active consideration.” Translation: In our priority, it is after plague and typhoid.
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Haha. Such a hilarious and innovative take on the e-mail etiquette many people follow today. Can't wait to check back with you if the boon worked – I really hope it does!
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Haha. I have never come across this kind of a delayed response.
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Thank you!
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I'm not sure from when the boon will be activated 😉
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Oh, how I wish I get it 😉
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Oh yes! 🙂 and yes again 🙂
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KP Sir, flimsy cause? No way.
I dont think you have any idea how difficult it is when you send about 30 to 40 mails everyday and wait for people to respond. And well said Sir. It's so common, that it is no longer a big deal!
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@SG : Some people do respond that way. The just say that they've acknowledged the mail and will get back. However not everyone promptly responds.
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Thank you Anil! Well Said, sometimes people want to be seen busy irrespective of whether they are, in reality. Sigh!
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Haha. Thanks Arti 🙂 Even I'm waiting to see from when it would be activated 🙂
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Lol:)..even personal mails are not replied immediately…
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Whoa! Sounds like a really lucid dream! 🙂
Wishing for email replies in your dream is amazing! Lord Shiva must be impressed and he must be working on making your wish work 😀 🙂
This post brought a smile to my face! Lovely!
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So, any luck yet?!! 😀
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I think that was just a dream Ashwini 😉 I really dont think people will improve their email communication even if the boon is granted..
I agree with your views. What I do (have been doing for the past few years now) when I need something urgent is I send the person a mail, wait for 5 minutes, then call that person and inform him that I have sent him an email and I need the data in about an hours time. The guy will either say he is working on it and will send it in 2 hrs (which is fine with me) or will say he doesnt have the data and I have to contact team X for it. Either way I make sure things are moving on. The drawback of this plan is that people get frustrated when I call them to remind them of email, but I am ready to live with it since work doesnt get hampered.. 😀
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Right did you read my email then 🙂 he he he he
you are so right.. people will sometimes only respond when they want something for themselves, I find this at work so atrocious..
I do hope your wish comes true for sure ..
Bikram's
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Sigh! tell me about it 🙂
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I think Lord Shiva has already started working on my wish 🙂
Glad it made you smile. Thank you 🙂
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I think the winds are blowing in my favour 😉
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That's a good way to get people to respond. But the problem is, I wouldn't have the phone numbers of those whom I want to contact, so very dependent on mails and communicators that way. And yes, sometimes people get annoyed at the multiple reminders, but they need to understand that there wouldn't be multiple reminders if they'd replied in the first place 🙂
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You'd sent me a mail? I'm sorry but I dont think I got it.
Let's leave personal mails, when someone mails at work, it's obvious it's for some reason, I dont understand why people dont get that. Sigh!
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OM NAMAH SHIVAY — VERY Humorous and Refreshing Blog.
Amit lamba
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Thanks!
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how easy is it that Lord Shiva grants wishes?
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how easy is it that Lord Shiva grants wishes?
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OM NAMA SHIVAYA
Lord Shiva also asked me what I want. I said that I want knowledge. He said: “Are you sure?” Then, I became bewildered and asked myself “Did I say something wrong?”. And He disappeared. Now, in my opinion, He had granted it.
O everyone, the Lord is very dear to His devotees!
Hey everyone, my Guru taught me that we should not ask for anything because only seeing Him is a great boon. If the Lord don’t let you leave without a boon, only asked for Divine Love, Divine Vision, Divine Service and nothing more. My Guru taught me so =))
If you asked for that with a PURE HEART, that’s Ok.
After reading your post, I realize that the Supreme Lord usually asks “Are you sure?” before granting. That’s very bewildering because what had been asked could be a boon and a curse also. So let’s use what’s granted for welfare of all people, to please the Lord. =]]
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