Menial alright

The best thoughts always seem to come while travelling.

As it happened, I decided to take the air-conditioned deluxe bus from Majestic to Electronic city.

Believe me, it was more of a necessity than a luxury - it was the peak hour, and the distance is such that a seat is necessary.

I paid the fare of Rs 45, deliberately giving him a 100 rupee note, hoping to get some change. But the conductor sweetly refused it, asking ( in broken english ) for a 50 rupee note instead.

Suddenly, a sense of luxury crept in. I felt like a king sitting on a high pedestal throne.

Loftily I gave him the last of my change.” Thank you sir ! “

And I realised a real business philosophy here…We really like to be served, don’t we?

We want to be treated as gods, we want our ego to be flattered to the fullest, never mind the money.

That sense of false importance, prevalent during the yesteryear ( visualize the white man ordering his slaves around, getting them to do all his dirty work ) still exists in everyone of us, in bits and pieces.

I see it everywhere – waiters in hotels, household servants – we seem to love the concept of menial labour.

What the heck, we have the money – let’s pamper ourselves!

We have to leave it to time, probably,  to teach us some lessons.

~ by jumpindolphin on July 1, 2008.