Lesson for a teacher

It was an incident that taught me that we can never show our prowess over weak or subservient. Here, weak or subservient people could be juniors, people without authority or for that matter, could be even accounted for politeness.

During December last year, I had this outstation assignment in hand for a hotel association seminar meeting. So I traveled from Delhi to Agra (the venue) and back the very same day by road. During my onward journey, my fraternity colleague P Krishna Kumar from a rival publication joined in that also ensured that we did not face boring hours of road journey without companionship, that too starting early in the morning. When we were entering the eternal city, Krishna requested if we could stop for some moments to buy some “Panchi Petha” that is famous there. The driver of the car was aware of the best spot and took us right there. Krishna bought enough for a week and told me that that was for his wife who has a sweet tooth.

We reached the venue in time and got ahead with our work. By evening, when it was time to leave, we were told by the organizers to board a different car and also take a professor from a renowned hotel management institute in Greater Noida i.e. FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management, along with. We were more than happy to have him with us, because we both had an extended discussion with that very person during the seminar we came to cover.

The professor joined in. He dealt in HR – human resource i.e. everything to do with human relationship that is vital to understand to keep an organization going. As he was boarding the car, the request came in from him that he needs to collect luggage from a hotel 15 min from there. So, the car moved in that direction right away. On reaching his hotel, he checked out from his room and settled his bills.

Meanwhile, we both were waiting in the car. Suddenly, Krishna started searching his bag. “What happened,” I queried. He had left his pethas in the car we came by to Agra. I asked him to call the driver of that car (he had his no). Krishna figured out that the car is still there and will leave in half an hour for Jaipur. By this time, Professor Saab got in and asked the driver “chalo Dilli”. Krishna requested him if we could go back to the venue and collect his sweetmeats. But this request was met with an arrogant reply that we have to again go back to the city which will delay us for Delhi. We were taken aback by that impolite reply, but Krishna was okay. I was shocked with that reply from a person who teaches HR. I did not pitch in because I felt that would have been inappropriate. The backward journey started on a sour note. When we were about to reach Mathura with the exhaust flames of Mathura refinery burning bright, Professor hurried the driver to stop the car at once. He started frisking himself.

Surprise! Surprise!!

He recollected the fact that he left one jacket in his hotel wardrobe with his home keys in its pocket. We started persuading him to carry on and call the hotel guy to courier the entire thing(s) to his Noida residence. We were not realistic in suggesting him that (because his family was not there in Noida and had gone on a vacation) but were enjoying sadistic pleasure on the episode.

Next step, the car took a U - turn. There was pin drop silence in the car. I wrote – “15 min of jrny to venue hotel wud ve delayed us. Now wat?” and showed it to Krishna who was sitting next to me behind driver and the professor. He just meekly smiled. We reached Delhi may be 4-5 hours late where the driver had to tell his boss that car tyres got punctured on its way back. On reaching Delhi the professor said to us: “We shall meet soon. It was nice meeting you.” We were speechless with plastic smiles on our faces.

Recently, a few days back, while I was cleaning my desk and sorting the visiting cards… I found him. It was more of an anguish I still carry for that person. In retrospect, I was angry with myself as well, because I could not say a word to defend Krishna’s request that day in Agra. But one thing is sure – someone taught that &%*$$@# professor a lesson. I don’t mind that it was on our expense – the time we both wasted.

Now, I don’t have his contact with me. The pieces of his torn visiting card are no more in my workstation dustbin. What about you, Krishna?