Mockingbird is Dead

I am in Kota and you would be surprised to know (as I was) that the city is much more than just IIT coaching institutes. The plant I came to work for, is almost 40-50 km from my hotel. There is a French guy staying in my hotel. Same car comes to pick us both. But he is always confused and lost about the car arrival as driver only has my contact number.

Lately I have got special affinity for France, mostly because of their Football team and their president (I wish if we could swap him with our leader). Rafale deal was little off putting though.

So yesterday while coming back to hotel, the French guy said: Can you tell the driver to inform the hotel reception every day when he arrives so that they can inform me?”

Fair request I thought. I told the driver and thought I will inform the Hotel Reception also. So I asked his name.

To that he replied: Don’t worry, I don’t think many white guys even come here. I am probably the only white guy here so just tell him to inform the white guy.

I could smell the racial superiority complex in his tone, I don’t know he intended it or not but that didn’t go down pretty well with me. So I replied: Sir, we don’t discriminate people racially here. You were born white. It’s not your achievement or fault. So we aren’t going to label you on that basis.

He didn’t see that coming. He was moved. Surreal kind of moved. Shocked kind of surprised. So he responded: Wow. ok. Austin My name is Austin.

I called hotel reception: Hello, This is Rajesh from Room No. 207. There is a French guy, Austin staying here, Kal jab driver mujhe pick karne aaye to inform him also.

The guy at reception Replied: Ok sir, vo GORA na 210 room vala.

I didn’t know what to say anymore.

Austin asked looking at my reaction: What happened?

I replied: Wasn’t that Mbappe run against Argentina just amazing.