Have you ever realised that, there are too many malls and too few of us? Even in a city like Mumbai? You will be nodding your heads to this if you have ever visited a mall during the 'happy hours.' By 'happy hours 'I mean the day time, when you can see a few mall rats, a sole mother with her baby in a pram, and of course, the store employees. I wonder why there is no 'happy-hours discount' in all these malls which look like there is a epidemic in the city between opening time and evening. I ventured to this mall yesterday since I had to kill some time before picking up my son from daycare (its the trial period in daycare, before I start the usual grind of working 9 to 6!). Whats the best way to pass time than to watch a movie? And, mind you, I am strictly talking about Hollwood movies which last only 2 hours. So, I glide up the escalator(s) and walk to the box office (why do they call it that?) and ask for a ticket only to be informed that they need atleast 4 people to run the show! So, I say, "What should I do then? Its not my fault that inspite of the burgeoning population, only I decide to watch this movie!" "Please come five minutes before the show." Ok, now I have another hour to kill. I decide to satiate my desire to eat something sweet and walk to the Gelato counter. I ask for a taste of the new "sucrose free" chocolate variant. The girl behind the counter replies, "It is sucrose free." I ask myself, do I look so sweet that, I don't need a sucrose-free gelato or I dont fit the profile of the sucrose-free types? I ask the girl, "What should I do, I just want to taste it." She gives me a tiny bit to taste. After I finally decide which chocolate variant I would like, another question mauls my brain, "Medium, large, or family?" Yet again, I wonder, do I look like I can consume medium or family sized quantities of gelato? Why don't these mall counters start asking if a customer would like a small serving size? Why can't consumers like me, have the presence of mind, at these times, and ask for what I want? Finally, I have the medium size chocolate sorbetto and keep wondering why I did I have a desire for gelato or any sweet at all?! Time fast forwards to the movie intermission. Its so cold in the movie hall and thanks to that cold gelato that I am still cursing, I need a hot coffee. My need is not met beacuse, they have only tea at the snacks bar! This mauls my mind yet again! Why did I become the victim of the so called mall culture? Its clean and convenient, but bores a hole in your pocket. It tempts you and treats you but , also makes you feel like a fool sometime. Can I, please, maul at their brains sometime?
