CHANGE
"Mmm…"
He seemed to be in a paradoxical state of discomfort and pleasure.
"It's as if you've never tasted anything spicy before," I said. "You have to pay for that, mind you."
"Of course I will," he grinned.
Soon enough, the hot sauce began its attack and he began to draw in cool air to soothe his burning tongue.
"Oi, give me a cold Coke!"
"All right, hold your horses." I replied, walking over to the refrigerator. A few minutes later he had emptied the bottle. I shook my head at him wearily.
"You're one strange customer," I quipped. "You spend over thirty minutes deciding what to order, and then the next thirty minute you slowly eat a couple of French-fries. Now, it's as if something has possessed you. You finished a burger in less than…what, five minutes?"
The man let out a roar of laughter, earning him a few questioning glances from the other customers.
"Seven minutes and thirty seconds to be more precise, my friend!" he bellowed, glancing down at his watch. "Bill, please!"
By the time I brought his bill, he had already taken his wallet out.
"I hope I haven't caused you any discomfort!" he laughed. "I just have…" he stopped dead. It was as if he had seen a ghost!
"Are you alright?" I asked cautiously.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no…" he stammered, "This can't be!"
"What is it, sir? Are you short on money?"
"No it's not that…it's…" He thrust the paper in front of my face. "I didn't know there was VAT!" he wailed. "I chose my meal in such a way so that I would get back an even number, divisible by five and two! I was supposed to pay four hundred and fifty taka and now I see a six percent VAT! Argh…just take it!"
He handed me a crumpled five hundred taka note, seemingly exhausted from his sudden outburst. I was at a loss for words.
"Fella must have some form of OCD," the cashier said to me when I told him about it. I handed him the money. "Here's the change,' the cashier said.
When I walked back to the table, the peculiar customer had fled, leaving behind a clean plate and an empty bottle. I stood confused, holding twenty-two takas in my hand.
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