Coffee Session Series - I

One thing which I have enjoyed the most in US is the “Starbucks”. I just like everything about it – the ambience, the aroma of coffee/cinnamon in the air, the crowd and yes not to forget my favorites – hot chocolate, chai latte and the marble loaf. To go there I don’t even wait for a company, just go whenever I want. And Friday mornings are a routine for me -sometimes while talking to Dad on phone, at other times just walking with my thinking cap on or just wandering blankly or simply enjoying looking at everyone around me. I have three of these near my office. One is just right down near the Hilton reception another next to it in the Marriot and the third one is across the street. My favorite is the farthest one i.e. across the street and I prefer going there via Marriot - the crowd and ambience of this place is just too lively to freshen you up.

Today is not a Friday but I still had an urge to just get up and go. So asked a friend to come along. Though I don’t know him much, but enjoy his narrations of small things and he is perhaps one of the very few people with whom I talk less and listen more :). He wears pooja kumkum on his head to office everyday which reminds me of Indian temples. Bingo! I initiate today’s first topic that he is growing fat day by day :) The comment was accepted, justified, forgotten off in a few seconds and pushed back seat. Now he starts of the time when he came to US - almost three years ago and how he could never manage to go back due to one reason or the other. I had always felt people get a good salary and enjoy a good life here that’s why they stay but my views are taking a 'U' turn now. I have started understanding this never ending loop of things going on and on one after the other. So he continues with what all he has missed in the past three years – lots of cousin marriages so next time he goes back he will be a stranger in his own family trying to recognize their spouses and in some cases their kids too. He remembered his school going younger sibling when he had first left house for job. Now she is a young girl about to finish off her college and all set to be married. The house where he had spent more than 20 yrs has been broken down and altogether a new construction is done at its place with all the funds sent by him. So when he goes back people will introduce him to his own home else he will be lost… He talked about his long sleeping tales, festival cerimonies at home , about the mother & granny who are tired of counting days of his return , dad who wants him to resign and come back home, sister who wants to spend time with her brother before she is married off… But he still has to fulfill his current job commitments and lots of other priorities. I wondered we all know who is more important for us but are still helpless with the practicalities of life.

I divert him from his senti mode onto a funnier note and he switched over to a funny incident that had happened a few days back. While going back from office he was waiting for the elevator, quite tired and frustrated with lots of things going on in his mind. Wait first I need to explain you all the exact location where he was standing so that you can visualize the scene and enjoy :). In our office there are elevators that bring you down from all floors to the lobby. On the other side is the cafeteria with two elevators on its side that take us down to the parking zone. This cafeteria closes down in the afternoon and has a car garage like door. Back to the scene - a girl comes, who is I guess also in her own world and shouts – “Oh my god! How will I go back home? The garage is closed and my car?? Oh no” So here comes our hero.(my friend who has jacket on one hand and his laptop bag on the other) He looks towards the girl and stretches his both hands pointing towards the two elevators each on one side. The girl takes it as an invite for a hug and comes and hugs him!! And our hero is surprised till date as to how did this happen. He considers that God sent him an angel to comfort him :) . With non stop giggling I came back to my desk.