Fortunately, I thought by that day, that I can take the liberty to send my passport with the Austrian post as well. Until, well, I got informed by the Indian embassy - upon my inquiry - that my passport has never arrived. I, who has always been so confident in Austrian state owned companies with regards to great efficiency, austerity, and reliability, did not believe the Indian clerk on the phone and made my way to the embassy again to search for my documents myself.
H�las! There was a queue again! When it was my term, I was invited to read the mail receipt book. This time, I was convinced that my passport did never arrive at the brinks of the Indian embassy.
However, today 12 Jan 2005 is a marvellous day! I went to the municipality of the 17th district in Vienna to apply for a new passport. I was the first applicant and was served at 8am. Believe it or not, at 8:10am I left the building with 69 Euros less in my pockets but with a new passport in my hands!
At 11:10am I reached the visa office of the Indian embassy and couldn't find a queue congesting the automatic doors of the elevators, which are located probably about 100m from the application desk. There were only 10 people in front of me and 30mins later, I left the embassy with 50 Euros less and a receipt which allows me to collect my passport with a visa on the 17th!