Customer service

Today I went to a dhaba where I use to have my dinner when I was an intern in a prestigious 5 star property of Delhi. This dates back to winters of 2002. This dhaba wala remember me for two reason:

• The most regular customer
• The last customer (every day; He has to keep it open till 2330 hrs for me)

Well, Today I had my lunch at the same place. Some cops were having their lunch & some painters/labors were also having lunch.

What I liked was a painter who was wearing a green T shirt & white trouser (with paint marks on them, half day work result) Good amount of paint was sticking on hands also. He ordered dal and 4 thick tandoori rotis. The dhaba wala asked rudely “Makhan lega”. He said “aaj de do”. He had some good earnings for the day, so he was relishing it. It was a Rs.2/- butter packet (which was a treat for him).

The butter was divided into 2 parts

• One piece into dal
• The other was equally rubbed on all 4 rotis.

The wrapper was rubbed in hot dal to squeeze the little butter sticking to the wrapper, wiped with colorful fingers & licked with a smile full of gratification. Today was his day. He was shaved freshly , neatly combed hairs. I kept watching him eating his food with colorful fingers.

Thanks to festivals like ‘diwali’ which allows money to flow down to these people, who in turn can have some colorful days!