Lunchtime yesterday, at California Burrito, Vatika. Checkout lady breaks out of character and speak to me in Hindi...
She: बहुत अच्छा लगा आप लोग एक साथ आए।
Me: नहीं सब लोग एक साथ नहीं आ पाए। पिछली बार production बंद था, सिर्फ़ software और sales वाले आए थे। इस बार बाकी लोग आए हैं।
She: नहीं मतलब आप सभी लोग मिल कर खाना खा रहे हैं, share कर रहे हैं, बहुत अच्छा लगा।
I just smiled and walked away. I was preoccupied by the fact that we drank sodas worth ₹500, when the same quantity of soda could be bought for ₹100 outside. (A part of my brain is constantly optimising cost and time. I am never able to shut that process down. Talk about mindfulness 🙄)
As I left the restaurant, I turned around and looked, and realised the lady was really moved. Then it sunk in. The fact that everyone from cleaner to senior management was eating together on the same table, sharing plates and soda cans, made the woman glow with joy. For a moment I felt good for ourselves; but I quickly brushed that aside. Then I felt sad for the lady - most likely the environment around her was not as egalitarian. And then I just felt sad for all of us.
Not minutes ago, one person in the team had been explaining to the other about the chaturvarna. Was it caste? Was it class? What is it that makes us Indians so divided, that the simple act of a team eating out together turns into social rebellion?
She: बहुत अच्छा लगा आप लोग एक साथ आए।
Me: नहीं सब लोग एक साथ नहीं आ पाए। पिछली बार production बंद था, सिर्फ़ software और sales वाले आए थे। इस बार बाकी लोग आए हैं।
She: नहीं मतलब आप सभी लोग मिल कर खाना खा रहे हैं, share कर रहे हैं, बहुत अच्छा लगा।
I just smiled and walked away. I was preoccupied by the fact that we drank sodas worth ₹500, when the same quantity of soda could be bought for ₹100 outside. (A part of my brain is constantly optimising cost and time. I am never able to shut that process down. Talk about mindfulness 🙄)
As I left the restaurant, I turned around and looked, and realised the lady was really moved. Then it sunk in. The fact that everyone from cleaner to senior management was eating together on the same table, sharing plates and soda cans, made the woman glow with joy. For a moment I felt good for ourselves; but I quickly brushed that aside. Then I felt sad for the lady - most likely the environment around her was not as egalitarian. And then I just felt sad for all of us.
Not minutes ago, one person in the team had been explaining to the other about the chaturvarna. Was it caste? Was it class? What is it that makes us Indians so divided, that the simple act of a team eating out together turns into social rebellion?