Smile = Rs 46??

Smile = Rs 46…! Now what the hell could that mean…is that a code name for a CIA operative, or is that password for my netbanking accounts :). Actually its nothing of that sort, for that matter its exactly what it reads…a smile is worth just Rs 46. Now if a smile was that cheap, shouldn't we all be having a smiling face rather than sitting and sulking the whole time. Shit…actually imagine if MSN, Gtalk and other IM clients started charging Rs 46 for a smile, how much money would they actually make, considering we netizens, just keep putting smileys on chats without any rhyme or reason. When someone makes us laugh, we have a smile, when we have nothing to say we put a smiley…and the list is endless.

As a kid, when we used to go grocery shopping with my family, I used to pick up something which would always have something tagged along with it, buy 1 get 1 free types…not just when I was small…I still actually do :) …and my Dad used to keep telling me that there are no free lunches in the world..and it kinda was proved to me couple of days back that there are no free lunches, and for that matter there are no free smiles also.

Couple of days ago, I happened to pass via Bengaluru and couple of friends were like, lets head to Koshy's (Parade Café) for breakfast. I have been to this place earlier, and it definitely is one of the oldest landmarks in the city and no two doubts about the fact that they serve some amazing continental breakfast. Yes it does have an uncanny resemblance to Indian Coffee House, but I guess that's due to a legacy they wish to continue. While we just kept waiting there for the rest of the group to join, who btw took so blady long to come, I ended up going thru the menu some hazaar times, and my eyes fell on this particular dish, aptly titled SMILE…worth Rs 46.

I kept wondering why such a thing appears on the menu. In the middle of all this thinking I had my mutton keema toast, sausages, bacon etc etc., Still kept wondering why SMILE…Like they say a man cannot really think when he's hungry…so finally when I was down with all my sausages and bacon, was I able to solve the mystery of the smile. After some deep thoughts I was able to conclude that you actually need to pay Rs 46 to get the bearers to smile…these guys just don't smile. Their natures are absolutely humble, they are friendly, they thank you when you leave…but you just don't see them smiling.

WOW..talk about selling ones product. Perfect law of economics – You only get what you pay for!! You are right Dad there are no free lunches in this world…or for that matter even smiles :) sheesh…if we had to pay for smileys then MS would have already debited my account with Rs 138 :( for my few lines of bak bak above!!