Tea At Cafe Coffee Day...

He sat there with her. Mayank was a bit nervous. It is his first date ever. He read out the board in front of the brand name, ‘A lot things can happen over a coffee’. Coming to this coffee shop was a fantasy earlier and here he can see it turn real. He had often dreamt of getting her over here for a coffee. Whenever he used to pass the café he had peeped in through the glass walls of the shop. And when he started getting close to her, he had decided that this coffee shop will be the place for their first date.

Entering the shop holding her hands was a new experience for him. The air cooler breeze fell on his skin. He looked the whole area. There was a couple coochy-cooing on the corner table, a group of five guys sipping coffee discussing cricket, a group of two girls and guys lavishing over their orders in the sofa set and even an elderly couple sitting very calm and holding each others hands.

He led her upstairs. It was totally a new world. He felt he came into another world. The aroma that was lingering through out was amazing. The ambience was very modern and the music that played was western. Though everything was new to him, he was enjoying it. The waiters guided them onto a table meant for two. He was impressed. ‘They do take care of customers intentions too.’

He pulled out one of the chair for her. He has read somewhere that it’s the way how a gentleman behaves when he is accompanying a lady. He wanted to emulate those English traditions. He was mesmerised with her talks. Her smile rejuvenated him from all his worries.

“Good evening, what would be your order, Sir?” The waiter asked.

“One tea and a hot coffee”, he blurted without looking the waiter. The waiter looked at him puzzled. Sensing something wrong he stared back at the waiter. He wanted to ask him, “Did I order something in German?” He couldn’t make up what was wrong.

“Sir, we don’t serve tea. You can have a look in this menu card and order something else”, the waiter placed the menu card on the table in front of him. ‘What, you don’t serve tea over here?’ He looked sheepish. While opening the menu card his glance went to her. Was she trying to hide a laugh? He camouflaged the situation saying, “its a stupid decision of theirs not to serve tea over here. They are loosing a huge chunk of business”. This time he didn’t even dare to look at her face.

He opened the menu only to realise that some more difficulties are on his way. There were lots of names on the menu. Tensed, he asked for a hot coffee instead of tea. This time the waiter sounded impatient.

“Sir, which hot coffee you prefer. Please select it from the menu card.” This time he felt the waiter was arrogant. His ignorance is highlighted. Heartbeats drummed with a great pace. Now who the hell found various tastes for hot coffees? This is the wrong place to come on a first date, he thought. He checked the menu card in detail. Expresso’s, cappaccino’s, mocchachillo’s irish coffees, and many more. Hell he know there were so many varieties. He never knew coffees got so many varities.


“Just excuse us for a minute more”, Anita intervened. He thanked God. Anita is a real angel for the moment. Giving him a stare the waiter moved on to the next table. She took the menu card from him. The whole world seemed to be stopped in front of him. Sweat drops found its way out of him. He worried what she will think about his ignorance. Will she find him not modern, not enough to know the show buzz things of the modern life? Will she find him not competent enough to carry himself off in such public places?

The air conditioner was doing its duty. But he sat there sweating. She sipped the coffee and smiled at him. His face blanched at her smile, and then is when she said, “You are so cute”. He felt like rains all over the place. Chilled and drenching. The whole world seemed to sing song for them.

But still he thought, why the hell so many varieties of coffees?