The coffee date - coffee stories

The coffee date - coffee stories

Wet towel on the bed, again

She had grown tired of telling him

Twenty years and counting 

Some things never change

She thought irritably

Eighteen years had flown by

As their son grew

School, soccer, piano practices, work

Vacations, trips, little sicknesses, visits

Filled their lives to the brim and over

Now, kid in college , 

All that time 

They did not spend together 

Engrossed in their sons' upbringing

Stretched through empty evenings

To fill the yawning silence

In the house

Distance in their hearts

Empty-nesters was a scary thought 

They would have to live with one another again

Could no longer hide behind schedules

Learn to be alone without a third presence

Learn to converse with one another, again

Renegotiate new routines

Now the email cursor blinked

Stressing the question,

Whatever possessed him

To suggest meeting for coffee ?

Why not ? ,she shrugged

She got off work around four,anyway

Sent off a syllabic ok 

Close to the meeting 

She felt the butterflies of anticipation 

She had forgotten 

How this had been a weekly ritual

Before their son arrived

Coffee was actually pleasant

She had completely missed

His rekindled passion for gardening

Never thought he would find

Her new found interest in natural remedies, engaging 

I could just about live with him, after all 

She smiled to herself, bemused

As they left the cafe

--shubha 

Hot Coffee -coffee stories

Hot coffee - coffee stories

Traveling to a famous temple

A little family stopped along the way

Do I have to come? , she asked petulantly

There is a little coffee left in my flask

I can stay in the car, she said

Athai, it would be cold now

Do come to the restaurant with us

The children are hungry, cajoled her nephew

Tightening her sari pallo over her shoulders

She stepped in hesitantly

Taking in the large space,

Hustle ,bustle

With wonder

Would you like something to eat ?

I won't eat until after the darshan

You know that , she chided

Just coffee for me

Your sister has promised to have dinner ready

It is a good thing,she lives close to the temple

The waiter, a young man

Carried over the large order smartly

Set down her single cup of coffee

She stared at her cup

Reluctant to look up

A young widow

All her life, she had waited on others

First her father,uncles

Her brothers,cousins

Then nephews,nieces,grandnephews

Always having her coffee

After everyone was served

It was generally deflated, cold

Lukewarm if she was lucky

Having a strange man

Waiting on her

Was alarming

Uncomfortably luxurious

She slowly drank the piping hot coffee

Having satisfied herself

That it was a vegetarian restaurant

Back in the car

So much money,she lamented

If I had known,I would have made dosas

Before we left

You do more than enough, assured her nephew

I wanted you to have the experience

What did you like about your first trip to a restaurant?

Well, the coffee tastes different, she paused

Much better,when it is hot.

--shubha

Coffee date -the wait

Coffee date -the wait

First five minutes

Came in agog , bouncing on his heels
Early,find a good table
The one in the corner ?
She would miss him
In the center?
No too open, too eager
Ah ! The  one off the side,perfect
Still early , might as well order a cup
Did not want to  look like he was waiting

First order
A coffee , cream, sugar on the side
Check watch
A few more minutes
Almost time
Came, passed
No sign of her

Second order
A coffee , hold the cream
Maybe she was just a little late
Did something happen?
Would she call?

Check watch
Look to the door
Repeat

Third order
A coffee, black
Of course , she was not coming
Not for him
He felt a fool
He was a fool
He wished the dark, bitter concoction
Would swallow him whole ,instead

He could not bring himself to leave
Then suddenly, a tinkle
She was there, smiling
A little flustered but perfectly coiffed
He thought randomly, foolishly of angels
So sorry, my meeting ran late

Fourth order
Two cappuccinos
Cappuccino? He never drank cappuccino

The rest ?
He doesn't quite remember
It was lost to the froth, warmth
And the caffeine rush

--shubha