Cuppa of life

The setting: Cafe Coffee Day on Junglee Maharaj Road. Approximately 8:30 in the evening.

You're sitting at the table by the window.You picked that table because you thought it would be fun to watch the traffic at that time of the day. Unfortunately, that isn't working out too well, since it's dark outside and most of what you see in the window is a reflection of whatever's happening inside the coffee shop.

As you sit there silently cursing the wave theory of light, you suddenly notice that your cycle, standing on the other side of the glass window, is being lit up by the soft lighting from within the coffee shop. You notice just how good your cycle looks from this angle. A wash and a few dabs of touch-up paint, and it'd be worthy of a glossy print ad. You smile and make a mental note to wash your cycle the next day.

Just then, two women in their mid-twenties walk in. They take up the table that's right in front of yours. The cuter looking one's wearing capris. As you slyly check out her calves, your coffee comes in. It looks so very inviting and delicious. The coffee, that is. Although the calves don't look too bad either :D

You inhale, taking in that subtle yet invigorating aroma of cold coffee laced with chocolate sauce. Ahh. You pity all the people who don't drink coffee. Thankfully, you reason, it doesn't include most of your friends. It then hits you just how alone you are right at this moment. Just you and your coffee. With your cycle looking at you indifferently, from outside.

You take a sip of the coffee. It's not nearly as cold as you'd like it. Actually, it's not cold at all. Just slightly below room temperature. And it's not very chocolate-y either.Urgh. You decide you're not going to tip the waiter at all this time.

Ahead, the women are talking about how the not-nearly-as-cute one's going through a break up. Your own failed relationship stares you in the face, almost as if it happened just yesterday. And that reminds of your first coffee at CCD, which you split with your ex. That one was perfect. And not just because she was there with you. It makes you detest the one that's in your hand right now even more. You sigh and push yourself further into the chair. Which doesn't help much, since it's a cane chair and has very little give.

Your eyes drift onto the plasma screen on the opposite wall. They're playing "Soni de nakhre", that utterly ridiculous song from Partner. Govinda's on his back, waving his arms around like a beached octopus. For some reason, there's no sound. You find that, surprisingly, the video's much more palatable without the music.

Your phone buzzes. It's one of your closest friends, telling you how much she liked your latest piece of writing. You smile a contented smile, happy in the knowledge that no matter what, the people who really matter in your life are never far away. And just ahead the women are talking about how it's almost impossible to still remain friends after a break up. It makes your smile that much more smug, since that closest friend in question happens to be your ex.

And it's that moment. That moment with the not-upto-par coffee in your right hand. The phone in your left hand. The women talking about relationships in front. Govinda, Katrina and Salman dancing to no music on the TV. And you cycle still looking at you without any emotion. That moment seems so perfect, you wish you had a Pensieve to capture it and savour it later.

Another atypical evening in the life of ess.

P.S. Okay, I'll admit it's not great writing. But this entry's more about picturisation. It's about evoking mental imagery (and some such crap). So if you didn't like it, it's not my fault. Your imagination doesn't stack up :P

P.P.S. If I tweak it a little, change the description of the coffee to something more positive and make the last line "Another satisfied customer at Cafe Coffee Day", wouldn't this make a great ad? What am I still doing in biology?