I was driving through a road leading from the conservative Bangalore to the swanky side of the city when it struck me like lightning! My hands were trembling and my head was on a merry go round, I was finding it hard to even clutch my steering wheel when I decided to stop. It was my “Hunger pranks” and not a typhoon I was experiencing. Adding to my woe was the parking problem and I had to park a fair distance from a popular café I decided to go for my much needed bite. I then found a Babylonian garden to cut across and beat the dust and smoke and I eventually got in.
This is supposed be a connoisseur’s paradise and a regular stop for people addicted to its coffee. It was peak snack time and the place was packed and bustling with activity.
I found my place next to a couple enjoying their delicious food and I had to pretend a smile to the lady although I had my curious eyes on her plate! They were an elderly couple and man had with him a cloth bag stuffed with fresh vegetables, had stopped by on their way home from food shopping. I called for the waiter to place an order to live again. By then the elderly couple had finished eating and my shared table was empty expecting another group of customers. My table mates were this group of men who got seated. One of them unfolded a newspaper and started to read. The guy on the table next to mine started to read its flip side and started a conversation with group. The conversation included various subjects and I even wondered why our pals did not actually start their own newspaper! My order finally arrived and I got tucked in with their dialogue in the background. Then heralded the entry of the local political gang to socialize with this huge conglomeration of humanity which had assembled here. The latest trends in the political scenario were then the centre of attraction with people voicing their opinions and future predictions. The financial damage for our “leader” in waiting was the evergreen and never refused cups of coffee which does not cost the world in places like these. I then looked around and found wannabe artists, writers and journalists lounging around the place. I saw our slow paced government employee seated to beat his frustration as he sipped his coffee with his snail pace. My visuals then included young families with their noisy children enjoying their day out.
I then became present to these kinds of small pleasures which are hard to find in posh eateries and restaurants. The table etiquette is blown into the air and people enjoy their food whole heartedly. The chatter is a bit too loud to me, but who cares; it’s the freedom to be oneself that matters here. There are no DJs playing, no dandy cutlery or crockery. Its just plain great food with no strings attached and homely atmosphere. I feel sad for people who need to always need to play the character they are not for the sake of others. These are the people who are totally unauthentic to others as well as to themselves. They are pseudo modern, pseudo sophisticated and spurious. Today, I was impressed by the happy moments and pleasures that people living in a conservative society experience and cherish that many perceive insignificant. I hope this would give you some food for thought.
My satiety centre in my brain was refusing to give up and I had to order something more. “Would you like to have anything else sir?”
“one bonda soup and coffee”
