Sunday Brunch at 'The Mango Tree' Restaurant - At one of the most affluent Souk Al Bahar mall, Dubai
Vik (Vikram) a young guy with prominent Asian ethnicity, a cool stud, and portrays himself as the next 007.
Vet (Vettri not Vetal :-) is Sri Lankan / Australian origin, at times a bit doubtful and then famous for his dubious gaze.
Hema / Emma is an Anglo-Indian young girl and probably a bit like Hermione from the Harry Potter series.
Uncle Sam (Samsher) is of Middle-Eastern origin, but stayed in the US, and spent number of years on ships sailing across seas. Now in Dubai, managing this restaurant. At his age he's definitely credible to impress guys and gals even 30 years younger to him.
Lucie is of Vietnamese, French and Russian origin girl, super athletic, in mid 30s but blessed by her Eastern Asian origin and looks sooo younger.
Gabriela (Gabby) is tom-boyish and of Argentine, Dutch and Spanish descend.
BTW all are omnipresent, multi-faceted, multi-lingual, come from all walks of life and so-are-so damn authoritative in anything and everything they do / talk about. And by the way all of you are invited for the Brunch, hmmmm, yes on every Sunday.
Vik is coming straight from his work-out at 'The Gym' at The Souk Al Bahar. Looking just perfect in his white 'Armani Exchange' (AX) track-suit. He's got this as a gift from his close friend Rick, who is a model - Rick actually was in this same AX tracks last month, walking on the ramp for one of the Spring / Summer'16 show in Paris.
Vet had a bit of tiring session at Al Badia Golf course, and then it took him almost 25 minutes on E11, because of the traffic (tourists everywhere, Damn! the Shopping festival) to drive-down to The Souk, which he usually hits in 15 minutes.
And Hema is looking stunning even dressed in a casual grey chiffon palazzo, cropped black leather jacket on a light peach short top, and off course black heels (She hates sneakers), as if she is visiting a boutique, road-side eatery at South Kensington, London on a Sunny August noon. BTW she is seemingly happy with the last 2 hours session she had, at the salon 'Posh by Feryal'. Anything Posh in it, and Hema will be sold on that :-). The glow on her face is radiant and accentuated, thanks to the Gold-Herbal facial, and the minor red highlights at the tips of her curled dark mop of hairs, is actually giving a lot of phirangi edge to her subtle Anglo, and more prominent Indian looks.
Hema / Emma is the first to arrive, followed by Vik and then the delayed Vet. It’s breezy and less hot being January morning. Usual mild khus fragrance in the air, and soft sarod played through a centralized music system of the restaurant. Hema chooses to grab a place at the terrace, and she being hopelessly romantic, is sitting facing the Dubai fountains. Vik facing her, and Vet joins and sits next to Emma (just to avoid giving away those occasional dubious gazes to Hema, which he himself doesn't like, but somehow can't control...hmmmm OCD?).
Uncle Sam is busy attending some of his other affluent guests. But the familiar Bashir is there to attend the trio, and he already had kept their drinks at the table while seeing them arriving in. It's the signature Mango-saffron lassi for Vik, Fosters (OUAustreliaann for Beer!!) for Vet, and 'Dew and Drops' herbal mock-tail (lemon base, with dash of basil, chia seeds, saffron and honey) for Hema. Last 8 years, right from her teen age, she's probably added just about half a stone (Brit measure and means ~3 Kgs) and still carries that envious teen-age look in her thin frame. Bashir while leaving the table doesn't forget to tell Vik that the Lassi is shaken and not stirred, and receives a 'Shukraan with a super-stud-smile from Vik, just ensuring his hefty tip. Bashir's too smart for his job. Vik while removing his black aviator glasses, begins the conversation...
Vik: Dudes what's up?
Vet: Not much mate, the oil prices and stock markets are nose-diving, and not too sure when I'd switch to a Porsche Macan V6 Turbo, from my Audi TT Coupe.
Vik: But why Buoy (after-effect of watching ZNMD 08 times)? And what's wrong with your TT?
Emma is still not settled, as she is searching something in her beaded, black and brown patchy, 'Louise Vuitton' handbag. The bag looks small but stocks a caravan-full stuff in it. Well not really! Her bag is damn organised, and it's actually very rare of her; searching for something in the bag. Now she gets the pack of 'Sen Cha' mint, keeps it on the table, which Vik and Vet will be having during next couple of hours more than her.
Vet: TT is great, but as VW is going through the gas emission row, the next turn could be the Audis. But I love this brand and I hope by the time the emission control agencies would reach Porsches', it would be another 5 years. So just wanted to buy a Macan quickly.
Vik: Dude here's the deal (he is an eternal sales guy as well!). YOU KNOW WHAT? (it's his way of saying 'My Name is Bond… 'Vik' Bond!) Arvind is a friend of mine….
Vet: Wait (that's his favorite expression!) and who is Arvind?
Emma: (Suddenly she feels like getting into the conversation) Arvind the Indian guy at CAFEE (Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions) at West Virginia, who exposed VW emissions to the world?
Vik: You can't be wrong girl! So Arvind is a good friend of mine and he told me that CAFEE will be looking at everything from a lower end SEAT, to the top end Bugattis. So Porsches can't be spared. Also Arvind being an Indian, and powered by the US Passport :-), makes him the most lethal combination to do and predict all the techy and future-proof things, which obviously are supposed to rule the world. And according to him JLR is amongst the top 5 global car companies for the next 30 years.
Vet: Waaiiit !!! (doubtful here) and what happens after 30 years?
Emma: There wont be any cars after 30 years, she says while slowly sipping and enjoying her favorite 'Dew and Drops'. World would be rapidly changing to other means of transport including the self-transporters seen in the sci-fi movies. And why you worry about it, you hardly keep a car for 2 years. But wait (this is a more witty 'wait' of Emma's, contrary to what Vet just expressed) 5 years is still a lot more time, than you get along with one GF :-)
Vik: Guys come to the point… I know Harisingh very well who owns the JLR dealership at Zayed Road. In fact I bumped on to Harisingh in the elevator below, and he is here with his family. So the deal is I'll introduce you to him and he can actually deliver the Range Rover Sport in at least ADR 50 K less than the Porsche. This too is V6, but more spacious than the Macan. And you don’t have to bother about JLR breaching any emission norms. Since Tata's have bought the JLR, they transformed it to an extent that it can not afford to breach any norms (As if it would never meet those - Vik speak with himself :-). But he is kidding, knowing JLR and Tata's is a different equation, even later being an Indian origin company)
Vik: So Vet... Done deal?
Vet: Hmmmm, Cool mate, but let me check with Lucie (he has a soft corner for Lucie, who had a never-ending Saturday night party and thus not present today)
Uncle Sam while attending the guests at nearby table is having an eye and ear across this part of the restaurant and obviously a lot more for the trio, they being very close friends of his. He chimes in at the right moment here.....
Uncle Sam: Vet, the Porsches' we get here are made in China, where most of the raw steel comes from Africa and is adulterated, while all the JLR we get here are completely UK made including the raw material. Aside me and my friends while getting out of the theater last year after watching Fast & Furious 7, were almost convinced if Paul Walker wasn't driving that car in California, he'd have still be alive delivering more editions of F & F. RIP Paul. Logical, practical and less emotional Uncle Sam is, and quickly switches back to the present, as he gets a feeling that his job is done :-) and moves on to 'enlighten' guests at other tables, but doesn't forget to instruct Bashir to serve one more 'Fosters' for Vet.
This had an enormous effect changing Vets mind (he was in 2 minds as always) and looking at Vik, he says....
Vet: Vik let's meet Harisingh to book the car. BTW I love Black Range Rover, but the blue looks awesome as well. Guys which one I should go for?
Vik: Red macha (Vik uses this when he wants to influence guys, especially Vet), while staring at the fresh red streaks of Hema's hairs, and even though he had put on his Aviators just moments back, Hema very well knows the reason why Vik suggested the color Red this time.
Vet: Yeah...red looks cool and Lucie's favorite. 'Lock kiya jaye'? (That's his affirmation to himself, means the deal is sealed now)
There goes Hema's accented 'Haan Ji', throwing the usual witty smile to Vik, when Vet is busy calling Lucie telling her about the news, and Vik popping another 'Sen Cha' mint, leaving the table to meet Harising, guessing he must be sitting somewhere near the ground floor pool with his family. Vik walking down the stairs, smiling at himself, for he is not a monk, it's not a Ferrari and he does not intent to gain anything from this. But for he had cracked a deal for his friend - Vet, which otherwise would have taken ages for him to decide.
'Cheers' murmurs Hema, gently tossing up her drink at Uncle Sam, who is busy giving his '2 cents' at another table, but while also giving a quick stare at the trio's table, smiling as a sage....hmmmm wait......or as a Monk?
Have a great week ahead all :-)
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