It was finally one of the Fridays. The clock showed 12 noon. Amid Happy Friday wishes in office, I contemplated what to have for my lunch. Here I was back to my client office for a meeting this Friday and happened to bump against few acquaintances. Slowly everyone pitched in suggestions for some Indian Food. And soon we found ourselves standing across the Indian Café staring doubtfully making up our minds before entering the Cafe.
Settling inside on the warm velvetty couches, we quickly browsed through the menus and ordered few stuffed parathas. Ah! the taste of Indian Parathas here are hugely different from what is served in Indian countryside. Of course, that’s widely expected in a Firangi Desh. We were busy chatting away. Mostly chatters spanned from project related cribs to work related stress, gossips and family matters at times. One of my friend said she hired a personal trainer for herself. And the others exclaimed “Wow.. then you could have ordered something healthy from the menu rather the the Ghee paranthas.” “Oh,no..Am not starving myself too much” she whimpered an excuse. Soon to everybody’s surprise, she irresistably ordered veggie cutlets on top of it.
We all love giving excuses. If you had ever asked me the previous year, my orders were been meagre comprising of either dal khichdi or idlis or roti with sabzi. Today I no longer feel the urge to diet, having grown back to my earlier plump size. I always wish to start dieting over again maybe to loose couple of pounds. But that inner voice in me still echoes. ”Enjoy your life.. life is all about trying yummy dishes” Maybe which is why I cant resist shopping deliberate cookies, sweets and ice creams till date.
The steward soon brought in hot huge sized stuffed parathas with curd, pickle and onion slices along with mango lassis and piping hot veg cutlets. We all devoured to our fill.
“Excuse me sir, one of the cutlet is not properly baked”, the fitness freak complained. Within few minutes, we found the waiter rushing in to serve an extra cutlet to replace the half baked one.
After we were done with eating, the old man who came down to clean the table where we sat; asked my friend, “Madam ji, how was the cutlet?” She answered..”Yes, this one’s fine. The previous one wasn’t.”
“Ok. Anything else you need to comment on… like food, service or anything?” , he asked politely.
“Uh.. No. Thank you.”
He requested, “Ok Madam ji. If you have any complaints or negative feedbacks to share, please let me know right now, but kindly do not put it on the internet.”
We all could not help smiling and nodded our head in affirmation.
Then he further checked whether she would like to finish what’s remaining on her plate. She moaned, “No sir. I have had too much already!” He smiled kindly and mouthed few words for the wise. “Madam, never waste food on your plate. Afterall you have come so far leaving behind dear ones in your country just to earn this food.“
After he left, the other friend sighed, “This piece of enlightenment certainly deserves tips worth ten dollars.” Everyone grinned ear to ear.
