.... oor pidariya veratithaam - A classic case of this was experienced this evening, when I rode the parakkum rayil. The train was practically empty when it halted at the Taramani station. I climbed in and settled in my usual 2nd row aisle seat, and opened The man-eater of Malgudi. Having set my laptop case aside, I was all eyes on the book, and didn't realize the stations whiz past.
The train slowly chugged into Pasumai Vazhi Chaalai station. I looked up to see that the train was crowded. A lady - uhm not a thin one - nudged me to make space for her, and we were already three in the row. I moved closer to the aisle, and motioned her to squeeze inside. That row could in no way accomodate a 4th member. All of us were aajanubaagu. She first perched on the seat and slowly started squirming.
By the time the train rolled into Mandaveli, I was already half outside the seat - I was balancing on my hands - the huge book, my laptop case, a tupperware lunch case and my duppata which chose that precise moment to slip off my shoulders. The train whistled its way out of Mandaveli and the onda vanda pidari was now successful in ousting the oor pidari. I gathered my stuff and stood up (anyway I had to get down at the next station).
I could feel the lady's glares behind me and that somehow made me feel it was I who sat in her seat.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Knife in the right hand... and fork in the left?
Much has been said about eating etiquette and table manners - and here are some things that I just can't stand - bad eating etiquette.
Yes I relish slurping my rasam sadham and crunching into my appalam. But then, I certainly wouldn't scoop handful of sambhar and put my tongue out and slather the liquid on my tongue at home, let alone a restaurant. Sadly, I got to witness this tearing-my-hair-apart scene at the food court this evening. My colleague who happens to have terrible table manners managed to gobble the dosai and lap up the sambhar. It was at that moment, I wished I rather starved than gone to the food court to eat. Now seriously, what's with putting one's tongue out when placing a morsel of food?
There was this other incident that I can never forget - When the hubby and I had been to Kolkata, we went to this famous Bhojo Hari Manna for lunch. Being a small restaurant, we had to share the table with another couple. The man, who ate his ten-course (!!) meal in no time, was a sheer source of embarassment to his wife. The way he cut the fish and put his fingers into the rice bowl - made me want to run away from the table. Clumsy / Messy are understatements. As he went on ordering, the wife refused to partake more of the food, and she looked at us apologetically. I merely looked down and began to pick at my food.
This other gentleman who works in my office has this yucky habit of strewing food all over the table. One look and you'll know what he has had for lunch. He normally buys 2 packs of rice and 1 pack of some mixture /chips, takes a plate from the shelf and sits down at the table. By the time he's done, atleast quarter of the pack of the mixture would be on the table, with similar proportions of rice. He doesn't even bother to wash his hand after food (no, he doesn't use a spoon). He rinses (mind you - only rinses - doesn't use Pril / whatever liquid) the plate in the wash area and puts it on the shelf. Not once, has he cleaned the mess. Now if you think, this is only at lunch, wait till you see when he comes in to the pantry for tea. Now, I'm not going to explain that.
Yet another friend, opens his mouth too wide to talk while he eats and I simply HATE it. No, I don't want to see how you eat, Thank you!
The list goes on, but for now, I'm just going to continue licking the vengaya chutney off my fingers and relishing the rava dosai. Bon Appetit !
Yes I relish slurping my rasam sadham and crunching into my appalam. But then, I certainly wouldn't scoop handful of sambhar and put my tongue out and slather the liquid on my tongue at home, let alone a restaurant. Sadly, I got to witness this tearing-my-hair-apart scene at the food court this evening. My colleague who happens to have terrible table manners managed to gobble the dosai and lap up the sambhar. It was at that moment, I wished I rather starved than gone to the food court to eat. Now seriously, what's with putting one's tongue out when placing a morsel of food?
There was this other incident that I can never forget - When the hubby and I had been to Kolkata, we went to this famous Bhojo Hari Manna for lunch. Being a small restaurant, we had to share the table with another couple. The man, who ate his ten-course (!!) meal in no time, was a sheer source of embarassment to his wife. The way he cut the fish and put his fingers into the rice bowl - made me want to run away from the table. Clumsy / Messy are understatements. As he went on ordering, the wife refused to partake more of the food, and she looked at us apologetically. I merely looked down and began to pick at my food.
This other gentleman who works in my office has this yucky habit of strewing food all over the table. One look and you'll know what he has had for lunch. He normally buys 2 packs of rice and 1 pack of some mixture /chips, takes a plate from the shelf and sits down at the table. By the time he's done, atleast quarter of the pack of the mixture would be on the table, with similar proportions of rice. He doesn't even bother to wash his hand after food (no, he doesn't use a spoon). He rinses (mind you - only rinses - doesn't use Pril / whatever liquid) the plate in the wash area and puts it on the shelf. Not once, has he cleaned the mess. Now if you think, this is only at lunch, wait till you see when he comes in to the pantry for tea. Now, I'm not going to explain that.
Yet another friend, opens his mouth too wide to talk while he eats and I simply HATE it. No, I don't want to see how you eat, Thank you!
The list goes on, but for now, I'm just going to continue licking the vengaya chutney off my fingers and relishing the rava dosai. Bon Appetit !
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)