One day at work, I received meeting invite from a friend for her leaving lunch. It was such a busy day that I acknowledged the invite without really going through all details such as venue or the day. After a day or two I opened the invite and figured out the day and venue. Day was the upcoming Monday and venue some popular Asian restaurant known for its Indian cuisine.
On the night before I informed at home that I wouldn't be carrying lunch on Monday since there was a planned lunch meeting. As the day began, I started to look forward for the lunch as I was excited to do an outing with the team and also because restaurant was well heard but still untried. Just before we all started for the restaurant I was informed that menu for the lunch was "Chinese". As soon as I heard "Chinese", my excitement faded away. It isn't that I dislike "Chinese" but perhaps I haven't been able to develop any taste for any cuisine other than "Indian" or "Italian". I was excited in the morning because I thought menu was going to be "Indian" but all excitement went away with the word "Chinese".
I definitely didn't want to miss the opportunity of thanking this friend but was somehow getting uncomfortable of being odd man out when everybody around would be enjoying meal. I somehow convinced myself on reasoning that I will spread rumor that - my stomach is upset and I cannot afford anything heavy so will company others by taking just soup. All uneasiness started to ease when I thought of taking refuge of this lie - which even though was a lie but would have saved any hurtings unintentionally. Taking pride on my cunning reasoning I started to speak to a colleague - "I have upset stomach since morning, I don't know what will I have there, don't want to take anything heavy, may be some tomato soup...something really light on stomach.." Listening all this, colleague felt sorry for my health and we kept walking towards the restaurant.
Inside me, I did feel sorry for talking this lie but didn't know what else to do. Perhaps for a moment, I also did ask ( in prayer ) - isn't there a way out? some miracle? something what I can't do, but you can? But without waiting for an answer started to walk along the hostess. Just before I could open my mouth to tell her the same lie, she asked me - "what day is it?" I said - "Monday".
"Oh!!! how can I be so stupid? Restaurant is closed on Mondays" Feeling sorry about the goof up, she started to apologize to everyone. She apologized even to me but my mind was elsewhere - as if I was taking a sigh of relief as soon as I heard word "closed". Next action that everyone took, standing on the same road, was to decide " where can we now go for lunch? " All started to pour in suggestions but I kept silent, internally thanking God for doing the miracle. Suggestions started to arrive at a consensus, this time again for some Chinese restaurant but finally I threw a suggestion for Indian restaurant. After-all, I didn't want to miss the ball that had been thrown in my court by God :) In the last all agreed on the same Indian restaurant.
Minutes after that we all were sitting in the Indian restaurant where the hostess was again and again apologizing for goofing up the scene. And I was sitting there thanking God again and again for coming to my refuge.
Well, a short story kept long - It was yet another lovely experience to cherish and share.
But before I conclude, I would like to mention the order I placed - poppadums with mango chutney, mint raita & pickle, followed by samosa, lemonade, paneer, chole, lachha paranthas * 2. While I enjoyed the meal thoroughly, and grace of Almighty, I also occasionally thought for the colleague, to whom I had mentioned about my upset stomach. I hope he wasn't wondering, if this is what Sunil eats with an upset stomach, what will he eat with a healthy and empty stomach ?:)
Anyhow, Thx God for your care.
On the night before I informed at home that I wouldn't be carrying lunch on Monday since there was a planned lunch meeting. As the day began, I started to look forward for the lunch as I was excited to do an outing with the team and also because restaurant was well heard but still untried. Just before we all started for the restaurant I was informed that menu for the lunch was "Chinese". As soon as I heard "Chinese", my excitement faded away. It isn't that I dislike "Chinese" but perhaps I haven't been able to develop any taste for any cuisine other than "Indian" or "Italian". I was excited in the morning because I thought menu was going to be "Indian" but all excitement went away with the word "Chinese".
I definitely didn't want to miss the opportunity of thanking this friend but was somehow getting uncomfortable of being odd man out when everybody around would be enjoying meal. I somehow convinced myself on reasoning that I will spread rumor that - my stomach is upset and I cannot afford anything heavy so will company others by taking just soup. All uneasiness started to ease when I thought of taking refuge of this lie - which even though was a lie but would have saved any hurtings unintentionally. Taking pride on my cunning reasoning I started to speak to a colleague - "I have upset stomach since morning, I don't know what will I have there, don't want to take anything heavy, may be some tomato soup...something really light on stomach.." Listening all this, colleague felt sorry for my health and we kept walking towards the restaurant.
Inside me, I did feel sorry for talking this lie but didn't know what else to do. Perhaps for a moment, I also did ask ( in prayer ) - isn't there a way out? some miracle? something what I can't do, but you can? But without waiting for an answer started to walk along the hostess. Just before I could open my mouth to tell her the same lie, she asked me - "what day is it?" I said - "Monday".
"Oh!!! how can I be so stupid? Restaurant is closed on Mondays" Feeling sorry about the goof up, she started to apologize to everyone. She apologized even to me but my mind was elsewhere - as if I was taking a sigh of relief as soon as I heard word "closed". Next action that everyone took, standing on the same road, was to decide " where can we now go for lunch? " All started to pour in suggestions but I kept silent, internally thanking God for doing the miracle. Suggestions started to arrive at a consensus, this time again for some Chinese restaurant but finally I threw a suggestion for Indian restaurant. After-all, I didn't want to miss the ball that had been thrown in my court by God :) In the last all agreed on the same Indian restaurant.
Minutes after that we all were sitting in the Indian restaurant where the hostess was again and again apologizing for goofing up the scene. And I was sitting there thanking God again and again for coming to my refuge.
Well, a short story kept long - It was yet another lovely experience to cherish and share.
But before I conclude, I would like to mention the order I placed - poppadums with mango chutney, mint raita & pickle, followed by samosa, lemonade, paneer, chole, lachha paranthas * 2. While I enjoyed the meal thoroughly, and grace of Almighty, I also occasionally thought for the colleague, to whom I had mentioned about my upset stomach. I hope he wasn't wondering, if this is what Sunil eats with an upset stomach, what will he eat with a healthy and empty stomach ?:)
Anyhow, Thx God for your care.
