Thirty Seven Rupees Remain Under Review
The bill was twelve hundred and forty-seven rupees. There were four people. The calculation has been running for nine minutes.
The bill arrived at the table.
Twelve hundred and forty-seven rupees. Four people. The mathematics are not difficult. The mathematics were immediately divided into a committee.
The Calculation
Twelve hundred and forty-seven divided by four is three hundred and eleven rupees and seventy-five paise. This number is inconvenient because seventy-five paise is not a denomination anyone has. Three people rounded up to three hundred and twelve. One person calculated the exact amount and paid three-eleven-seventy-five.
The group is now fourteen rupees short.
The Review
The fourteen-rupee shortfall prompted a review of the bill. During the review, it was discovered that the service charge of one hundred and twenty-five rupees had been included in the total but not specifically divided. Two people believed it should be split equally. One person believed it should be split in proportion to what each person ordered. The fourth person, who ordered the second-most expensive item, agreed with equal splitting.
The proportional calculation requires knowing what each person ordered. This requires everyone to remember what they ordered. Two people are confident. One is not sure about the starter. This is now relevant.
The Forensic Findings
The friendship survived fourteen years and several significant events. It is currently stressed by thirty-seven rupees and a disputed service charge that everyone agrees is present but nobody agrees should be allocated.
The calculator app has been opened on three phones simultaneously. All three have different totals.
The Resolution
One person paid the difference. They said it was fine. Everyone said they would get it next time. The total cost of the calculation in time and mild tension was proportionally greater than thirty-seven rupees. Nobody noted this because noting it would require everyone to sit with the absurdity of their own behavior, which is a social cost nobody wanted to introduce after a meal.
The next bill will be handled the same way.