Nightmare is over!. I lost my passport at the Dubai airport on the 16th, and ever since, it was a night mare till yesterday, when the Dubai police called me and told me about them receiving it. In fact I lost at the Dubai international airport. While checking in at the hotel, I realized that I lost it. Since I am a known guest, the hotel guys gave me a room, otherwise it would have been impossible even to get a room at Dubai without a passport. Then it was a mad rush to the police, court and immigration offices. Without my passport there was no way to even go back to my home country. It was as if Iam imprisoned in a foreign country.
At this stage, the techings of Prof. Morrie helped. I just accepted the fact that I lost my passport and I cannot get out of the country without one. I was mentally prepared to take what it takes to resolve. I lodged a complaint with the Dubai Police. To my suprise I found the Dubai police as very nice people. They infact even made tea for me. This was in full contradiction to the image of police I had. In my native land, when kids dont eat well, parents threaten them by saying ‘I will call the police’ and almost every kid grows up with a feeling that ‘Police’ as bad guys and Police stations as the place for bad guys. So whenever I enter a police station I am very nervous and in this case, I found a set of very friendly and helpful gentlemen at the Dubai airport police station. My special thanks to them.
I knelt down and prayed to Mother Mary and St.Antony and to Jesus. The very thought of my 83 year old mother and the possibility of her health deteriorating further and my inability to get out of the country had a compunded negative effect on me. It was draning me out of my peace and energy. I kept on praying, and at the same time was getting the paper work for a new passport done with the help of Mr.Bali, my friend. In Dubai, without a vehicle it is very difficult to get things done and in many places it is very difficult to get a taxi. Mr.Bali accompanied me to all these offices, proving once again that ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’!.
I did not communicate this bad news home, to avoid them getting anxious about all these. Finally one day I decided to call them tell them all that is happening to me. I picked up my mobile and dialled my home number. The call did not go through as I did not have sufficient credit. Within seconds I got a call from the Dubai police informing me the good news….’someone has deposited my lost passport at the lost and found section of dubai police at the airport’. Oh dear, the nightmare is over.
This experience made me realize the value of freedom. Now I understand much better the agony of the masses who do not have freedom. It is miserable. Now I understand better the power of prayer, when there is no hope….
If you loose ypur passport, the key steps to be done immediately;
1) Lodge a compalint to the police. This will help to avoid others misusing your passport and at the same time, police will be able to contact you, if they receive the passport.
2) Advertise in the local news paper about the loss of your passport
3) Get a letter from the police department, stating that you lost your passport
4) Contact the embassy of your country, in the country where you lost your passport. They will guide you with the subsequent formalities.
5) As far as possible, try to get a new temporary passport. Another option available is to get an outpass. Normally outpass is used for deportation, and can make your re-entry to the country difficult, hence it is always better to get a temporary new passport.
