Blog – 2 How feministic the title sounds! Right? But that’s what is going on in my mind for a couple of weeks. This thought cropped up in my mind some weeks back while I was on my shift. It was a usual busy day at work. I was busy preparing orders and getting them served right on time. The place used to get usually busy after 7 pm. I had become friends with a few regular customers who would come up to me and ask me if I was doing fine and all of that. Many customers who were from India or South Asian ethnicity recognized a similar background and would stop by for a quick chat. Amidst this all-friendly work environment was the day which seemed a bit more unusual than other days.

I was getting through quite a busy day at work when two of the regular customers dropped by. I used to call them ‘Uncle’ for some obvious reasons of sharing the same nationality. He came on the till placed his usual food and drinks order. Then he goes on to ask me how my studies are going, how are my family and everything. After having this general conversation, he asked me, if I liked working in this café. Without even thinking for a second, I nodded my head with a smile because I loved working in that café. What came next, I had not expected at least because I was in UK. Uncle mentioned, “why don’t you think about working in my office; that’s a more decent and respectable job.” Trust me it doesn’t end here. He goes on to say in Hindi (so people around don’t get a catch of our conversation), “you know what this is not a very good job for a girl like you coming from a good respectable family. Work in my office, it will be better.” My heart sank at that one moment. There was anger inside me building up but as much as I hated him for those words and wanted him to leave the place; he was a customer, and I had no choice to treat him with all respect. I told him I will think about it only to end the conversation and get going with my work. His voice rattled in my ears for the whole time. I could barely keep my headspace together. I could never expect these words from someone who has been living in the UK for the past 20-30 years of his life. At that moment I realized, people can come out from India but that thinking, that stereotypical thinking, still persists and would continue to persist even if they reach any corner of the world.