It took two months for a Goregaon mall to find Aparna Vipparthi, who won a Mahindra Xylo during their carnival, as she had changed her mobile number
It took two months for a Goregaon mall to find Aparna Vipparthi, who won a Mahindra Xylo during their carnival, as she had changed her mobile number
Aparna Vipparthi had won the gift of a lifetime and didn't even know it.
Two months ago, the Air India airhostess was declared the winner of a bumper prize a Mahindra Xylo worth Rs 7 lakh at Oberoi Mall's Super Cool Summer Carnival.
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But it took so long for the mall authorities to get in touch with her because the mobile number she had mentioned in the form didn't exist anymore.
I casually filled up the form and didn't believe at all that I would win anything," said Vipparthi yesterday.
Lots of shopping
On May 31, Vipparthi was told that she was eligible to participate in a lucky draw, as she has shopped for goods worth Rs 7,000 at the mall.
Shoppers were required to spend Rs 2,009 or more to be eligible. In the three forms that she filled, she did not mention her address, just a cellphone number.
The mall authorities informed the winners in a few days. But they couldn't get hold of Vipparthi, until a few days ago.
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"Some days back, I got a call from Milind Khetle, who claimed to be an official from the Crime Branch.
I wondered why a policeman had called me. He then asked me if I was ready for a surprise and mentioned the car I had won," said Vipparthi.
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For a while, Vipparthi thought some of my friends were playing a prank. "But when Oberoi Mall's marketing head Reema Pradhan toldu00a0 me I had won the car, I was extremely happy.
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I can't believe that the Oberoi group took so much trouble to find me. I was thinking of buying a car, but now I won't have to," said a smiling Vipparthi.
Cops come in
When the mall authorities couldn't trace Vipparthi, they took the help of the police who found her new number from her service provider.
"The car will be handed over to Vipparathi soon after we complete some procedures," said Shibu Philips, business head, Oberoi Mall.
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