I called my cellular network the other day. After punching in my phone number and a few other extensions, I was put on hold, and then told, "Your call is important to us." Of course it was, or they wouldn't have put me on hold for just 12 minutes.

So the Customer Service Executive (different from the Billing Executive I had asked for?) came on, and asked the customary questions. I asked something, and I was put on hold again, then I asked another question, and was on hold yet again. And I'm not a classical music listener, so it was a learning experience for me, in a way.

After more holding time and less talking time, I finally hung up, the process complete but unsatisfying. If the customers were so precious why put them through this hell? And where are our educated Indians, with excellent communication skills and being underpaid? And the efficiency for which Indian call centres are well-known?

I forgot. They are busy talking to clients in the US and UK. We get lots of foreign exchange, and even more bad service in return.