Coffee Day or Ramu Kaka's Tea Stall

I have visited Jayanagar 4th Block Coffee Day three times during my stint of 8 years in Bangalore. This phase has been routine mainly by the constant endeavor of my friends to shell out some bucks out of my pocket.

Please note that I have never enjoyed visits to Coffee Days leave Jayanagar Coffee Day out. Of course, it was a different case altogether when Infosys Coffee Days is spoken about. But than, I used to get a capuchino for Rs.16, and that is nonetheless trifle compared to how much I shelled out.

This coffee day is situated at a very prime place for religious people. There is a temple bang opposite to the coffee day, so in case you don't get a seat in the coffee day, you end up in a temple. If you have a girlfriend, she might ask you to go to 'Sweet Chariot' down the lane, don't go there! The shop owner's daughter is rude.

At the first visit to the coffee day, get ready for a beam of onlookers. A surprise direction of swarm of bees from all the various quarters may struck you if you aren't that cautious. Next, are thee 4 steps of the staircase,which reminds me that of my athleticism. I climb the stairs in quick succession and looked here and there.

A couple of facts that I wish to put across about the coffee day whether it is in MG Road, Lavelle Road or Ganga Nagar are not empty, and I don't see it will be empty don't blame only recession, it is because of their own fault, the management became over confidence with initial success and they neglected the basic things like food quality and service.

Yesterday, my friend got stale sour samosas and when I asked the waiter he had no answer, he just denies that they are stale, but I have never in my life had such sour samosa as if the masala was spiked with nimbu. The coffee was served almost cold and the waiter was always absconding although there was hardly any crowd, more than 80% of the seats were not occupied.

CCD does not offer any value anymore, even the good smiling staff have also disappeared from all their outlets and the grumpy ones are left. It is a different atmosphere, the juke boxes are not played anymore, still yesterday the whole lot of cakes meant for Christmas and new year were unsold. It is a clear sign that Bangaloreans are rejecting CCD.

As for the statement- a lot can happen over a cup of coffee, there is a Ramu Kaka's tea stall in Koramangala 8th Block. Buy a cup of tea there, sit on those rocks, and you can keep chatting for hours. Understand yaar! It's recession time.

A Postcard to a Girl

Royal Arthur Prison
1 Kingdom, London,
3rd March, 1982


Dear Miss June

I hope this letter finds you in the sweet arms of a beloved mother, nurturing you to the pinkest of health. I pray that you arise from the beautiful slumber of laziness and set your steps to the beautiful locales of New Hampshire. Beautiful sometime has more of a magic than the choicest of a magic potion used to treat queen’s illness.

Her majesty has been kind enough to spare a couple of us during the Xmas vacation. I sincerely thank the queen for her timely intervention else it would have been a case of another long year fighting for the cause of freedom and only to live to a sorid tell.

Patrick, my cell mate has fallen like a hog this spring. His story is untold. I have been told that he breathed English weather even when he chose to die. The selection of death has had come at times to us only to deluge us sadness. We are timid souls, because we are bonded by some powers, relationships and we chose to live. I stand June in your love. Perhaps to tell you a story.

It has been raining cats and dogs for the past weeks.It’s just like the crying of a new born baby, unstopped and becomes louder and louder with the passage of time. The rains coming from the Artic had been a blessing in disguise for the Hampshire peasants. It is a time of harvesting, and much like the sprinkles of afternoon grace, the rain never ceased.

All along the path leading to the churches, you can see little steps of kids, preferably learning to walk with their parents. Roger, a friend of mine, whom I acquainted in prison keeps in touch with the external world largely owing to his wife, Cathy. Cathy practice missionary charity at St.Andrew’s school, and it is through here mission that we get acquainted with the religious texts of the world.

I have destined myself to a 14 bar 18 inch room. The fan looks like more of a rustic wing than anyone can speak about. A table and a chair has been placed in this attic. I am reading, continuously reading for the past few days.

What am I reading? Oh, I read Shakespeare and Wordsworth. Ah! You were so true. Each time I read them, I get sunk in more and more of their world. Each of the Shakespeare’s characters, Shylock of Merchant of Venice or Macbeth has left me confused also. Interestingly, the relevance of Shakespeare is matched to the core in today’s world. I am left stunned as to how he could portray this when he live a 200 hundred years back.

Poetry has a name June, and yes you are my poetry. I still remember when you gave me that little piece of sonnet of Julie Andrews. I never read it of course, but to make it more romantic stole a few lines on Valentines Day. I am sure this can originally be called a Romeo’s tryst for words. But those sweetest moments in which you chose to get all wild lives for that moment. So I am hopeful that the next time we may have some poetry juggling to do. A few lines can resonate so beautiful. I enjoy the timing of the words, the crispiness, the beautiful sounds each words make is something to cherish about. I have enjoyed the early stint of the fervor and

Timing is correct, and I dearly miss you. The mismatch of the anticipation has resulted a few olives and onions to be relished with aplomb. I had quite a few of them in the following months, leading to a terrible stomach ache. The sun has been drifting slowly at the horizon, and with it the dreams and aspirations of my life.

Solitude is most of the times depressing, and it is no exception that I am rather lonely. But the only hope, that on this valentine eve, I get a chance to meet you makes me feel better. In other words, I chose to live for that day.

Time is running. I must stop here. The lights in the cell have glowed. We have an early dinner here. I don't get my favorite 'chicken sandwich' here, but that should be fine. The porridge tastes bad and is served cold. I have to rush. Hope you still wear that neckline I