rain away coffee

7 pm February 10

its a cold evening. i put on a grey Adidas sweater, perhaps to reflect the color of the skies. the sweater brings back memories, sweet and painful, searing my heart apart laying it bare to the machinations of the western wind.

the street is empty expect for the trademark stray dog. a series of streetlights break the darkness into columns. one has stopped working , changing sides on the eternal battle of light and dark.

puddles of water form in the depressions of the cheap PWD road. i look at one trying to find my face. the wind stops howling for a micro second. the liquid orange reasserts itself.

a bicycle passes by , disturbing the queer setting. the puddle reverberates until its a brand new shade of orange. i lose interest in all things aquatic and walk away.

i pass by a grove of trees containing tall shesham.
the wind shakes the lighter, upper branches. the lower stouter ones remain frozen in the night.
a leaf falls down, weary of its day long battle against cold winds from the Punjab plains.a moment in time eclipses.

my mind travels back a few centuries. flying on these very westerlies hordes of looting afghans lead by the able nadir shah carried fire and sword in the heart of Delhi .

i reach the coffee shop. the place wears an unusually deserted look. obviously , a rain lovers community on orkut will at best remain a drizzle.

i flash a faint smirk of recognition at the few acquaintances whose spatial - temporal frequencies clash with mine.i get matching replies. i walk up to the counter.

a cheese grilled sandwich attracts my attention. the dietitian's cute round face with the bleached golden facial hair chases the idea away in double quick time. tempted and refuted, i beat a hasty retreat and settle for a staple espresso. the grills can be better left to the security systems.

my order's ready. a couple beat me to the counter. looking at them makes me immensely jealous. they have something that i don't. a cheese grilled sandwich.

having coffee alone is an ultimate romantic experience. you are not limited by the physical reality of your own or the other person's existence. you can be having a coffee with Angelina Jolie or Aishwarya Rai depending upon the color of eyes you prefer.

plus, the need for small talk is obviated. " the coffee's good"..but of course, that's why they charge you good money.

their is a familiar roar of lightning. i get transported. to purple moors on the English midlands or an amazonian river bank or Texan flat lands. lying on my back, experiencing the caress and the fury of the nature...far from the madding crowds..in a dark....one person world.