By Savitri Narayanan
Like every year, Varanasi got crowded in the month of Ashwin. With numerous auspicious days for rituals to pay homage to the departed souls, the hotels and homestays were flooded with people from all over. They would spend their day in religious rituals after which they would do some shopping or sightseeing. Many would return home in the evening; others would leave by buses or trains late night or early next morning.
George Thomas, the Lobby Manager, was on night shift. All was quiet; he had a glass of water from the dispenser and was back in his seat behind the counter.
Deep in his heart, George welcomed the nightshifts! He was preparing for the PSC exam. While on night shift, he brought along the study material and caught up with his lessons. The only other staff on duty, Kumar and Abdul, would be napping in the kitchen. If a customer walked in and George rang the bell, they would be up in a moment at the front lobby. But rarely did anybody walk in that late.
After a six months’ training course in Bengaluru three years ago, George had joined Sreevilas Lodge. A small place, one of those many catering to the pilgrims, they had only six rooms to rent out. Apart from the rooms, there was a kitchen and a common dining hall. The Lobby Manager, George, welcomed and allotted the rooms to the guests. Apart from him there were four more staff, two in the kitchen and two for cleaning. They all helped and filled in for each other. They all took turns to be on night duty.
Being close to the railway station, they too did good business especially during the auspicious days, weeks and months. The Utkal Express reached Varanasi Station at half past nine. One or two pilgrims who came by that train were usually the last customers for the day. After that, the nightshift was dull.
George took out his study material. Just as he got engrossed in his studies, George was surprised to hear movement at the front door.
A senior couple walked in with their bag and baggage.
“Beta, we want a room for the night,” said the man straightening up, holding on to the counter for support.
“Sorry sir, we’re fully booked!” said George, “Not a single room’s available!”
“Do something, beta!” pleaded the man, “Just for one night!”
“So long in the train, we’re tired!” added the lady, fatigue in her eyes. “Early morning we’ll vacate the room!”
Without waiting for a response, she walked over and settled on the sofa.
There was something endearing and dignified about the old couple but no room was available. It was the peak period for rituals and George knew how difficult it would be for them to find a room. The thought of them with their bags, roaming the streets in the middle of the night was unthinkable!
“Uncleji, please be seated,” said George gesturing to the sofa, “I have an idea!” The gentleman, too, sat down beside his wife and looked around.
George said hesitantly, “There’s a small room at the back for us, the staff on night duty like me; we take turns to take a nap there. If you wish, you could use that room tonight.”
He quickly added, “It’s nothing fancy, just a bed and a washroom!”
“God bless you, beta! We just need a room to sleep tonight!” they said.
Things happened very soon. George rang the bell, Kumar and Abdul walked in and they had a discussion. Soon the room was cleared. They changed the bedsheet, too. The old couple retired for the night and George got lost in his study material.
Back home, Ramkumar Bhatt and Neelam often recounted the incident to their family and neighbours.
“Thank God for good people like that young man!” Neelam said with a fond look in her eyes, “Without his timely help, we would have ended up roaming the streets of Varanasi looking for a room!”
A week later, their nephew Golu came over with a stranger.
“Mamaji, meet my friend Shailesh,” he said, “We’re colleagues, he’s in the hiring department!”
Over the cup of tea Shailesh said, “Uncleji, I would like to meet this young man you keep talking about!”
“That’s the kind of staff we need in the tourism department!” said the young man.
“You mean there’s a vacancy?”
“Well, I want to meet him; have a Varanasi ticket for tonight!” he finished his tea and got up. “Shailesh, you too come along; let’s have an outing!”
***
“Good afternoon, sir! How can we help you?” George got up from his chair at the reception counter as the two young men walked in.
“We would like to meet Mr George!” said the guest.
“What’s the matter, sir?” there was a slight alarm in his voice, “I’m George!”
“It’s a personal errand,” smiled the guest, deepening the mystery, “We are staying at the Continental; can we meet in the coffee shop there this evening?”
Then onwards things moved fast, like the scenes in a movie!
“Your presence of mind along with attitude of caring and helpfulness will make you successful in your career,” said Shailesh. “We’ll be pleased to have you as our Office Manager at our new hotel in Baroda!”
“What a significant journey!” thought George as he made his customary morning round in the sprawling premises of the Great Eastern Hotel.
(The author is a retired educationist at present in Bengaluru. A mother and a grandmother, loves reading, writing and travellinng.)
