Call-Call

The client of my project being a UK based company, needs us to make many onsite-offshore, offshore-offshore, offshore-offshore-onsite calls.
These are mostly when there’s a need to make sure the system you are working on can connect properly and exchange data with the immediate next. This procedure is called next box testing and usually brings forth many data inconsistencies or convention controversies, or simply configuration problems. And each ‘black box’ being controlled by a different company, invariably tries to blame the issue on the other. And then the issue is escalated, till someone finds out that its some really stupid mistake which is unfortunately on both ends… and then it’s all hushed up. All this goes on thru mail and calls and Conference calls. The calls can last for hours, days and weeks. And nothing constructive may come out of it. First it is a few new people, and introductions, and info exchange on what needs to be done. Then it is the basic doubts and issues solving, till a big issue crops up. Then it becomes a routine of listening to people blame each other directly or indirectly. And then it becomes just some voices coming out of the speaker, adding to the noise of the cubicle. And then when finally the systems are working, there’s the task of actually testing, which was the main aim of all in the first place.
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I give him a ring at 10.30 am:
Me: “ hello. Is this X?”
X: “ yes, Madhura, shal we start the testing?”
Me: (duh!) “yes, sure, should I send you the request?”
X: “no let me get the system up, it will take 5 mins”
Me: “okay, let me know once you are ready”
---------- 15 minutes later---------------
Me: “umm, hi X can I send the request now?”
X: “hi Madhura, there seems to be some problem here, we are working on it.”
Me: “o I c… um, then could you give me call once it’s done?”
X: “okay, sure.”

4 pm:
Triing triing
Me: “hallo?”
X: “hi madhura, this is X, the issues is resolved. Shal we start the testing?
Me: “yes, im sending the request, i need you to send a response packet immidiately. Please keep the response ready, as the request will time out otherwise”
X: “okay give me 2 mins”
-------- 5 mins later--------
Me: “Hi, should I send it?”
X: “ yes, ready”
And I send the request and tell him so.
20 seconds,
30,
40
Me: “umm, hi, have you sent the response?”
X: “um , no madhura, im sending it.”
50,
60.. Time out.
X: “yes, madhura, I have sent it,please check your side.”
Me: (@##$@%^@#$%%) “um, actually, it got timed out, I’m sending the request again, could you send the response faster?”
I send it again.. and then, another and another, another.
Then when he manages to send it in time, it’s wrong format, or got wrong fields, or Errors out, or is simply not what you asked for.

This goes on till you have spoken to that person for more time in a week than you would to your boyfriend, and then you have to use an incredibly lot of patience to keep calm, and explain the exact situation and get the work done.
The day you finish all the testing, you celebrate, and send a thank you mail to all for their help, and swear, that you will never call that person ever again… this resolution lasts …. till the next requirement :D