Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Trying hard to be sociable

Most people initiate conversations with a question. Some of them ask multiple ones to stretch a conversation. Yet some, jump to the next question before you've finished answering the first. I know two such people in my life. I don't understand them.

Bumped into Person 1 on a busy street. 
Person 1: How was your trip to South Africa?
Me: Oh it was wonderful. Very very scenic and....
Person 1: Oh my driver has come. See you around. 

Bumped into Person 2 at a party.
Person 2: Hey, how you doing?
Me: Good and you?
Reva who was with me: (smile)
Person 2: How was  your trip?
Me: Great. Hows wor....
Person 2: How are you Reva?
Reva: I've been ...
Person 2: So why don't we get a drink?
Me: Sure, what do you....
Person 2: (To someone else he just spotted) Hey, how are the folks? Catch you two later :D

Monday, August 31, 2009

"I Don't give a piss"

While some Restaurants in Bangalore have realised that customer service is the one most important thing ever, some of them just don't give a piss.

We walked into Frescos (Cunningham Road, Bangalore) on Friday night at 10.35 pm. The place was kinda full. We sat at one of the 3 empty tables near the bar. This is where the owner normally sits during the day. It's like his office. Only, instead of coffee on the table, there's beer. And instead of a stack of papers, there's a stack of kebabs and instead of colleagues, there's a group of friends/socialites/whatever.

Thats good right? (NO) We got to sit in the owner's office. Service cant possibly be bad can it?( WRONG). 

5 minutes later, we're still twiddling thumbs, hoping and praying that someone brings us a menu. We get impatient. We try our best to get the attention of "anyone". Finally someone sees us waving madly and walks right over. 

He:"Yes?"
Me: "Can I get the menu please?"
He: ("Huh? What's that?"). Oh yes yes Menu.. sure.
Me: (Isn't it customary to hand a menu to someone who walks in?)

Waiter brings the menu and disappears again. Since I'm close to the bar, I just stand up and ask the bar tender if the bar's still open. He confirms that it is. 

Waiter appears again. Looking totally lost. 

Me: Excuse me?
He:  Huh? (Who said that?)
Me: Can i get a Whisky and a Coke?
He: The bar is closed sir.
Me: The bar tender just told me it's open.
He: Ohhh... (Says something to the bar tender in telugu in a tone that almost suggests murder) ok sir what do you want?
Me: Whisky and coke..
He (to the bar tender): One whiskey and water
Me (a little louder now): Whiskey and Coke!!!
He: Oh sorry sir. (to the bar tender), One Whisky and One Water. 
Me (giving up -- to the bar tender): Whiskey and COKE.
He: Ohhhh... by the way, this is last order. 
Me: (%^&$^%^$#)

On our way out, I see the steward for the first time. He looks at me, a little startled, like I appeared out of thin air, quickly gathers himself and casually says "Thank you boys"....
What? Im with two girls? What did he say? Thank you boys? 

Well, he really said "Thank you very much". But I just couldn't get that. He was slurring.