Selling Nescafe on the runway

After 24 hours of landing in Mumbai airport, I was thinking of checking n for my flight to Hubli. I spotted a Nescafe stall. I asked for a coffee and paid 10 bucks. Hurriedly finishing the cup, I walked towards the checkin and cleared it in less than 10 minutes.

After a brief walk to the gate 10, I sat down facing the electronic board that announced the flight for which the boarding was in progress. I had more than 2.30 hours for mine. As my eyes started to feel heavy, I was in need for another coffee!! Hmmm, another Nescafe stall. I dragged myself to the box.

A man, in a well cut suit, was looking into this wallet to pay for the big Ferroro rochter gold rimmed box that he had bought. He had atleast 20 cards in there. (debit/credit). The card holder was huge, in brown leather. He made no attempt to be discreet about the contents. Even a guy standing 10 feet away could have noticed it. I exclaimed under my breath, "You must have paid a bomb for the handsome card holder!". The Nescafe guy pulled me out , "Yes Maam".

"One coffee pls" and held out a 10 rupees note. Well, I had just had a coffee at a distance less than 50 feet.

He said, "20 rupees, Madam!".

Me -- "I had a coffee before coming here. It is inside the airport. Why does the price double every 40 feet and a floor?"

He -- "As you come closer to the flight you board, the more expensive eveything is".

Me -- All smiles, sipping the coffee, I burst out into laughter. The black suit, million-dotted-tie clad guy had stopped rummaging through his huge wallet and was gawking at me. I said, aloud, "I am glad you do not sell coffee on the runaway".

As I walked away, I had to make a huge attempt to hold the coffee cup steady. I was laughing aloud. All eyes were staring at me. The Nescafe boy looked at me sheepishly. I could hear the suit clad guy laughing uproariously. Seems like it took him some few extra seconds to understand what I had said.

Later, as we again crossed paths, a more sober me saw the guy burst into laughter. I wonder what he had found so funny, My face or then-made my remark, "Selling coffee on the runway". As I walked past him, I noticed him settleling down at the far end of the room, with bunch of some more well-cut suits. He was talking to them, and they were smiling at me. All I did was acknowledge with a faint forced smile!