Shell-shocked at Shell

I discovered my bike is giving me lesser mileage when I fill petrol from the nearest bunk to my place - Bharat Petroleum near A.S.Rao Nagar. Saala adulterated-petrol seller.

So when I passed by a Shell petrol station near Uppal today, I decided to try it out.

As I turned into the station, an attendant waved towards where I was supposed to go. My wife and I were seated ( obviously) and without getting down, I began to open the fuel tank.

The petrol attendant then folded his hands and said "Namaste"

I was shell-shocked.

Not that people don't do it. I'm kinda proud of my friends circle here, they all say that whenever they meet my parents. But who does that otherwise ? Least of all in a petrol filling station !

Then he politely asked my wife to get down. Shrugging, she did. Then he asked me to get down too. Incredulous, I asked why. He indicated he would explain.

Under his spell, I got down from the bike. With a gentle smile, he then started explaining that it was a safety feature, when people fill the tank of a heated bike thats hot from running, there is chance of petrol splashing back blah blah .. at this point I totally lost track of the conversation because I was under the spell of the type of training and grooming Shell people give their attendants.

On one hand we have TV ads of "Club HP -Achcha lagta hai" but no change in the attitudes of the Govt PSU petro-outlet attendants. Not that it affects me really, but a simple "Namaste" today really went a long way ! Enough to make me look out for Shell outlets near my house.

IOC,BPCL,HPCL,IBP - better start shivering !