This is something that I wanted to write about, but occupational hazards have been taking their due toll to do anything that I would love to..
Forum Mall in Koramangala was bustling with a holiday crowd on that Saturday evening.. Easter was just around the corner.. Huge Easter eggs were on display, and the same in varied colors and sizes were on sale at the cookie shops.. The multiplexes were showing super hits from Hollywood to Kollywood, including Sagar Alias re-loaded:-)
We were in a popular outlet to pick up a gift for my cousin who was getting married. When it comes to selecting gifts for loved ones, I must admit, I am pretty bad. The first thing that comes to me are items for display in show cases, or new titles that have hit the the stands. This time, my daughter suggested to pick a Xstal piece, looking at the gamut of pieces on display.
From multi hued small paper weights to huge (regal, that is!) dinner spreads.. Finally, we decided to pick something that was simple, yet elegant. She started searching the stands to pick one.. The kids usually were given multiple sermons before entering any expensive shop displaying fragile/breakable stuff, not to play around and end up owning the broken pieces:-) Well, the elder one usually sticks to this piece, bu the younger one is really not. I was looking at an original Italian piece, enjoying the immaculate carvings, and the flawless design.. Something fell on the ground, and the loud noise of breaking glass roared on the floor..Pin drop silence followed for a while. Getting back to my senses, I turned around. The elder one was holding her shopping bag, her face grimaced.. The younger one was standing in a corner, dreaded, almost shivering.. Little pieces of xstal were scattered all over the floor. My pay cheque for the whole month would go for a toss; I thought!
The sales girl came rushing in, picked up the price tag and handed it over to me. A few ten thousands! I nodded yes, and handed my card to her.. I just looked at the younger one; with tears streaming down the cheeks, he uttered a week sorry.. I knew he was really meaning it.. I held him closer, and said it was okay, adding that he could have been a little more careful..
The girl came back with my card, followed by the floor manager. A tall, handsome gentleman, with a warm, engaging smile. He shook hands with me and thanked me for my understanding. Then he reached out to the racks and picked up a small Xstal and handed it over to my scary cat! A gift in return for a broken piece:-) Turning back to me, he returned my card, without taxing me for the incident!
My son keeps that little piece in his study, and every time he looks at it, he says with pride.. This is the gift that I got from Landmark for doing a big mistake. And you know what, I am not going to do that again.. Never!
Thanks a ton to the gentleman who taught us a lesson, in the most kindest manner!
Regards
Roy