I know i have been pretty lazy in doing this but it's better late than never.
Here is how i got my b-40 (take note of the name - that's what we'll always refer it as)
I ordered one b-40 from Mike Melick of
http://airgunartisans.com/flyingdragon/
you could also mail him at
[email protected]
It as guessed already is .177, the payment was made by my brother - what better to rob your elder brother
The air rifle was sent (USPS) on the 8th of april and left the us shore on 10th. Waited for about a month for a notification from the foreign post office but in vain. Tried tracking but all it showed was the day it left the US coast. Finally on may 13th i called up my local post office wondering if any notification has been sent for me and they refused only telling me the best place to get such information would be the foreign post office.
Taking his advice i called up foreign P.O. first 20 calls they dont bother to answer, then finally someone on their end wakes up and picks the phone. i tell them the whole thing and they asked me for the USPS tracking No. After taking the USPS tracking No. they give me a new Speed post code or something and ask me to call the custom superintendent on ******** number. i speak to some chap named Rajan, who assures me that my parcel is with their department and i can come whenever and get things sorted out.
Finally on the 16th i get a half day and go to meet Mr. Rajan who had asked me to come at 2:30 P.M. when I reach there guess what Mr. Rajan isn't there (now where have I heard that one before). So I wait, wait and wait and HE FINALLY SHOWS UP after an hour and snubs me off saying that this is not his case it's under Mr. Sharma. The man who sits in that A.C. cabin.
Just as i enter this cabin i fall in love - something we'll discuss when i am too drunk or …
Mr. Sharma tells me at 3:30 that he's too tired and i should come tomorrow besides i cant get it done today so what's the point of starting it. But a renowned shot who was there with a reference from the Gaziabad commissioner had her rifle out and handed over to her, while i was still requesting him to start it today
.
After a while it felt like i'm pleading to the wall or an empty chair which refuses to move
So off i go to office in a sh!t mood EMPTY HANDED
The next morning i reach there 10:10 (considering they open at 9 a.m.) and sit around till 11:30 when Mr. Nair (the hero of this story) walks up to me, he's like W*F are you boys doing here this early, this is a Govt. office no one comes so early. And of course offers to help me with my file. He asks me for my photo ID, once he reads it, he starts taking names of people i seemed to know, only realizing that he was my NEIGHBOR. And after that things went smooth. He got my file ready for me, filled up required things and documents. And when someone would go missing he'd go and get their signatures from thin air - i wonder how he did that, but yes it wouldnt have been possible without him. Mr. sharma was a senior chap who was required to sign on everything and by the end of the day was by buddy (thanks to those extra smokes i carried). Mr. Rajan also became dam sweet after Mr. Nair re-introduced me.
Finally the file was all ready (after around 6 signatures from 4 people) and i had seen the beauty kept under dust in the P.O. The last signature required were that of Mr. Asst. Commissioner of customs was away till 3'o clock. Finally he came and i was hushed in to get my file signed. No issues till now. Now i needed to get some postal sheet signed, once that was done it was goodbye customs and welcome P.O. Got it done in 20 minutes (it required signatures from 4 different people) and off i go running to the P.O.
Once there i get it signed by two people and quickly i run to this grumpy old man (no offense meant to members of this forum) who only had to sign a document and i would have the air rifle in my hand. But he refused. I got in Mr. Nair to put in a word but even he was turned down and the man closed his file and said 'Kal aana, tumhari rifle chod dengein' closed his register and left for home and 4:45. Pissed after spending the whole day there with nothing to carry back i say thanks to Mr. Nair and Mr. Sharma and a wave to everyone there who thought i was some kind of a shooter (yes the ones you see in movies) and come back to office crying like my toffee was taken by a monkey
Monday i call my local P.O. to enquire about the rifle and no one picks up. Tuesday was an off, Wednesday i keep calling them and this lady picks up the phone and confirms my packet is there. By now i'm already so excited i barely can work, so i get in my car rush to the P.O.
At the P.O. i met this very sweet lady who didnt even ask me what i had got or where's my photo ID. She just asked me to sign few papers and get the same entered at someone's reister. Once done i pay her the duty and thank her - all she says was you're welcome and be careful with your rifle, I’m still wondering how she knew whats in the packet (I think she was a psychic). i rush out of there with my packet and start calling people only to shout it out aloud – IT’S HERE
*
And she shoots like a beauty
Cheers
Siddharth
*All words written here are my account/views and are not to be taken seriously
• Mr. Nair being my neighbour is solely a coincident and not something planned
• The girl I fell in love with at the custom office was not by chance but for a reason
• Typos found in this document cannot be pointed out in public – even my boss is a member here
• Yes this is the best I could write in 45 minutes, so try understanding all you can and if you have any doubts feel free to P.M the person who wrote it.
