(Indeed) A LOT CAN HAPPEN OVER COFFEE

Years back (sound great when I use this word and in fact at times saves me from unnecessary trouble) on a date me and my girlfriend decided to go to coffee bar (I still wonder why I agreed to it). Other than the ambience and well mannered stewards if anything else haunted me really was the rate of different flavors. After couple of minute’s sincere observation and presuming the dent it can cause me to my wallet I decided to escape by from the bar. However I could not do so. Steward approached to take the order, “Don’t you have tea?” he gave me a surprised look as if I blaspheme the place and owner. My girlfriend nudged me and placed the order. I wonder and asked her, “Why don’t they add tea in their menu? People like me can come for tea as well specially country like India where we associate tea as a part of courtesy and warmness. I seldom remember any of my relative and known has ever asked about coffee. In fact we Indian have strong bonding and sentiments for tea though we cannot associate coffee with the same. My girlfriend corrected me and said, “coffee represent socially affluent class and at time for special category of people (one might consider them intellectual sitting in Madras café or famous coffee house of Calcutta, Connaught Place of Delhi is not exceptional as well, discussing hours and hours over politics, economy and so on), where as tea is for common people. I could not borrow the logic completely, paid the bill Rs. 120 (as much as anyone would have afforded meal for almost 4 times, I guess RAJ BABBAR will spare me using his quote of having a meal at Rs.32) and walked out. Never again I visited the coffee house again nor did I meet my girlfriend since then. A few days back the soap of “Coffee with Karan” went super hit. I wondered is it coffee or the pay cheque and fame that attract celebs to sip coffee with him. Once again I recollected the thought of what my girl friend (now ex) once said, “Coffee is for elite and intellectuals and not for lay man.” The message was clear.

My antagonism for coffee was not for dismay that it is overpriced and would over cast tea in few days rather the discrimination we have over drink. My association with tea is old (I am theic, by the way) and that’s the reason I advocate it. Unlike coffee you can easily find a tea shop every nook and corner; it also suits one’s budget as you can order half cup or one third as well. Still I find that there is a long journey yet to travel to make it globally accepted. Soaps and movies propagated it (coffee) so much (don’t take it otherwise when heroine says I make good coffee, why don’t you come inside and sip) that’s why every boy ask her girl for coffee not for tea (stupid me). A famous tag line of a coffee bar popped up in my mind, “A lot can happen over coffee.” And reminded me the break up I had with my girl friend. A smile appeared on my face, “so true they are.”

Disclaimer: - All the instance and incident cited here for fun only, they are not intend for mockery of any celebrity, place and brand.