Taj, Trident return to life

The first patron at the five-star, Madhusudan Kshirsagar strolled into the Trident lobby for a masala chai and cheese toast at 8.15 am, but left with much more than that. Purva Mehra reports.

On Sunday morning, the breakfast tab at the Trident was a pink rose, a prayer and a ‘Thank you for your support’ card.

The first patron at the five-star, Madhusudan Kshirsagar strolled into the Trident lobby for a masala chai and cheese toast at 8.15 am, but left with much more than that. “I often visit the coffee shop with friends for the masala chai. This time I was alone… A staffer came up to me and said he wished he had a camera to take a picture of me as I was the first patron,” said Kshirsagar, who runs a shipping company. “I didn’t realise I was the first one there… when I asked for the bill, I got a Thank you card instead.”

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Draped in crisp suits and creaseless saris, the staff welcomed every person who entered the premises — after three levels of security checks — with big smiles, folded hands and profuse thank yous.

“They have all been so fantastic,” remarked Jeff Defracitas, the first guest who checked in, at 8 am. “We were told at the desk that we were the first guests to check in,” said Defracitas, who will stay here for two nights with his wife Zoe.