Boss vs. the rest of the world!

Who is the most important person in your work life? I ask myself this question as I wait in a corporate office lobby, it has been over ten minutes and the person I had to meet- with a fixed and re-confirmed appointment- continues to be busy. Another ten minutes pass and things are pretty much the same. By now I am beginning to get restless. And definitely my annoyance is starting to show because the receptionist sheepishly gives me another weak smile in apology. She then volunteers that unchallengeable reason: He is with the Boss. If the Boss has called you and you have a fixed appointment a few minutes what is the fairest thing to do? You can tell the Boss that someone is waiting for you? You can step outside and tell the person waiting for you that you are sorry but you may need a few minutes? Or can you just keep someone waiting because he has come to you for business? Sadly, basic courtesy has no place in the iron-clad hierarchy of the Indian corporate space: Client- Me- Vendor. It is not apparently taught at any management college. If it is a client you drop everything thing and comply with every wish. Ditto with Boss. You don't say anything to him as if a word could cost you your job and entire career. But you can keep a vendor waiting without any consideration. And when you go to the clients' you are also ready to face this ignominy because you actually believe it is OK. I personally think civil behaviour and politeness cannot be argued away and everyone feels good when someone behaves well with them. And if we give it a try we may be surprised that the Boss appreciates this decency and does not see it as a slight against his superiority!