After a tiring shopping spree, we thought we should relax for a while and enjoy a sip of coffee. But as usual the population of india was resisting us to do this.. I mean there was no vacancy inside the coffee bar. So we had to wait for a while . Finally being the most caring guy of the group (at least pretending so ..I was with bhabhi, so ought to show some decency .. :) ) , i talked to the attedant there and grabbed a seat for 4 people. I thought i should order something, So predecided in my mind that i will have Cafe Mocha (Pronounced as "Mauka"). as i was pretty sure of its taste and i liked it when i accidentally had it the last time, i asked everybody for their choices. Seeing everybody's blank faces suggesting no other option, i asked them to try this one. But Mr. Maheshwari (My Friend,philosopher & guide ) showed his decisiveness and got stuck to his cold coffee.
So finally i decided to make an order for 3 hot and one cold coffee. I was in my thoughts and reached to the altar.. i mean the place where they take these orders. after all making the order was not that easier than making confessions.. :)
So after waiting for some time my chance came, the sophisticated person asked "Your order sir..!!" . I was quite sure of my order. Generally u r not allowed to come unprepared at the altar or else u will have to face sever rebuke.. No no. noone else is going to do this to you. It's your innerself which will eat up your self confidence for not doing this thing in the right manner.. Neways ..."Yeah, 3 Cafe Mocha, "Mauka" this is how it is pronounced right..?(God. why don't these guys put the phonetics in front of the names...) and one Cold cafeate(I had just read it in the Big menu pasted on the wall under their cold cafe section..)" I replied. Now the next thing was the size of the serving.. "Medium please", i added; as my perception was that small is small. and Large is large so i preferred to go with the medium ones..Here comes the next unexpected attack.. "Would you like to have it with cream or chocolate sauce sir..!!". . For God'sake.. how can i know how u want your coffee to be served . "I don't know how will it taste " i said innocently. "With what u people generally serve your coffee with..".. "It's on you sir. With what u want it.."Mr. Sophisticated said wryly.. My innerself had started its meal.. "i dont want any of them" I said. "As you wish Sir..", the priest of altar said finishing up with my order and i returned to the seat thwarted..
When the order came.. The plate containing 3 bowls , each 2 times the size, i conceived of medium size coffee mug, was brought to us.. everybody was looking at me interrogatively. There was nothing i could say..suddenly my eyes stopped at a rack in which three mugs were placed .. i think they were indicating the sizes i.e. small, med and large.. I realized my mistake and heard burps of my innerself..
Now being a logical guy, i must admit that i am supposed to have this much of presence of mind while placing an order to check with the sizes or the taste or the flavours.. That's correct. But i was able to sense something else that was lacking.
It was not just my ignorance that led me to this situation.. somewhere in corridors of my heart, i was lacking self confidence.. i was hesitant to ask that guy clearly, be it about the sizes or the flavours or the pronunciation of the name of the coffee..Why was it happening.. Was Mr. sophisticated not helping a novice...Was i trying to be a coffee conoissuer who knows everything about coffee.. or i din't want to show this to anyone that how much i do know about all this stuff so better be silent or else my cards will be on exhibition..Why..??
Whatever was the reason.. One thing was very sound and clear to me.. We indians are being forced to do things in awe of them as if we are nonexistent. and everything else that is alien is greater in every aspect so we should take that without even knowing about that..We don't know anything about the orgin of Coffee, Valentines Day, Thanks Giving .. But still we are getting into the coffee bars.. trying new recipes with our hit n trial approach, celebrating valentines, TG..
Actually i dont' have any issue with accepting all these things but my point is that, none of these things should come at the cost of self pride, pride for our culture, our country, something we are deeply associated with. Respect for other cultures, other things is a great thing to do .. but before that we should get to know about our culture, its values and should feel proud about it..and then only we would be able to analyse and accept things rather than getting flown with the wind..
So guys, next time getting into a coffee bar is going to be a great learning experience for me.. because i won't just enjoy their coffee. but their culture as well.. n then only will see why should i prefer Cafe Mocha over cafe Latte or our very own Cappucino... :)
