Coffee, College and an incident – short story

Just as I entered, the roars of laughter took me by surprise. It was a bunch of college boys and girls absolutely enjoying their time. I couldn’t help smiling when they noticed me watching. After all it wasn’t many years and I missed those days. Back then the ambience was different and well who would have thought that we would be having hundred rupee coffees in coffee bars.

The adda those days was the canteen or the samosa trailer a little walk from the college. Both provided solace from the lectures . After all how could anyone do the same thing over and over again. I have always wanted 2 subjects per quarter, this way the pressure is less and you gather in-depth knowledge of a subject. But who except you cared for the curriculum? I remember the little bunch we were, each one wanting to show off individuality but well aware that we didn’t possess much to talk about except some good marks in tests and assignments at times. Amidst all the buzz in life there was the big daily decision – how much to spend each day?. Funds were limited and needed to be rationed well to last the full month. Good management could still go awry if some sweet chic decided to join you for a sandwich or suddenly most of the bunch decided on beer as the drink of the evening more than once. Money really mattered.

By the time I got really lucky to land a part time job in the 3rd year much the fun was almost over.

The cutting chai(half a small glass of tea) break was when most hot discussions happened. And if you didn’t want to miss it you would have to be there with your cutting in hand. And when someone would slurrp a big sip from your glass you couldnt do much but smile and become part of the congregation. The 2nd and 3rd cutting was a given and as most of the gang was used to long debates. Between discussions of why difficult subjects need to be scrapped, professorial tantrums and the most beautiful chic of the day you would have your ex-bestfriends and next best friends walk upto you and ask you to treat them to a cutting. In most cases you smile and oblige because the challenge was in the art of saying “no” which was an uncomfortable thoughty. Wonder why they never teach “how to say no when you want to say no” at college. Anyway this was the pincher one always kept an eye on for budget control. Every time you hit the 20th of the month the art of saying no suddenly surfaced from nowhere, as if you had been an expert at it. Suddenly you had to rush to a lecture, you were missing a bus, you forgot the important book in class, you had to reach home early, you had to prepare for something the professor never asked…….ha ha ha ha….you could only confide in your few best friends coz they seemed to understand.

The coffee incident is one such unforgettable event. The cutting at Rs.1.50 was the everyone’s choice compared to Rs.6 coffee. It was almost towards the end of the month, some of us were low on pocket-money. The gang gathered at the canteen and started discussing the forthcoming exams. In the middle of the conversation a meek voice ordered coffee and suddenly we were all staring at him. The most miserly guy we lovingly called Fatso had just decided to spend a mini ransom. As passing stares turned to smiles a quick unspoken decision took shape – fatso would be the days target. And everyone ordered coffee!

Amidst all the cacophony we suddenly sang the birthday song for him and ordered another round of coffee and then samosas followed. And when all was over the shocked birthday boy did not know why everyone was deliberately wishing him and leaving. As usual I was relishing my share of the spoils while everyone was making a hurried exit. Suddenly fatso said “who paid the bill, I must thank him”. I almost fell flat and as I turned around looking for support and the exit. I realised we were the only 2 in the canteen. And as destiny would have it the canteen boy was at the table with the Fat Bill waiting to be paid. I looked at fatso and he gave me questioning look and suddenly I realised that he hadn’t got it yet and I was caught with him. I was smiling on the outside and number crunching inside. Was this was bad dream? No, a pinch proved me wrong! And then started a series of exit strategies but the canteen boy wouldn’t budge. Obviously the manager hadn’t seen many kids pay such bills often. While I cursed fatso for being so naïve and stupid I knew something had to be done. Ultimately me and fatso stood up and walked to the manager like 2 rich kids who had forgotten their wallet back home and flash what was just half the bill and before hell could break loose Fastso’s surprisingly brilliant acting skills saved the day. He was AB for me that moment. Not only did we pay half the amount but walked away with some credit period for the rest. But I knew the next few days were to a different kind of disaster. A coffee I can never forget.

Today I have graduated up the coffee drinking chain. I visit Cafe Coffee day, Barista and the newly opened Gloria Jeans Coffee. I pay a very steep Rs.100 for one cup of coffee. The ambience is different, the purpose too and sometimes I wonder if the good times can be brought back.