Many a times we tend to get carried away by the aura imparted by our professions – be it a software engineer, a businessman or a celebrity – and we often tend to think we are fenced off by some sort of divinity with the rest of them who are less fortunate than us – who doesn't have the luxury of a/c cabins at their workplace, who have to work day and night cleaning tables and wiping floors in order to support their family. It’s a pity that we often treat people based on their professions.
It is my routine to have my daily supper from the Infopark canteen rather than bringing it from home, though everyday I travel to work from my home. This week happens to be a ‘dosa-special’ week in the canteen (last week it was ‘Goan-food-fest’). My colleague and I, like many others who visited the canteen last eve, placed our orders for ‘masala dosa’. We never get ‘masala dosa’ on regular days. After purchasing a token, we usually have to wait at the delivery counter for a while before the food was delivered. Last evening as we were waiting for our food, the man who was standing adjacent to us started shouting at the canteen-boy. As I had never seen that boy there before, I gathered he is new to the place. The angry man said he had been waiting for long after placing his order for a ‘masala dosa.’ I noticed his tag – TCS – probably he must be a project delivery head or something of that sort – because he had a bald head, and his tummy gave an impression as if, inside his stomach, an open-umbrella had been placed horizontally pointed outwards. He was overreacting, expending his frustration at the poor canteen-boy, and the other people who were waiting at the counter were stunned by his behaviour.
My colleague had just then received his ‘masala dosa’ and was heading to one of the tables when he heard the man shouting at the poor boy. Hearing the vocal exercise of the furious guy, my colleague walked back to the boy and offered his plate with a smile and said he would wait till next, and told him to give it to the TCS chap. The boy, managing well to fight the little drop of tear from coming out of his eyes, gave the plate to the man whose face had turned pale by this time.
I felt the boy couldn’t have, in a more polite way, asked him to f**k off.
-Balu
It is my routine to have my daily supper from the Infopark canteen rather than bringing it from home, though everyday I travel to work from my home. This week happens to be a ‘dosa-special’ week in the canteen (last week it was ‘Goan-food-fest’). My colleague and I, like many others who visited the canteen last eve, placed our orders for ‘masala dosa’. We never get ‘masala dosa’ on regular days. After purchasing a token, we usually have to wait at the delivery counter for a while before the food was delivered. Last evening as we were waiting for our food, the man who was standing adjacent to us started shouting at the canteen-boy. As I had never seen that boy there before, I gathered he is new to the place. The angry man said he had been waiting for long after placing his order for a ‘masala dosa.’ I noticed his tag – TCS – probably he must be a project delivery head or something of that sort – because he had a bald head, and his tummy gave an impression as if, inside his stomach, an open-umbrella had been placed horizontally pointed outwards. He was overreacting, expending his frustration at the poor canteen-boy, and the other people who were waiting at the counter were stunned by his behaviour.
My colleague had just then received his ‘masala dosa’ and was heading to one of the tables when he heard the man shouting at the poor boy. Hearing the vocal exercise of the furious guy, my colleague walked back to the boy and offered his plate with a smile and said he would wait till next, and told him to give it to the TCS chap. The boy, managing well to fight the little drop of tear from coming out of his eyes, gave the plate to the man whose face had turned pale by this time.
I felt the boy couldn’t have, in a more polite way, asked him to f**k off.
-Balu
5 comments:
Education doesnt teach humanity and good manners.I know some HIGHLY educated guys who are so damn rude and consider themselves superior.Your friend was indeed sweet.As regards the guy with the opened umbrella inside his tummy--what a prick.(for lack of a better words--and no pun intended)
Balu,
Don't we all see these types of people all the time? Its even worse, if he is a project head or lead. Because these are the people to lead others, and set example for others to follow.
But hope is not always lost, when we have people like you or your friend around who understands these values with which one should live by. Well, the change can always start with one or two and more will follow!
this was a very perceptive post...its sad when people exploit their educated status to demean certain sections of society..in fact my maid in Delhi could put many to shame with her genorosity and wealth of experience...
your colleague exemplifies the change...which would start that ripple...
Very true...Balu...have experienced similar situations before and do have reacted too sometimes..Money and muscle power rules....
Such truth of life Balu......... yet so unpractical in day today life
Post a Comment