Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Fast-Food & Fast-Track

Fast Food - term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. 
Fast Track - is an informal English phrase meaning "the quickest and most direct route to achievement of a goal, as in competing for professional advancement. What happens when two "fast"s collide? Here goes the story.
It was another happy moment to visit my friend's marriage ceremony. After all the standard procedures of wishing, and smiling for photo we finally reached dining hall. With many variants South Indian dish was tempting. We were served with plain rice after Poori and Palav. I and my friend - Mukesh, who is from Bihar, were waiting for something to eat along with plain rice; we were in hurry to catch the next train. May be after couple of minutes, servant came towards us yelling "Sambaar-Rasam, Sambar-Rasam...  ". (Sambaar is a dish made of Lentils (daal) and other seasonal vegetables. Where as Rasam is a dish prepared by tomato, tamarind etc but without any Lentils (daal) ).
He was actually serving fast food. I just looked at him and made space in my plate; he served me. Mukesh is more choosy in everything as much as he can. He was confused with Sambaar|Rasam finally said Rasam. Servant was as quick that by the time Mukesh say as Rasam,  he served two plates next to Mukesh; servant was far away. Bad luck! 
Mukesh was not happy about this but couldn't say anything; just continued with eating other side dishes. I didn't say anything too.
Another servant came this time with same advertisement "Sambaar-Rasam, Sambar-Rasam...  ". Mukesh said "Sambaar". This time Mukesh was almost yelling! But still servant just continued to serve others in fast track, ignoring Mukesh's order(?).
I just couldn't control my laugh :) His face was like another shoe popstart! I requested servant in native language finally to manage situation. 

Servants were serving the fast food in fast track :) First servant was serving Sambaar first but questioned  like "Sambaar or Rasam?". Next servant came with Rasam and he asked same question too. Considering that first servant didn't serve Rasam, Mukesh asked for Sambaar second time!