C O M E D Y ..O F ..E R R O R S

I have this knack of getting into issues which cause excitement leading to palpitation but finally end in such a way that I can munch it through my life as sheer happy thoughts!This latest one happened less than 24 hours and before I proceed on my holidays,thought will share..Do you all have a choice..This time no yarn but the whole Truth except of course the names !!

Being a member of a Japanese association ,I was asked to host a dinner for 15 Japanese delegates in town.Normally for such occassions the office bearers troop in along and my job ends in smiles and paying the bill finally.So, fixed the venue as a club in the famous cricket ground at chepauk.

When I called up the club and informed them they cautioned me on the club dress code,and I faithfully forwarded the message to KARIKALAN (KARI)our association manager.In particular,I was warned that overseas people generally landed up in Bermuda,Capri and Hawaii slippers etc.This addtional caution was also transferred to KARI.

The guests were to reach by 730 pm.I was there by 7 pm wanting to ensure I played the perfect role of a host.The first salvo came in the form of..none of the office bearers could join but was told not to worry since two interpretors would accompany to take care of the language issue.KARI called up saying he would also drop out..hm.15 guests and two interpretors,fine I would manage.All that was required was a plastered smile(which I was an expert by now watching the stewardess during theinnumerable trips flying!! )

Dot at 730 got a call on my mobile from one of the interpretor

Saravanan.... Sir where are you..

ME.......... I am in the club .

Saravanan... Sir we are also there

I realised these guys must have landed in some other club across the stadium.Guided him on the phone and in 15 minutes(normally it takes 5 mins ) I could see the two vans entering the club premises.Rushed out,to invite each guest personally.I had already practised how to bow in Japanese fashion and I was well prepared.

The automatic door opened, I bowed to the first Gentleman and as I lifted my head the chill hit me..All that I could see was slippers,raised my head a little to see T shirt without collar and above that a face of a gentle grand old man who must have been well past 80.The smile he gave was wonderful with mouth full of glittering golden teeth.He was Mr.NAKAMICHI or NAKAMICHI SAN in japanese.(SAN ..means avargal!)

One by one they trooped out.Everytime I bowed I was counting ,HAWAI slippers,Collarless T shirts..So it was 5 people in HAWAI slippers,4 In collar less T shirts.I wanted to shoot ..KARI..Now the dress code was glaring at me.. these people cannot enter..The first thought was to call KARI,and ask him to rush.My two interpreters were of no use I realised.Still,I had no choice.I called them aside and explained..

Me.....Saravanan,Arun kumar please listen.Ippo avanga ulla poga mudiyaadhu pa.Ore vazhi,otthar poi ivangalukku nearest shopla T shirtum shoesum vaangi varadhu than.

Arun nee enkuda inga irupa.

Saravanan,nee konjam avangalodu poi vaangi kodu. Credit card irukka pa ?( do you have credit card )

Saravanan....Kondu varale sir.( forgot to bring it )


Me....Indha Rs 4738.irukku,please rush and try to manage in this.

(I told both of them now the guests cannot enter,so asked Saravanan to rush out and buy the shirts with collar and shoes,handed over Rs 4738 and asked Arun to stay back with me )

Both explained the situation to the guests and naturally they were disappointed and wanted to go elsewhere.I pleaded ,apologised.Saravanan did a good job and the guests accepted.Saravanan was off in a jiffy with them .Arun was standing aloof and I told him..INGA VAAPA..He started blasting me as how I could address him as vaapa popa..I told him I meant no harm as I was almost twice his age .I told him sorry.But every 10 minutes he went on harping on the same.Added tension I realised, but kept my cool and with the now infamous plastered smile.

One hour later saravanan landed with the guests in an attire not violating the dress code...9 pm already and club would close at 1030.

Everything went off well,and the guests enjoying the Indian beer and Whiskey.Experts will agree this is a potent combination.NAKAMICHI sans age was telling and by 11 he was fast asleep in his chair.At 1130 we were the only guests around.An one minute thanks speech and then we all started going towards the pick up van.Doors closed.Bowed down and started waving ,the bus stopped.

NAKAMICHI SAN and the lady leader of the team came down and told me something which I couldnt understand.They started running towards the restaurent which by this time was closed. Not understanding,I also ran behind them and they started searching for something under the table where we were seated.I again asked the lady who replied ...teeth! ... WHAT!!

NAKAMICHI SAN was wiser with his age , he just opened his mouth .The gold mine of his dentures were missing..Oh my GOD..

Over the table and under the table were clean..That meant two things..Either the hundreds of cats which loiter around could have picked up the dentures and rushed to their holes or the dentures might have gone off with the dinner plates.I chose the second option since I didnt want to go in search the cats.

Rushed into the kitchen,luckily the cleaning had just started.Went thru the plates meticulously and PRESTO..there it was gleaming gold mine of dentures along with the left over bones.,Happiness lit on our face,washed it with the nearest available mineral water and in a second it snapped on to where it belonged to..NAKAMICHI SAN was happiness personified.

Back to the bus,wished them a SAYONARA.AS I stared moving towards the car ,I could see thru the corner of my eyes ARUN walking towards me,perhaps just to clarify once more as to why I called him VAA,PO..I was in no mood to spoil my excitement and off I went..



TC

CU