The call came without warning.
I mean, sure, there was ringing but that hardly counts. I looked at the caller ID and it said "A Institute." Terrible grammar notwithstanding, I picked up the phone. I could never have prepared myself for what came next...
ME: Showroom.
WOMAN: Hello!
ME: Hi...
WOMAN: Is this Mr. Mahtani?
ME: Technically.
WOMAN: This is Mary--
ME: Hello, Mary.
WOMAN: This is Mary from the Art Institute?
(awkward pause)
WOMAN: Mr. Mahtani?
ME: Sorry, I thought you had more things to say.
WOMAN: Um, yes... Is this (COMPANY NAME)?
ME: Yup.
WOMAN: And you're a clothing company?
ME: Yes. I am literally surrounded by clothes.
ELDERLY COWORKER: Ash! Do you want to get lunch?
ME: Hold on a sec. Yes! But I'm on the phone!
WOMAN: Mr. Mahtani?
ME: Yeah, sorry about that. You were saying?
ELDERLY COWORKER: What? I said "do you want to get lunch!"
ME: I heard you and responded appropriately! But I am on the phone!
WOMAN: Is this a bad time?
ME: No, not at all. What can I help you with?
WOMAN: Well, here at the institute, we have fashion students looking for internships...
ME: Mental patients have internships?
WOMAN: What? Oh... no... We're not that kind of institute.
(ELDERLY COWORKER BARGES INTO OFFICE TO TELL ME THAT HE'S 70 YEARS OLD)
ME: That was odd...
WOMAN: Sir?
ME: Sorry, weird things are happening...
WOMAN: Well, I'll get right to the point. We have students who need fashion internships. Can we put you down as a contact they can apply to?
ME: I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to make those kinds of decisions.
WOMAN: But you're listed as the owner of this company...
ME: No. No I am definitely not. You're looking for a completely different Mr. Mahtani. He's not in right now... Can I take a message?
WOMAN: No... Just, no...
ME: This is goodbye, isn't it, Mary?
(Click)
No comments:
Post a Comment