McDonald's threw out a street kid, so what's the big deal?

I have had all kind of eating experiences in India, the country, which is known to be "not-so-rich" and unfair. Yet, I am not all charged up and fighting for a poor boy whose tale of being thrown out of a food outlet is now on everyone’s Facebook timeline and Twitter feed. Yes, treating anyone, poor or rich, in an ill manner and dragging them by the collar is unacceptable and needs to be fought for and punished but here’s some food for thought for all of us.

1. How many of us allow our maids to walk into our kitchens and home wearing their slippers?

2. Do you ask your nanny to wash her hands each time she carries your child?

3. Is value education a criterion for applying to work crazy shifts at fast food chains?

4. Have you ever been denied entry into a plush club because you were in a pair of shorts (Gucci) and slippers (Aldo)?

5. If a nanny accompanying a family is allowed to sit in the same joint, will a nanny be allowed to dine when she arrives solo?

6. Has there ever been a time when you have asked your ageing parents to wait outside a friend’s house or lounge and not come in to fetch you so that none of you feel "odd"?

7. How many times have you looked at the mirror wondering if you are dressed appropriately for the occasion, place?

8. Have you ever been instructed by your bosses to not answer e-mails by a certain person or allow him in the work premises? How many times have you revolted against that?

9. How many times have you rolled up your car window when a child has begged you for money or tempted you to buy a pirated copy of best-selling book or a bunch of roses or a balloon?

10. Does anyone of us know how a bomber is or supposed to look?

11. Is kicking out a well-off customer from an outlet acceptable? **

12. Has there been a time when you have asked your nanny/help/servant to sit on a different table when you are dining out? Or perhaps left her outside the eatery or at home to avoid discomfort?

13. When travelling by a low-cost airline have you ever requested a change in seat, expressing discomfort over sitting next to a labourer?

14. On the door is a person seeking donation for a slum, do you open the door and welcome him to sit on your sofa?

15. Do you cover your nose while crossing a slum? If there was a restaurant in the slum, will you book a table there?

**In the year 2001, when I studied in college we spent our time between lectures at the air-conditioned McDonald’s in Ansal Plaza. Our campus was neither partly nor fully air-conditioned and the mall was! On the first few occasions we ate a burger each at McDonald’s, on days when we were short of cash we shared a single regular glass of cola and small french fries (and were stared at, at times). And on rainy days, we sat on the tiled stairs and blocks in the mall, outside McDonald’s,next to the bench where Ronald McDonald sat. A couple of days later our "outside" presence began to bother the staff at the outlet and we were warned to not eat from our tiffin (yes, carrying packed lunch to college too was not considered shameful then) as we sat outside, and later, we were shooed away from the site for unknown reasons. We were four well-dressed girls in pairs of Levis denims and Benetton tees (the big brands then) who spoke politely, spent wisely and even clicked pictures for visitors who wanted to pose with Ronald. Yet, we were shooed away from the scene. At this moment, I seek justice too! Also, recently, I was refused an entry into a club because I was not wearing the right pair of heels (only three inches and above was acceptable)!

Yes, inequality is wrong but why not spare a moment before we get all frenzied and get a food outlet shut.