Monday 22 December 2014

'Coffee?', and then it began.


Six years back we met online, after six years of passing out from the same school. We scrapped and texted, swung between dilly and dally but finally met to conclude over just three cups of coffee that we should get married. We did, but not in the coffee shop. The owner didn’t think hosting our wedding pheras in that favourite cosy corner of ours would boost his cappuccino sales. 

So strange! 

Anyway, ever since and like never before, we have been running coffee-wards when we are happy or low, cold or hot, or even when in the middle of a domestic argument. We turned to a coffee shop much like one would to a place of worship – for calm, for conflict-ridding and for the cocoa, of course. (No, we can’t create the same "feel" at home, or the coffee. Plus, who will make it while the cold war is on?) 

Then, we had a bubba. (In the hospital, of course!)

Some of his first few baby steps were taken, you guessed it, in different coffee shops around the city. Those places offered us not just a comfortable environ for his toddling but also enough cocoa-happy people on the tables around who kept bubba busy with their ‘cutie pie’ antics. Collateral advantage? Me and my husband could hold hands; over the table while passing tiny packets of brown sugar or collecting used stirrers, wiping off drops of condensation or those of condescension for the fight we carried there. 

And this is how it continues to be. 

Why, only this weekend last we went to one of the bigger malls in South Delhi. The annual ritual of posing in front of as many Xmas trees as possible had to be done. While I wanted to live my childhood fantasy of flicking away a big and delicious decoration for my tree at home, the carols in the background kept me holy and reigned in my sinful thoughts. Perhaps, he had read my evil mind, or maybe he wanted to give his credit card a break from my hands ...

Coffee?’ he asked. ‘You need to ask?’ I said, and as if it is now a part of our very genetic make-up we started looking for a corner table (for three, please) to grab. After a long time in a choc-a-bloc shop, when all I could see was the back of his head, waiting for his name to be mispronounced, he walked back holding two very warm mugs with hot coffee inside. ‘They warmed the mugs too!’ and I could see the glimmer in his eye announcing how this meant we would be sitting, sipping hot coffee longer, maybe discussing our favourite author or our not-so-favourite aunt. 

What did our kid do in the meantime? Why, go around saying hellos and getting his hair ruffled in return, of course. It was a lesson taught well a long time back! 



A couple of days after our latest coffee-session I learnt about Starbucks first ever brand campaign ‘Meet me at Starbucks’. It aims at making people log out of their virtual lives and meet, really meet, to form connections and look for ever-lasting bonds. For a person like me, who carries a real-life #HowWeMet story, this is a campaign that makes me believe in its simple premise that good things, or even very good things, can happen when we get together. 

When you do get together, you realise how memories are formed over shared laughter and smiles, and not through fancy emoticons. You realise how, by switching off from our virtual days, you get to experience life the time-tested way, and that being the real way.

And you also realise how stories can lie waiting to be brewed the moment someone says 'Coffee?'



[This is a sponsored campaign review.]



10 comments:

  1. ah...I could imagine these cute little scenes in the coffee shops...Bubba seems to be an easy going kid. :D

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    Replies
    1. Bubba is easy-going as long as it's going his way. :D
      Thanks for reading, Red. :D

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  2. ..loved the aroma coming out of this beautiful story..
    ..i am also a big chai and coffee lover..i never say no for chai or coffee..my answer would be the same
    ' you need to ask '..life always smiles over a cup of coffee.. :)

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    Replies
    1. Oh, in this Dilli cold, life not just smiles it relies on mugs of coffee and cups of tea. It's survival!
      Thanks for being here, Rigzin.

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  3. It's quite an intriguing campaign. I mean, from a really positive stand point. That aside, love the way you've incorporated your cute story into the post. As they say, coffee and good company (and a book other wise) - it's a great combination.

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    Replies
    1. Well, it is. I wonder if it means blind-dating for strangers. I found the idea fantastic, of making people meet. Even half of the time we spend on FB would be valuable with good coffee and good company to go with it. Anyway, the chord with the campaign was struck because my story began thus. :D

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  4. A lot can happen over coffee or love brews to make the coffee spicy. Btw, one of my novella referred to your love story for UBC writing challenge:)

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    Replies
    1. It did? Where can I read it, Vishal?

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    2. I will send you the link in a day or so on the other blog:)

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