Room for cream

The queue is unusually long. Generally there are not more than 5 people. And now there are more than 8. I am never here at this time. It is nearly 9:00.

Meantime, just a few thousand kilometres away, on a nondescript street in the suburbs of an otherwise buzzing city, Shivanna expertly manoeuvres his bicycle around the stones piled up by boys who had to quit their game of cricket last night because the neighbourhood doctor made a fuss again. Leaning on the compound wall, Shivanna called out ‘Aallu…’ as the little boy came out to the gate running as usual clutching 15 rupees and wearing his navy blue school uniform trousers and a clean white vest.

There was probably one less person at the counter because the queue was moving rather slowly.

Not very far from Shivanna’s street, Mr Pandey settled down with the morning newspaper and a cup of coffee that he had managed to fix for himself. The milk had boiled over as he had gone to answer the telephone call. It wouldn’t have been as bad if it hadn’t been a wrong number. And if Sivaram hadn’t been at the door soon after to borrow the spark plug cleaner again. Why didn’t he just buy another scooter if his failed to start every morning? Or a modest spark plug cleaner at least. He could’ve used more milk in his coffee.

Who ever had designed this place was a fox. He placed the pastry showcase along the length of the queue. I’m not hungry. I just need some coffee. Let’s see… 3 more people between me and the counter.

A little more than 8 hrs by train from Mr Pandey’s city, Bijumon ran barefoot on the tarred road. He wouldn’t dare try that at mid day. Madhavettan flashed a broad smile and he returned a grin. Biju wouldn’t stop today to chat with his son like he had done the previous day. The milk van had come and collected all the milk before he could reach. Today, he didn’t have to try hard to read the board that hung near the closed milk booth. ‘Thozhilaali samaram’ – one of the few things he could read - ‘Worker’s strike’. As he headed back home, he suddenly realized that he didn’t have to have his regular glass of milk. He ran up to Madhavettan’s house to chat with his buddy.

Can I help who's next? The cute one asked.
Yes. Could I have a tall coffee?
Do you need some room for cream?
Yes please.