A Gentleman I will always remember

          H&M cardigan, H&M belt, H&M bag, FOREVER 21 dress, Mango shoes

 As I stood at the counter awaiting my takeaway of steaming black coffee, a man leisurely walked into the café. At that precise moment a middle-aged woman walked out holding her handset, handbag and coffee or tea…I couldn’t tell. As she struggled with her belongings to open the door, the man inches away did not bother to help. Seconds later I approached the door holding my laptop, handbag and coffee. The man took one look and offered to open the café door. A facade of a gentleman!

The morning’s incident triggered a memory that dated way back, 2007 I think when I was in college. After back-to-back periods of torturous practical classes, my friend, Sudha and I rushed to the food court for an egg-puff. The guy before me was getting his order and was it a huge order! Hungry, I asked the server for an egg-puff. The server turned a deaf ear and continued filling the guy’s order. Impatiently waving money in the air, I asked for an egg-puff again. (Hunger can really bring out the worst in me)

Out of nowhere, the guy with the huge order slides the egg-puff from his tray towards me and without even glancing at me tells the server, “Never keep a lady waiting.”

I pay for my egg-puff and walk away. Greedily, I take a bite and when we were a safe distance from the food-court I mumble between bites, “True, never keep a hungry lady waiting.” Sudha flicked my head and said, “That guy was such a gentleman and a fine-looking one too. The least you could do was thank him, greedy pig!”

I never thanked that stranger but he is a gentleman I will always remember.

Merry Christmas!
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EC