Everybody at the resort admired Mr.Daniel. Having worked in many resorts across the country, he currently works at Goa. "I love Goa more than any other place, I've decided to stay here.", he told me. His workplace is at the entrance of the resort, he always sticks around there, either standing by the side or sitting on the stairs. I loved his job for the simplicity of its description, the objective was to put a smile on the customer's face. Mr. Daniel seemed to love his job, he was a natural.
Our trip had drawn to a close. As we walked into the reception before checking out of the hotel, I noticed Mr.Daniel at his usual place by the stairs at the entrance, smiling as always. He was playing a mellifluous piece on his mouth organ.
"Hello! I like your music. Can I take a picture with you?", I waked up to him and asked. He approved gladly in response.
"Welcome to your resort..na na na na. Have a good holiday.." <smiles>, he sung, every time a new holidaymaker arrived. Everyone greeted him with a smile, he smiled back and removed his hat. He knew a handful of popular Hindi songs and jingles for the kids. Sometimes, people gathered around him to listen to him at the entrance. He played on the guitar and a mouth organ fitted to it, whilst singing. He sang in perfect harmony with his instruments, he kept to the simple songs.
Our trip had drawn to a close. As we walked into the reception before checking out of the hotel, I noticed Mr.Daniel at his usual place by the stairs at the entrance, smiling as always. He was playing a mellifluous piece on his mouth organ.
"Hello! I like your music. Can I take a picture with you?", I waked up to him and asked. He approved gladly in response.
We were having a conversation as my father was settling bills. The man was pleasantly surprised to know I learn music. He had worked in many resorts previously, he had mentioned. He knew many languages, each to an extent that wouldn't make him a lawyer but would help him get his bread or converse with the neighbour. "I know few songs in Tamil. I learnt them when I worked at Kodaikanal. Do you know songs from the movie Saamy?" He asked me and hummed the tune of a song.
I knew the kuthu song from the movie that wouldn't be soothing to the arriving holidaymaker's ears. Some prefer to let the holiday mood grow on them, not pound themselves right away. A few people gathered around as we begun. What followed was a funny rendition of a kuthu song, like it was a romantic song, with the guitars and the organs. The 'lady with the white bag' probably thought it was the toughest song to sing ever, she looked amused when she asked me how I managed to sing in a single breath. I hadn't, but I decided to savour the moment.
Mr.Daniel realised he knew another popular song, Poovukul olindirukkum from the movie Jeans. I didn't know the song very well, we decided to hum the tune and went "na na na..na na na".
The 'lady with the white bag', along with her family was all set to leave the resort, her taxi had just arrived. She waved at goodbye at Mr.Daniel and the kids helped her put her bags in the taxi.
The taxi drivers of the resort were a union, there was no room for bargain and it wasn't easy to argue with them either, there is always the fear when you are away from home. As Mr.Daniel and I continued, a few unpleasant exchanges were heard, we stopped and watched. A fight had cropped up between the 'lady with the white bag' and the taxi driver. He was against including an extra passenger in his car. The smiles that Mr. Daniel had put turned into angry glowers and the situation got out of control at the entrance. More people watched but none dared to intervene, they were a union. The lady's husband took to the driver and held him by his shirt as he uttered even more impolite words. Both of them were at fault by then. The driver was the opposite of what Mr. Daniel was, he put on a hostile demeanor and was a traveller's horror. The lady's husband shouted the cliched "Do you know who you are talking to? Don't you dare raise your voice against me!" The words had disturbed the sleeping dogs in the driver, he showed even more of his ugly side.
The fight grew. Mr Daniel looked at me and said with a smile, "Ah.. do you see? That is a clash of egos right there. The man wants to show his power and the driver isn't going to accept his fault. This is going to last longer, let's continue.. na na na..na na na", he continued even as the fight lasted. The people present at the scene had the privilege of listening to a very unique combination of impolite words and the soothing tune of an A R Rahman song.
The taxi driver unloaded the bags and left a few minutes later. The fight ended and we got onto our taxi as I waved goodbye to Mr.Daniel. Another family had arrived by then.
"Welcome to your resort..na na na na. Have a good holiday..", Mr.Daniel carried on.
Mr.Daniel realised he knew another popular song, Poovukul olindirukkum from the movie Jeans. I didn't know the song very well, we decided to hum the tune and went "na na na..na na na".
The 'lady with the white bag', along with her family was all set to leave the resort, her taxi had just arrived. She waved at goodbye at Mr.Daniel and the kids helped her put her bags in the taxi.
The taxi drivers of the resort were a union, there was no room for bargain and it wasn't easy to argue with them either, there is always the fear when you are away from home. As Mr.Daniel and I continued, a few unpleasant exchanges were heard, we stopped and watched. A fight had cropped up between the 'lady with the white bag' and the taxi driver. He was against including an extra passenger in his car. The smiles that Mr. Daniel had put turned into angry glowers and the situation got out of control at the entrance. More people watched but none dared to intervene, they were a union. The lady's husband took to the driver and held him by his shirt as he uttered even more impolite words. Both of them were at fault by then. The driver was the opposite of what Mr. Daniel was, he put on a hostile demeanor and was a traveller's horror. The lady's husband shouted the cliched "Do you know who you are talking to? Don't you dare raise your voice against me!" The words had disturbed the sleeping dogs in the driver, he showed even more of his ugly side.
The fight grew. Mr Daniel looked at me and said with a smile, "Ah.. do you see? That is a clash of egos right there. The man wants to show his power and the driver isn't going to accept his fault. This is going to last longer, let's continue.. na na na..na na na", he continued even as the fight lasted. The people present at the scene had the privilege of listening to a very unique combination of impolite words and the soothing tune of an A R Rahman song.
The taxi driver unloaded the bags and left a few minutes later. The fight ended and we got onto our taxi as I waved goodbye to Mr.Daniel. Another family had arrived by then.
"Welcome to your resort..na na na na. Have a good holiday..", Mr.Daniel carried on.
