Kavita was tired of serving tea. She did enjoy working at the teashop, but she felt like she had been stuck there ever since he happened. She needed to find a way to move on with her life. In other words, it was a regular slow afternoon for her. That’s when the little bell above the door jingled.
Harmeet had recently moved to the city in hope of bigger and better things. He was tired of doing software in a cubicle all the time, so he was walking around a few blocks from his apartment in search of a new and interesting place to write some code. In other words, it was a regular slow afternoon for him. That’s when he discovered the quaint teashop.
Kavita was too busy prepping the next teapot to look over at the new customer that stepped in. When she stepped out from behind the counter she noticed him. He appeared to be looking around on the floor for something. After serving the tea that she was carrying, she walked over to the new customer while brushing her hair back. When he saw her approaching, he got up with a start, almost knocking over the laptop that was on the table. She ventured, “Welcome to Tea Stop, here’s a menu.”
Harmeet fished out his Mac from his messenger bag and opened it. Ugh. Low battery. He started looking around for a power outlet on the bottom of the wall next to his table. A pair of shapely legs coming toward him distracted him and he looked up to see a flourish of long brown hair. It was the waitress. He hastily stood up and offered a weak smile. She said something which he didn’t understand because he was still recovering from the hair. She left a menu on the table, but Harmeet didn’t notice it since he was too busy watching her walk back to the counter.
Kavita went back to the new guy’s table after a few minutes. From the clean cut look, the slightly awkward smile and the Macbook, he had ‘nerd’ written all over him. But she realized that he was still kind of cute. “Are you ready to order?” she asked. “I’ll have the Darjeeling Chai Tea”. “Will that be all?” “Yup thanks!” Kavita started back to the counter. “Wait!” he said. “Yes?” Kavita turned around. “Is there a power outlet somewhere?”
With the waitress’ help, Harmeet finally plugged in his computer and opened up a programming interface. He fished out his design notes in a separate window. For the next 10 minutes, Harmeet couldn’t write a single line of code because he kept looking up hoping to see the waitress. A couple of tables over, a couple was arguing about whether Creed was a good band or not. ‘Seriously, With Arms Wide Open is a deep and meaningful song!’ one of them was pressing loudly. At that moment, Harmeet caught the waitress’ eye. They both looked at the couple and then back at each other, simultaneously stifling their laughter.
The slow afternoon was slowly turning into the evening – more and more customers walked into Tea Stop, and Kavita got busier and busier, the place became noisier and noisier. She glanced over at the laptop-guy and realized that he was waiting for the check. She hurriedly wrote it up and went over to his table, when she noticed his “The Killers” t-shirt. “I love The Killers!”. “Really? Because Somebody Told Me is a deep and meaningful song!” he replied. Kavita laughed. “Do visit again!” she said as he started walking to the door.
January 20, 2010
January 17, 2010
Strawberries with Cream Part IV
Kaay deu bola sahib (what would you like)
Ek rose pahije (I want a rose)
Hee ghya (here)
Kiti jhale (how much)
5 rupees
Anjor gets in the car and quickly shoves the rose in the glove compartment. He doesn’t want anyone to see it before the planned time. He’s glad that he has a car now. Two trips to India ago he had to do all these shenanigans on his crappy scooter. He laughs at the thought of trying to transport something as delicate as a flower on his scooter, and then laughs even more at the thought of having transported strawberries and cream.
Anjor walks into the café and takes a seat in the group of his old classmates. His mind is restless. The moment he recognizes her in his peripheral vision, Anjor makes an effort to look nonchalant and to appear deeply engaged in conversation with the person across the table. Naturally, he comes across as a complete idiot. She floats over to the table, grabs a chair, and sits down.
“Hi.”
…
“Anjor, I said hi.”
“Oh…uh hi, I didn’t know you were talking to me”
Anjor spins around. Within a fraction of a second of meeting her gaze he immediately looks down. He is afraid that if he is exposed to her smile for more than that in public he will say or do something embarrassing. Besides, no one at the table knows that they had coffee together.
The next couple of hours pass in a haze. The group moves to a different café because it’s too loud, everyone is happy to see their classmates after a long time. Anjor behaves out of character. He pokes a little too much fun at one of his friends, he laughs a little too much at his own jokes, he talks a little too loudly, claps the person next to him on the back a little too hard. Days later he realizes that he did something obnoxious every time he thought she was looking at him. He is not too concerned about this meeting – his thoughts are too occupied with what is to be done afterwards.
As the evening saunters to an end, Anjor finds himself walking back to his car. Everyone notices him leave just a little hurriedly, but that’s ok. He knows that she is walking to her car in the same direction – he needs a head start. He has taken care to park his car just a little way ahead of hers.
“Hi”
“Hey what’s up?” she says, rolling down the window of her car.
“I…I just…I just wanted to give you this.”
“What is..oh. Thank you!”
“And I also wanted to ask you out to coffee…again…in person...”
“Yeah sure, give me a call.”
“Ok, I will. Bye!”
“…You’re still standing next to my car”
“It’s not my fault! I tend to do stupid things every time you smile at me.”
“You’re silly.” She laughs.
She drives away. Anjor forces himself to stop thinking about her so that he can drive safely.
“Will I have the good fortune of seeing you today?” begins the text message conversation.
“Hey, I don’t know I might have to go out with some friends tonight.”
“That’s too bad. Since I’m only in town for another 7 days I would like to spend some time with you.”
“Listen, I just want to make some stuff clear. I just got dumped by a guy and am pretty hung up…I don’t think I’m ready for anything else right now.”
They switch to Gchat. Anjor starts.
“Look, I don’t expect you to drop everything and jump into something serious with me. I’ve barely asked you out to coffee. It would still be nice to meet and talk, and see how it goes from there.”
“What’s with all this weird stuff suddenly anyway? I mean I like talking to you…but I’m not over that guy.”
“I see.”
“And he obviously doesn’t care. He’s a different person now. And I’m sure you don’t want to listen to my stupid story.”
“Of course I want to know.”
“Let’s not talk about that now. Anyway, I really hope this doesn’t make things weird between us.”
“Nothing is weird. It’s actually very simple. I like you. I want to get to know you better. You are coming out of a bad breakup, and don’t want to form any new attachments just yet.”
“It’s not that simple. When did all this happen? It’s very weird…you’re not even in Pune.”
“That is true. I’m not in Pune for most of the year. That will take some explaining.”
“Explaining which can be done now.”
“As you wish. I was never able to do anything about the crush I had since I never got the chance to interact with you a lot, and I wasn’t sure about what to do since I don’t live here. During some of my visits, you weren’t single, and during some of my visits, I wasn’t single. The moment you walked into that café I realized that my life was never going to magically present me with an opportunity to explore this possibility unless I did something about it. Better late than never right?”
“That’s…unexpected. You’re a really nice guy.”
“But you just want to be friends etc etc right?” Anjor has had the nice-guy conversation before.
“It’s just that I’m in a very different mindset right now. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get over him.”
“Does that mean you’ll never date anyone else?”
“At this point even thinking about being with someone else feels horrible. I’m hoping that time will change stuff.”
“Me too. The best way to get over one person is to find another.”
“No it’s not actually. That’s a rebound and it’s the stupidest thing to do. Anyway thanks for understanding. I have to go.”
“Well, if time ever changes your mind, let me know.”
Anjor closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He cannot just give up.
Ek rose pahije (I want a rose)
Hee ghya (here)
Kiti jhale (how much)
5 rupees
Anjor gets in the car and quickly shoves the rose in the glove compartment. He doesn’t want anyone to see it before the planned time. He’s glad that he has a car now. Two trips to India ago he had to do all these shenanigans on his crappy scooter. He laughs at the thought of trying to transport something as delicate as a flower on his scooter, and then laughs even more at the thought of having transported strawberries and cream.
Anjor walks into the café and takes a seat in the group of his old classmates. His mind is restless. The moment he recognizes her in his peripheral vision, Anjor makes an effort to look nonchalant and to appear deeply engaged in conversation with the person across the table. Naturally, he comes across as a complete idiot. She floats over to the table, grabs a chair, and sits down.
“Hi.”
…
“Anjor, I said hi.”
“Oh…uh hi, I didn’t know you were talking to me”
Anjor spins around. Within a fraction of a second of meeting her gaze he immediately looks down. He is afraid that if he is exposed to her smile for more than that in public he will say or do something embarrassing. Besides, no one at the table knows that they had coffee together.
The next couple of hours pass in a haze. The group moves to a different café because it’s too loud, everyone is happy to see their classmates after a long time. Anjor behaves out of character. He pokes a little too much fun at one of his friends, he laughs a little too much at his own jokes, he talks a little too loudly, claps the person next to him on the back a little too hard. Days later he realizes that he did something obnoxious every time he thought she was looking at him. He is not too concerned about this meeting – his thoughts are too occupied with what is to be done afterwards.
As the evening saunters to an end, Anjor finds himself walking back to his car. Everyone notices him leave just a little hurriedly, but that’s ok. He knows that she is walking to her car in the same direction – he needs a head start. He has taken care to park his car just a little way ahead of hers.
“Hi”
“Hey what’s up?” she says, rolling down the window of her car.
“I…I just…I just wanted to give you this.”
“What is..oh. Thank you!”
“And I also wanted to ask you out to coffee…again…in person...”
“Yeah sure, give me a call.”
“Ok, I will. Bye!”
“…You’re still standing next to my car”
“It’s not my fault! I tend to do stupid things every time you smile at me.”
“You’re silly.” She laughs.
She drives away. Anjor forces himself to stop thinking about her so that he can drive safely.
“Will I have the good fortune of seeing you today?” begins the text message conversation.
“Hey, I don’t know I might have to go out with some friends tonight.”
“That’s too bad. Since I’m only in town for another 7 days I would like to spend some time with you.”
“Listen, I just want to make some stuff clear. I just got dumped by a guy and am pretty hung up…I don’t think I’m ready for anything else right now.”
They switch to Gchat. Anjor starts.
“Look, I don’t expect you to drop everything and jump into something serious with me. I’ve barely asked you out to coffee. It would still be nice to meet and talk, and see how it goes from there.”
“What’s with all this weird stuff suddenly anyway? I mean I like talking to you…but I’m not over that guy.”
“I see.”
“And he obviously doesn’t care. He’s a different person now. And I’m sure you don’t want to listen to my stupid story.”
“Of course I want to know.”
“Let’s not talk about that now. Anyway, I really hope this doesn’t make things weird between us.”
“Nothing is weird. It’s actually very simple. I like you. I want to get to know you better. You are coming out of a bad breakup, and don’t want to form any new attachments just yet.”
“It’s not that simple. When did all this happen? It’s very weird…you’re not even in Pune.”
“That is true. I’m not in Pune for most of the year. That will take some explaining.”
“Explaining which can be done now.”
“As you wish. I was never able to do anything about the crush I had since I never got the chance to interact with you a lot, and I wasn’t sure about what to do since I don’t live here. During some of my visits, you weren’t single, and during some of my visits, I wasn’t single. The moment you walked into that café I realized that my life was never going to magically present me with an opportunity to explore this possibility unless I did something about it. Better late than never right?”
“That’s…unexpected. You’re a really nice guy.”
“But you just want to be friends etc etc right?” Anjor has had the nice-guy conversation before.
“It’s just that I’m in a very different mindset right now. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get over him.”
“Does that mean you’ll never date anyone else?”
“At this point even thinking about being with someone else feels horrible. I’m hoping that time will change stuff.”
“Me too. The best way to get over one person is to find another.”
“No it’s not actually. That’s a rebound and it’s the stupidest thing to do. Anyway thanks for understanding. I have to go.”
“Well, if time ever changes your mind, let me know.”
Anjor closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He cannot just give up.
January 5, 2010
Strawberries with Cream Part III
Anjor’s hands do not normally sweat. Especially while texting. Yet the cellular phone almost slips out of his hands not once but twice. After feverishly thrashing his fingers on the keypad, going through several revisions of the message he is typing, the screen reads
“I was bored today, and started wondering how many guys would try to beat me up if I took you out for coffee. So I decided that there was only one way to find out.”
Waiting for replies to text messages should be employed as a torture method under the patriot act, Anjor thinks. He closes his eyes. It has never been this excruciating. He thinks about technology, as he sometimes does when he is trying to get his mind off something. Today’s technology has enabled him to transcribe his emotions into a well quantified electronic representation, which is then converted into a frequency modulated radio wave, flies and bounces and travels through the concrete jungle, perhaps stopping at a few towers on its way, finally makes it to her cellphone unharmed, and evokes emotions in her as she reads it. Then she will transcribe those emotions and they will reach him the same way. Hopefully.
The vibrating phone in his pocket shatters his thought bubble and he nervously reaches for it. He flips it open.
“One new message. Press OK to open.”
He blinks while pressing OK.
“Nah I don’t think anyone would try. But sure, coffee sounds cool. Barista at 6:45?”
This time his fingers are dry and it takes him mere seconds to type the next message.
“I’ll be there.”
Why isn’t she here yet, Anjor worries, its already 7 o clock. He flips open his phone to check the time in the message that she sent. It was still 6:45. Did he go to the wrong place? What if she had come to her senses and realized that she had only agreed to go out with him in a moment of madness?
Anjor periodically pretends to be very interested in his phone so that it doesn’t look like he’s being stood up. He keeps getting glances from the barista since he hasn’t ordered anything. He reads the menu cover to cover no less than four times. Hope is dwindling.
“And I thought waiting for text messages for excruciating.” He smiles dryly to himself.
Anjor debates about whet her to call her or text her or do nothing. He really doesn’t want to appear desperate. He decides to do nothing, and tries to calm his nerves. Finally his phone starts vibrating and he answers it in seconds.
“Where are you in Barista?”
“Oh right next to the counter on the entrance-side.”
“Ok I’ll be right there.”
He quickly stops looking at the door and stares straight at the barren wall to his right as she walks up to the glass door. He’s trying really hard not to look eager.
Her feet follow each other flawlessly on the polished surface of the coffee joint. Everything that he had rehearsed in his mind vanishes the moment she smiles and waves at him.
He is completely oblivious to her saying “Sorry I’m late”, because the relief is still washing over him.
“So how was your day?” he blurts without even waiting for her to sit down, and quietly curses at himself.
“It was fine…”
Say interesting things Anjor tells himself, but he looks like a deer dazzled by the headlights of her smile.
“So…uh why don’t we get some coffee?” Anjor smiles weakly as he tries to regain composure.
“That sounds good.”
They walk over together to the counter and order two Cappuccinos. She insists on paying for both of them. He is no stranger to going Dutch, but it is not often that a girl buys him coffee.
Anjor proceeds to conduct himself in a completely disastrous manner. In the next 15 minutes, he spills his coffee, hits his head, and narrowly avoids knocking over the table. She gets a call from a friend asking her to go somewhere, and this is her cue to leave. Anjor walks her to her scooter, and just before it’s too late he manages to blurt out
“I…had a nice time, I’d like to see you again”
“Ok. I’ll see you around sometime.”
“Cool, bye!”
“See you.”
He turns around and starts walking to his car, having no idea what she thinks of him.
“I was bored today, and started wondering how many guys would try to beat me up if I took you out for coffee. So I decided that there was only one way to find out.”
Waiting for replies to text messages should be employed as a torture method under the patriot act, Anjor thinks. He closes his eyes. It has never been this excruciating. He thinks about technology, as he sometimes does when he is trying to get his mind off something. Today’s technology has enabled him to transcribe his emotions into a well quantified electronic representation, which is then converted into a frequency modulated radio wave, flies and bounces and travels through the concrete jungle, perhaps stopping at a few towers on its way, finally makes it to her cellphone unharmed, and evokes emotions in her as she reads it. Then she will transcribe those emotions and they will reach him the same way. Hopefully.
The vibrating phone in his pocket shatters his thought bubble and he nervously reaches for it. He flips it open.
“One new message. Press OK to open.”
He blinks while pressing OK.
“Nah I don’t think anyone would try. But sure, coffee sounds cool. Barista at 6:45?”
This time his fingers are dry and it takes him mere seconds to type the next message.
“I’ll be there.”
Why isn’t she here yet, Anjor worries, its already 7 o clock. He flips open his phone to check the time in the message that she sent. It was still 6:45. Did he go to the wrong place? What if she had come to her senses and realized that she had only agreed to go out with him in a moment of madness?
Anjor periodically pretends to be very interested in his phone so that it doesn’t look like he’s being stood up. He keeps getting glances from the barista since he hasn’t ordered anything. He reads the menu cover to cover no less than four times. Hope is dwindling.
“And I thought waiting for text messages for excruciating.” He smiles dryly to himself.
Anjor debates about whet her to call her or text her or do nothing. He really doesn’t want to appear desperate. He decides to do nothing, and tries to calm his nerves. Finally his phone starts vibrating and he answers it in seconds.
“Where are you in Barista?”
“Oh right next to the counter on the entrance-side.”
“Ok I’ll be right there.”
He quickly stops looking at the door and stares straight at the barren wall to his right as she walks up to the glass door. He’s trying really hard not to look eager.
Her feet follow each other flawlessly on the polished surface of the coffee joint. Everything that he had rehearsed in his mind vanishes the moment she smiles and waves at him.
He is completely oblivious to her saying “Sorry I’m late”, because the relief is still washing over him.
“So how was your day?” he blurts without even waiting for her to sit down, and quietly curses at himself.
“It was fine…”
Say interesting things Anjor tells himself, but he looks like a deer dazzled by the headlights of her smile.
“So…uh why don’t we get some coffee?” Anjor smiles weakly as he tries to regain composure.
“That sounds good.”
They walk over together to the counter and order two Cappuccinos. She insists on paying for both of them. He is no stranger to going Dutch, but it is not often that a girl buys him coffee.
Anjor proceeds to conduct himself in a completely disastrous manner. In the next 15 minutes, he spills his coffee, hits his head, and narrowly avoids knocking over the table. She gets a call from a friend asking her to go somewhere, and this is her cue to leave. Anjor walks her to her scooter, and just before it’s too late he manages to blurt out
“I…had a nice time, I’d like to see you again”
“Ok. I’ll see you around sometime.”
“Cool, bye!”
“See you.”
He turns around and starts walking to his car, having no idea what she thinks of him.
January 4, 2010
The River
"So why do we always go to the river at odd hours in the night?"
"Because."
"...what?"
"Because its the river, and the river is awesome."
"Heh. ok"
"Walking by the river makes me forget about everything else for a while, you know, I can just kick back and not think about anything."
"That makes sense."
"The city skyline is pretty at night"
"Yeah, especially with the full moon"
so are you
"What do you want to do?"
be with you
"What do you mean?"
"You know, like, after all of this is over"
I wish it never is
"like college?"
"yeah"
"I have no clue. Maybe I'll be a bum in Central Square"
"(laughs) oh come on, you're going to get a high paying job and buy an island or something"
"I guess that would be nice" but not as nice without you "What do you want to do?"
"Probably go to grad school"
"Why?"
"I never want to stop learning"
"But you learn in the real world, too."
"Thats true, but not like you can learn here. There's so much to learn, I feel as though I have to make the most of every single moment that I have here"
me too.
"I like how we can just come out here and talk about anything"
"Me too. (glances at watch) oh wow its 4:30 already"
"Eh, thats not so bad."
"Do you want to head back?"
"Not really"
"Ok."
"What are you doing?"
"nothing...."
"Put that camera away!"
"no I want a picture of you!"
"why?"
"Because."
"...what?"
"Because its you, and you're awesome"
"Heh, ok"
"Its 5. we should really head back"
"I suppose"
"Yeah he's probably wondering where I am"
"Oh right, he probably is"
"Because."
"...what?"
"Because its the river, and the river is awesome."
"Heh. ok"
"Walking by the river makes me forget about everything else for a while, you know, I can just kick back and not think about anything."
"That makes sense."
"The city skyline is pretty at night"
"Yeah, especially with the full moon"
so are you
"What do you want to do?"
be with you
"What do you mean?"
"You know, like, after all of this is over"
I wish it never is
"like college?"
"yeah"
"I have no clue. Maybe I'll be a bum in Central Square"
"(laughs) oh come on, you're going to get a high paying job and buy an island or something"
"I guess that would be nice" but not as nice without you "What do you want to do?"
"Probably go to grad school"
"Why?"
"I never want to stop learning"
"But you learn in the real world, too."
"Thats true, but not like you can learn here. There's so much to learn, I feel as though I have to make the most of every single moment that I have here"
me too.
"I like how we can just come out here and talk about anything"
"Me too. (glances at watch) oh wow its 4:30 already"
"Eh, thats not so bad."
"Do you want to head back?"
"Not really"
"Ok."
"What are you doing?"
"nothing...."
"Put that camera away!"
"no I want a picture of you!"
"why?"
"Because."
"...what?"
"Because its you, and you're awesome"
"Heh, ok"
"Its 5. we should really head back"
"I suppose"
"Yeah he's probably wondering where I am"
"Oh right, he probably is"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
