Apr 02, 2012 04:50 PM
8240 Views
(Updated Apr 02, 2012 05:05 PM)
After hearing all the praises for the Mantri Square, my family and I decided that it was time for a visit. We were looking forward to have a quiet family time with the kids. We were also expecting the place to be a welcoming change from the usual Forums and City Central. However, what was in store for us in the mall was chaos, disrespect and a bad end to a weekend of expectation.
It all started even before we got to the mall. The car I drive is an age old classic which I have cherished all my life. I own a Contessa Classic 1.8, which I know is a big car for normal roads. But the road that gets you to Mantri is not a normal road. It is almost clogged to a foot space entry. It took us close to 20 minutes to get from the Natraj Theatre to Mantri.
Then came the parking disaster. The area that is provisioned for parking is highly disorganized. Yes, there are people to provide valet but are they as careful as you with your vehicles? Hell, No!!!! They just want to throw your car like a tin of garbage in one of the open slots and be done with. And the space is very badly built which adds to your trouble.
Then comes the actual Mall area. It is a pathetically designed building with least or no eye for safety. The place is a dungeon with no escape during fires. God forbid a fire disaster occurs, don't run - don't panic, just call your loved ones and say goodbye. This seems to be the idea the mall was built on.
The worst experience I had was with the staff. I encountered Mall staff who were not just rude and arrogant but hooligans and rowdies too. I happened to be unaware of the fact that smoking is prohibited outside the Mall where a small fountain flows (which is around 4-5 ft away from the exit). I decided to sit on the parapet wall next to the fountain and smoke a cigarette. I had just placed the cigarette in my mouth when I heard someone. I am going to quote the conversation that happened in English though it happened in Kannada.
Man - "Get out of this place, you are not allowed to smoke here."
Me - "Maybe you could say that in a better way."
Man - "I don't have to say it in any way. Just get lost from here."
Me - " I think I should report to your manager and see what he has to say?"
Ironically the man who spoke to me was accompanied by his manager, who also was as rude if not more. And as a matter of fact I am not making any of these things up.
Manager - "I am his manager and what the F are you going to do about it?"
Me - I think I will talk to your security cheif or whoever you report to"
Manager - " I don't report to anyone. I am the boss. Now you better get the F out of here or I will have beat you up and then throw you out."
My wife got agitated by this and got into the conversation.
Wife - "You try and lay a finger on him and see what will happen to you. I will call the police and have you both arrested for Assault."
As soon as my wife said police, the man who had spoken first literally pounced on her and pushed her down. It all happened so fast that I had no time to react. I caught hold of this guy and kicked him in the gut. The menager was trying to get into the action but was held back by another companion of theirs. Seeing this we got into the mall and asked for the Security head. By then both these people had realized that they were in for trouble and started to try and stop us. And in the course of trying a lot of other people gathered there. With a public gathering forming there the two of them again got into their defensive. I think they were frightened, due to which they wanted to get away. The manager this time attacked me and tried to beat me up. The people gathered around stopped him and he got his share of wacks right there.
By then my wife had called the police and we had the security team lock the two guys up in a room. Once the police arrived they arrested the two of them. We were called to the police station and give a statement. The police officer present there was really outraged with them for man handling a woman. He called my wife over and asked her to beat them up till she was relieved.
This is what happened at the Mantri Square mall to us. So with this you guys can realize how good this place is. If given a choice, we would prefer this mall to be pulled down to pulp. The worst ever experience in a place which is supposed to be professional as well as casual. Let me end the review on another note though. When I got my car back from the parking after all this chaos, it had a large scratch across the driver side door. So I have nothing but thanks for this Mall and its people.
