race to the cash counter
don't get deceived by the title of this one. has got nothing to do with shopping or retail etc. what i am gonna talk about is a sweet little indian (or maybe asian) culture that tends to get nasty at times.
we all go out with friends and family out for lunches and dinners on special occasions. it's all cool when you go out with friends, but when you go out with family, especially your wife's relatives, it gets a little tricky. there's usually a fight about who's gonna pay the bill. mind you, i said a 'sweet indian culture' - so the fight is not because nobody wants to pay the bill...its because everyone wants to be the one to pick up the tab and treat everyone else.
last time when we out for lunch with our relatives, i was given strict instructions by my wife not to let anyone pay the bill this time. it almost came to the extent of her doubting my smartness. she's like, we have invited everyone for lunch - so you better make sure you're the one who pays the bill.
though i kept quiet, i was determined to keep up her hopes in me. so we reached the restaurant a few minutes early before anyone else showed up. most restaurant owners know about these 'fight for bill' episodes. we smartly gave him the credit card and made him communicate to his counterpart on the first floor that things have been taken care of - with a reassuring wink!
everyone came in. both my wife and i looked much more confident than we usually do on such an occasion. we all had lunch. everything was nice and cool till the time desserts came in. the usual suspects (the relatives who usually take pride in picking up the tab) started getting restless. it almost seemed like they are warming up for the 'Race to the Cash Counter'. Wife and I passed a reassuring smile to each other indicating that we've got one up on them as we've done our homework pro-actively.
then came the judgement time. the time when the waiter comes with the bill. usually there's a lot of snatching, pushing and pulling going on at this time. this is like the first dive that swimmers take to get a good momentum for rest of the lap. this time there was no pushing, pulling or snatching.
we smiled at everyone saying that there's no need to get all hyper. we've already taken care of the bill. but our uncle x, took it to his heart. he, being a veteran in these 'bill fights', got up from his chair with a smile (saying, i'll see how he accepts your credit card). he went down to the cash counter, talked the owner into taking the credit card back and paid cash instead.
alright, i've had enough this time. though, in normal circumstances, i would have loved to have my relatives pay, it had become a pride issue. the only weapon i had left in my arsenal was to get all emotional. for a moment, i thought i'd let uncle x take away the trophy. but my wife's helpless look woke me up and said that the fight's not over till it's over.
after 10 minutes of emotional arguments, explanations and justifications, i succeeded in having the restaurant owner give uncle x his money back and eventually we paid the bill. though uncle x was badly hurt, we assured him that the next time we wouldn't even give him a fighting chance. we will withdraw from the race even before it begins!
we all go out with friends and family out for lunches and dinners on special occasions. it's all cool when you go out with friends, but when you go out with family, especially your wife's relatives, it gets a little tricky. there's usually a fight about who's gonna pay the bill. mind you, i said a 'sweet indian culture' - so the fight is not because nobody wants to pay the bill...its because everyone wants to be the one to pick up the tab and treat everyone else.
last time when we out for lunch with our relatives, i was given strict instructions by my wife not to let anyone pay the bill this time. it almost came to the extent of her doubting my smartness. she's like, we have invited everyone for lunch - so you better make sure you're the one who pays the bill.
though i kept quiet, i was determined to keep up her hopes in me. so we reached the restaurant a few minutes early before anyone else showed up. most restaurant owners know about these 'fight for bill' episodes. we smartly gave him the credit card and made him communicate to his counterpart on the first floor that things have been taken care of - with a reassuring wink!
everyone came in. both my wife and i looked much more confident than we usually do on such an occasion. we all had lunch. everything was nice and cool till the time desserts came in. the usual suspects (the relatives who usually take pride in picking up the tab) started getting restless. it almost seemed like they are warming up for the 'Race to the Cash Counter'. Wife and I passed a reassuring smile to each other indicating that we've got one up on them as we've done our homework pro-actively.
then came the judgement time. the time when the waiter comes with the bill. usually there's a lot of snatching, pushing and pulling going on at this time. this is like the first dive that swimmers take to get a good momentum for rest of the lap. this time there was no pushing, pulling or snatching.
we smiled at everyone saying that there's no need to get all hyper. we've already taken care of the bill. but our uncle x, took it to his heart. he, being a veteran in these 'bill fights', got up from his chair with a smile (saying, i'll see how he accepts your credit card). he went down to the cash counter, talked the owner into taking the credit card back and paid cash instead.
alright, i've had enough this time. though, in normal circumstances, i would have loved to have my relatives pay, it had become a pride issue. the only weapon i had left in my arsenal was to get all emotional. for a moment, i thought i'd let uncle x take away the trophy. but my wife's helpless look woke me up and said that the fight's not over till it's over.
after 10 minutes of emotional arguments, explanations and justifications, i succeeded in having the restaurant owner give uncle x his money back and eventually we paid the bill. though uncle x was badly hurt, we assured him that the next time we wouldn't even give him a fighting chance. we will withdraw from the race even before it begins!
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