The mask in front of his face !

This post originally appeared in the author’s blog @ fiveshotsofcoffee.com on 12th September 2021.

A few days ago while refuelling my car, I happened to have an interesting chat with the guy manning that fuel pump. He was a guy in his late forties, looking cheerful early in the morning. And looking at his cheerful face, I presumed that his shift had just began.

He: Sir, Petrol or Diesel?

Me: Diesel, and please fill my tank.

He: Sir, Cash or card?

Me: Cash.

He: Ok, but you won’t get the automated receipt for diesel, while paying in cash. Is that ok?

Me: Sure, Not a problem.

He: Are you sure? No receipt? Clear?

Me: ( Controlling my annoyance with this constant barrage of questions ) Yes, Go Ahead.

Thankfully, no further questions followed, and he went ahead with the refuelling.

As a social exercise I set for myself recently, I tend to chat up with the people ‘we interact without noticing’ - like delivery personnel, fuel pump attendants, sales assistants etc. And so, my exercise began for that day.

I asked him, why he kept asking about receipt, when i clearly said it’s not an issue. He said that this pump has an automated billing system connected to internet, and because of a server issue, it was not issuing bills for cash payments for the past two days. And when he started work yesterday, a teenager who came in to refuel his car abused him for he did not give a receipt, after fuelling. This was in spite of the teenager being informed in the same manner I was informed today. The teenager hurled words of abuse, in spite of the attendant offering him a written receipt.

Finally the attendant said “I am so much older to you. Do you really have to do this to me early in the morning? You are my first customer, and this is going to set the mood for how I interact with everyone for the rest of the day”. The teenager, at a loss for words, left in a hurry, without offering an apology.

He was being extra careful with me today, as I was his first customer for the day.

I was genuinely sympathetic, and offered the guy a few words. “People vent their frustration at the wrong places all the time. They wouldn’t mean what they are saying”.

He replied " I understand that. In these covid times every other person is having financial problems, and a lot are understandably frustrated. Why, look at me. For the past week my house has extreme financial difficulties, that I cannot even sleep peacefully. All I can think about is finding some money to run my home until my next pay-check comes".

" I work in a fuel outlet, and yet I myself cannot afford to put fuel for my bike right now, and I pedal to work daily"

" But when I am at work, I put on this cheerful mask along with this mask (Face mask for Covid). I do not pass my frustrations to others and spoil their day. Is it too much to expect the same from others?"

I thought to myself ‘People are having trouble wearing one mask. If they can wear two, the world would be a much better place’.

My refuelling was done by then, and I paid up, gave him a polite smile and moved on.

Without a receipt !