On a Saturday morning at the Indian Coffee House

The Coffee Machine makes a long gushing noise churning out the coffee beans into a magical aroma that is enough to lift up your senses. I take the window sit, put my bag aside, take out my writing pad, pen and spectacles. I waive my hand at the boy who is all neatly dressed up in white ironed attire with a properly tied waiter’s turban and say, “Ek Coffee aur ek Omelette”(One Coffee and one omelette). I am sitting at the Indian Coffee House and enjoying my Saturday morning.

There is an old charm associated with the Indian Coffee House. The black soot at the ceilings and crumpled paints reverberate the tales of the past. The wooden and marbled tables bring out the sheer simplicity which still lures people to this place.  

It’s 10:30 a.m., Coffee House wears a deserted look. The chairs look pale and the table lies in disdain. It seems as if they are mourning in deep grief devoid of the visitors’ arrival. But this does not continue for long as within few minutes, a group of four persons arrive and break the silent milieu that was prevailing. One of them open their laptops and few others take out their writing pads. It seems like they are here for talking business. Wow! It’s good to know that its not the CCD’s and the MAC D’s, the alternate business meeting points apart from offices, Coffee House also forms a part of the league. My coffee arrives. I take the first sip and overhear the conversation going on at the other end. Seems like the group is here to discuss some business deals.

I look outside through the window glass. There is a mild wintry chill in the air as the breeze blows away the left over dust and leaves at one corner of the terrace. The sun plays hide-and-seek as it peeps once and then disappears again in the clutter of clouds. The weather is just perfect for a romantic date. Just when I think this, two love birds arrive. The young couple in their early twenties first exchange romantic glances, then give each other a warm hug. They take the table opposite mine, get cozy and prattle till the time the waiter comes and takes their order. Oh! did they forget that they have to order? because they seem to chatter, not being aware of the waiter. The girl finally breaks the conversation and places the order as the boy obnoxiously looks at him as if he has interfered in their private affair. As the couple continues their lovey-dovey talks, my attention is snatched by an angry voice.

Hur – Hush!, the voice has reached even higher now. I see a waiter running across the terrace with a large wooden stick. A herd of monkeys have arrived. They have created a ruckus; turning the chairs up and down, throwing the ketchup bottle on the ground, causing few of the visitors crumble in fear as they hurriedly move from one end of the building to the other.

On the other end, visitors have started pouring in quite a few numbers as the receptionist is quite busy now taking the orders. The waiters are leaving no stone unturned to serve the visitors. The business group is over with its meeting for the day and is enjoying light talks over snacks and tea. The young couple is in search of more privacy now as they leave in a hurry and make a quick exit.

 A tete-a-tete point, a writer’s sojourn or a lover’s paradise?, the Indian Coffee House is the place to be for anyone who…………………………

Well, go there and find the reason because it cannot be explained here unless you go there J