Am dismayed towards the service by the 24-hour eatery near my place, where I have supper today.

The tea arrives promptly, but the prata doesn't. I had gone up to the tea man and placed orders for both food and beverage. The tea-man shouts the orders over to his colleagues who do the cooking.

Either they didn't catch it, or perhaps they forgot, or there is some miscommunication somewhere.

I don't blame them.

But what really upsets me is that I remind them that hey, I ordered prata. And they acknowledge me. Then I start seeing other customers who come after me getting their food and leaving while I am still nursing my tea. I remind them again about my prata. Still, to no avail. They acknowledge but the food doesn't come.

Finally I get quite pissed off and tell the guy who comes to deliver food to the person at the adjacent table. And then they swing into action. The curry meant for my neighbour now appears on my table. Within two minutes the prata appears.

And that is about one hour from the time I first sit down at the eatery. I did not waste time because I pick a clean table and am able to do some work while waiting.

But what I am really angry about is the service attitude. They cannot give the excuse that they forgot - I reminded them not once, but thrice. And in the knowledge that I made them aware that my food has not been served, I cannot help but feel discontented. I know I cannot do much about it - anyway in the end I get my food and no quarrels occur, but still I cannot nurse that grudge that I am helplessly held at gunpoint by the proprietorship. Even if I beg them what more action can I take? After all they come up with the product - either I wait or I can leave without getting what I want. Either way, the business is king.