“D.Rajkumar” was the first thing I noticed on the waiter’s breastplate when I called him to my table for ordering the desert. And don’t forget this is five star dining hall of one of the leading clubs of India. Rajkumar coming to my table with the menu, when somebody called out his name in a harsh, authoritative tone. The sombre expressions of Rajkumar changed from a formal smile to a serious frown he turns towards the voice mustering every inch of courage in him and walked towards the table from where the tiger had growled. I was sitting there at my table and eyeing my menu while keeping an eye on the events happening on the table next to mine. There was an actual tiger there it’s not a metaphor he was the Colonel Sachdeva a stern tough and disciplined man of the Indian Army decorated with bravery awards and several regiment based honors standing tall on the side of his table and goggling him with an eye of contempt and as soon as “D” reached there. Sachdeva told him very calmly with a serious tone “CALL YOUR MANAGER” he gave little hunch and a brief bow and turned gracefully and walked hurriedly to call his manager. And shortly, a man clad in a suit and bow tie was standing there at the table, giving a wry smile and asked in a very soft tone “Yes sir”. Everybody on Tiger’s table turned their eyes towards tiger and then towards the manager. The next dialogue between was the most awaited one for everyone but on the contrary no dialogue was exchanged, there was a simple gesture of the graying Tiger towards his table and pointed towards the plates and asked manager is IS THIS THE SERVICE I GET FROM THE BEST?
I am sorry sir but I don’t get the point.
I don’t have cutlery on my table and when I gave my order to the waiter and asked him what is Masala Vanakya he told me sir, "It’s the same mentioned in the menu" and I had to call him each time I have to order, where is the discipline and decorum of the place shall I have to report to “Kedhar Manglam” I later came to know after asking “D” was the president of the club and was one of the fast friends of Tiger. There was a long bout of talks and accusations by tiger and finally matter was settled by an apology from "D". After this episode everyone got back to their places and occupied there places and a waiter was appointed on the side of Sachdeva’s table to take down the orders and the second one was given task to complete the orders and the third one was entrusted with the responsibility of the supervision of the other two.
Later the “D” came to my table where I was waiting eagerly to see “D” and his complicated reactions reflecting the conflicts of his job's tradition of smiling and personal dilemma of sorrow that will he be able to keep his job or not. But against all odds, he came back to my table smiling and asking in a same emollient tone and apologized for being caught up and got late for fulfilling my order I told him its okay and sent him away with my order of Mud Apple Soufflé he greeted me with smile and completed the order under a minute’s time and asked me to put a good word for him with a manager. The army decorum of mine didn't allowed me to smile at him because of his inefficiency in following commands. I just gave a nod of head to him and thanked for his service for today and told him to bring my bill. Shortly he brought the bill and adjusted my charged amount to my membership card and brought me the card back. In the meantime tiger’s family was having lunch peacefully and enjoying their royal bites of soufflé’s. My lunch ended this time with a story to tell and this story wasn't very pleasant to tell from a civilian point of view but here in army you are told to go by the rules otherwise you take down many things down along with oneself.
