I am convinced that when things are not to be, they are just not to be. Somehow or the other, the Universe conspires against you. Take a simple thing like dining out. My cousins from America we’re visiting and we decided to meet at Cafe Zoe for lunch. The first time our meeting didn’t happen because of an unexpected hiccup – a last minute summons to a government office to wind up some unfinished business. After a four hour wait at the office, it turned out that the visit was not really required and it was just a delayed message from another government department that caused the confusion hence the cancellation of lunch at Cafe Zoe.
So we decided to give it a second chance by having dinner there last night. It was Tuesday and we were meeting there at 7.30 but just to be on the safe side, I called the restaurant to make a table reservation just as we were leaving . And it was just as well that I did because I found to my horror that children below 21 weren’t permitted after 7.30! That was preposterous because there is hardly any difference in the appearance of a twenty one year old and an eighteen year old. When I insisted that the person in question was not only a mature young adult but was college going and a teetotaler, and that the manager could use his discretion and stop us at the door if he felt he wouldn’t pass, I was flatly told that he’d be asked for ID proof! Needless to say, we we’re disappointed at this turn of events and had to eat at another place.
So now do we abandon plans of eating at Cafe Zoe or do we try one more time and hope we’re Third Time lucky ?
P.s. Lesson learned – always check with the restaurant ahead of time before issuing invitations to your guests what is allowed and what is not. Some establishments have a dress code like formal or casual where men in shorts aren’t allowed as are women in saris; some establishments have restrictions on alcohol like Ashadhi Ekadashi being a dry day; some establishments have age restrictions despite them being restaurants while others tht look distinctly like pubs and bars happily have screaming children around.
Most important, never take anything for granted and always have a plan B up your sleeve to avoid disappointment.
