The Deccan Experience (contd)

15 min passed and ironically enough, they didn't have menucards!
nisha came dragging along a pullcart(!) loaded with stuff.
wasn't feeling like eating anything - it was only 8pm - but just for the heck of it asked what the cost of a noodlecup was? it was Rs40 and, just like that, i ordered for one. she opened the lid in half and put somehot water in it and gave.
myself looked straight at the MRP and it was Rs22 :-) nothing to be surprised at; in IA, Jet, Sahara they charge more - onlythey don't say how much!!
now,now all said and done i have to pay! took out a Rs100 gari-gari note and she gave a rejecting look.
 "No change sir!"
"okay, let me see if i have enough"
searched all my pocket and got only three Rs10 notes! should i dispense with my coins too?!! there was no other way! i had to! gave a Rs 5 coin, two Rs2 coins and a Rs1 coin. i myself was left with only one coin! (never mind, you are done,right?)

realisation an hour later: i wasn't done after all! that half-a-litre of aqafina was over long back and i did feel thirsty. requested for a bottle of water. got it too. but 5 min later, "Sir, you need to pay for water!!"

(Oh, do I need to?!, okay, but how do I!!! i have no change!)
Took out the same Rs100 note! and held it in air. (just held it, didn't give!)
nisha's face did turn sour, but what could i do?!!

politely and smilingly , "Sir, I don't have change"
politely and smilingly, me too! "But i already gave you all the small notes i had!!"
going away, "I'll come in a minute, sir".....

she never came later! only i myself went - to the exit door, at the end of flight. and there she was, saying "Thank you, Sir" to everyone.

"Thank you sir"
"But I haven't yet paid for my bottle of water"
"It's OK, sir"