Every Job Is Lovable

I am a copywriter, working in one of the top 10 agencies in India, working on some of the best brands in the country, earning enough to live a good life and go shopping at least once every month in a city which has the highest cost of living in India.

I am a copywriter. Something that I had decided for my life, the day my amateur mind began to understand the adventurous world of Advertising. Yet, I never leave any chance to crib and curse my job, my company, my clients, my boss, even my choice of profession!

This weekend, like all other weekends, I was cribbing about everything around me, to my boyfriend. He had taken me out for dinner, so that we could continue cribbing till late in the night. While we were into deep discussion about how our company rips us apart everyday, a soft, warm, male voice disrupted our conversation.

“Good evening Ma’am, Good evening Sir. What would you like to have?”

I looked up to see a middle-aged man flashing a very warm smile at us.

My boyfriend ordered a Chinese starter and a drink for himself.

After taking our order he went straight to the table diagonally opposite to ours. Due to its position, I got a perfect view of this table that seated a family of four, a couple and their two kids. I had noticed that the younger girl had oddly wrapped her mother’s thin, white, chiffon dupatta around her. I noticed it more, because coming from a small town, I was not used to seeing many ladies roaming about without their dupattas in place.

I had also noticed that the man who had taken our order was limping a bit, but it looked like a natural limp, and not caused by a recent mishap. Upon reaching the table, he bent down so that his face was at the level of the younger girl and said something to which the little girl nodded. He looked up, then again said something to which she nodded again.

He got up, giving a little support to his left knee with his hand and went behind the dining area to push down a few switches.

Then he walked back to their table and asked loud enough for me to hear “Is it ok now?” The girl nodded again and removed the dupatta.

When we finished the starter, the man came to us again, obviously to ask what we would like to have for the main course. But instead of the usual question, this he what he asked:

“Where would you like to go from Shanghai Sir? Or do you wish to explore the rest of China?”

My boyfriend looked up from the menu and smiled. Genuinely. He ordered a tandoori dish.

“Very well sir. Back to India?”

“Ha ha. Yes. Back to our home land!” My boyfriend chuckled.

We did not crib anymore. We were smiling and wondering what keeps a waiter in a mediocre restaurant at Thane so joyful and in love with his job!

We had finished the dinner and it was taking some time for the cheque to arrive. When we asked, this is what the man said, “Sorry Sir, I guess its taking some time to fly back from Shanghai.”

“…then maybe we’ll come back later when the flight arrives!” I replied immediately.

“Sure Ma’am, I’ll look forward to both of you coming here again!”

I just couldn’t restrain myself from asking, “What makes your work so exciting in this restaurant?”

He said, “I share my passion with all mothers in India. Only they do it for their kids and loved ones, and I love doing it for everyone! I love feeding people!”