The snacks shop episode

The building where I work sports a small snacks shop on the fourth floor. They stock all kinds of unhealthy, and therefore highly mouth-watering snacks - oily corn samosas (my favorite), warm brownies, pastries, chips, biscuits, sandwiches, cookies - you get the general idea. The shop is managed by a lanky young man in his twenties.

The first time I ordered samosas he banged them on the counter on a paper plate.

"Excuse me, I'm going to take this to my office, could you pack them for me, please?"

The next moment a paper bag was slammed on the counter with a hostile stare that said, "Dus rupaiye ke samose le rahi hai aur packing bhi chahiye. Khud pack kar lena." I thought myself lucky he even gave me a bag at all.

The next time I was on my guard, and even ready for a scathing retort if need be. I was therefore surprised when he greeted me with a smile.

"Um, hi. Teen samose deejiye please."

"Madam aap yahan khayenge ya pack kar doon?"

What the hell! Where the heck did this change come from?! I smiled sweetly, took the packet and left.

This kind of thing went on for a few days - he'd have a pleasant smile one day, and scowl like The Dark Lord the next. Of course, I thought, it might just be his mood swings - we're all entitled to them - but he seemed to be veering in the extreme.

The mystery was cleared when one day I went there to order a birthday cake for my colleague. I chose the flavor and asked him by what time I could expect the cake.

"The delivery will be here by 3-4PM."

"Oh, that's okay, I want it by 4, so the time is fine."

The scowl was back.

"Look lady, I cannot guarantee the time, okay? It might be 6PM when the cake gets here."

"But you just said the delivery gets here by 4PM everyday..."

"So what? The delivery guy might be delayed, there might be a traffic jam, kuch bhi ho sakta hai. How on earth would I know when the delivery is going to get here?"

"Erm... okay..."

I called the shop at 4:30PM and was told the cake had duly arrived. I went there to pick it up. He stared at me vacantly.

"Well, where is it?"

He smiled pleasantly. "Where is what?"

It was getting too much for me to handle. I was irate, and reached the end of my patience.

"What the heck, I spoke to you at length today morning, ordered the cake, called you just now, you asked me to pick it up, and now you don't know why I'm here?"

"Oh, so you ordered the cake today morning."

"Yes, and you took the order."

"No, I didn't."

Turns out it was his twin brother. But of course.

It was one of those times when using Homer Simpson's famous phrase was fully justified.