Poem - Blackout

You may think I’m going nuts,
But I’m starting to enjoy these power cuts!

The silence, like a hunter on the prowl,
Magnifies the screeching of the owl,
A soft breeze touches my cheek and whispers in my ear
Or was it the beat of a bat’s wings as it flew too near?

In the darkness, the infinite heavens play host
To twinkling stars and white vapour ghosts
Moonlight silhouettes, shadows and shapes,
Candle light glow, warm against the drapes.

The weight of my thoughts seem heavier somehow
With this blanket of darkness wrapped around me now.
I softly strum my guitar, but the silence makes it loud
I’m humming to myself, feels like I’m singing to a crowd.

Suddenly a glare of light invades my senses,
The buzz of technology, too strong for my defences,
All too soon the stillness is gone..
How I wish it could’ve stayed until dawn.

To tip or not to tip

While in some cultures a tip is expected or even demanded, in India, it is left entirely up to our not-so-generous hearts! Of late, some restaurants add a “service charge” of 5 to 10% to the invoice, which is supposed to go to the server.  I think this is a good practice, except of course, when the server takes it for granted and gives you lousy service in return!  Which brings me to the eternal dilemma (at least for most) - whether to tip or not, in those cases where a “service charge” is not included by default.

In my view, the answer is simple - you always tip! Simply because the person serving you does not have as much as you do! I’ll make an exception if the service was really that deplorable, but even then, might a tip actually put the server in a better mood for the next customer? And this doesn’t apply to just waiters in a restaurant, but also to taxi and auto rickshaw drivers, delivery people, bell boys, doormen, really anyone providing you a service. It’s not that hard to get the hang of this – these are people providing you a service, which in most cases you cannot do without! Yes, they get paid for that service. But how many of them really get to take home the full amount or even part of it? Not many. In most cases, they work for someone who pays them a salary that’s just a fraction of what you earn. The logic is simple - If you can afford the service, you can afford the tip!

Not to take anything away from those donations you make to big charities, but here, the money is actually reaching the needy directly. Plus you get to see an instant reaction to your generosity! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve watched a cranky auto driver turn into a surprised, grinning, grateful one, and all for just 10 extra rupees! You have to understand, if the guy is in a bad mood, it’s probably with good reason. And in the spirit of “paying it forward”, it’s quite likely that because you put someone in a better mood, somewhere a spouse or child is spared the brunt of a day’s exhaustions or frustrations.  A simple act of kindness can go a long way, and can touch many lives. So next time you’re wondering whether the person deserves a tip or not, don’t deliberate too much, just do it!