Over a Cup of Coffee

“Will it rain today”, Rick asked sipping down the coffee.
“I think so. My husband called me sometime back and told that it is raining heavily on the east of the city. It may rain here. I don’t know.” Karen replied looking outside through the thick glass windows of the café shop.

“Okay.”

The coffee shop was busy with people - some tourists, some daily customers, and a few new comers. A couple was sitting around the corner busy with themselves rather than with the coffee. A newly married couple, perhaps! An old couple was sitting in the next table. They were having their second coffee or may be third. They didn’t talk at all and occasionally glanced at the newly married ones.

“So finally in Paris”, Karen asked gleefully.

“Yeah! ….. I guess. The achievement of something makes one so delighted that he becomes unsure whether he really wanted that. “, replied Rick stirring the coffee
with more sugar.

“Hmmm.”

“Eight years – five countries. Life has been very tiring. Ah! Very tiring indeed.” Rick continued, now leaning his back on the wall.

“Tiring and you? I cannot believe it.”

“You have to.”

Rick didn’t want to continue further. He looked at the clock. It was seven in the night. He had a flight at two in the morning.

“So, still a bachelor?” asked Karen.
“Yes.”, came a sober answer.

The old couple had almost finished their coffee. They were thanking profusely the beautiful waitress for her service. As the old lady got up, the husband took the coat and wrapped around her. It was getting colder outside. The lady placed a slight kiss on the starched lips of her husband. They started for the door, holding each other’s hands.

“Don’t they look beautiful?” asked Karen looking towards the old couple.

“Who?” Rick quizzed unaware of the incident that Karen had been looking at some time now.

“Oh! The old couple that was sitting there. They looked lovely. Years of companionship have made them so understanding to each another. They would have started as love birds singing songs, and then settled down in the married life, with trifles, quarrels, and more love adventures. And at the evening of their life, they complement one another.” Karen paused for a while, then continued, “Didn’t you see them at all?”

“I don’t think so. Or maybe I did. You seem to have observed them a lot in such a short span of time.”

Karen looked at Rick for a moment. At thirty five, he still looked like an adolescent. He still drank his coffee with lots of sugar. He still preferred to sit leaning on the wall. She remembered the old days of friendship, the office gossip, Rick’s adventures, her worries; everything discussed over a coffee cup.

“So what are you doing nowadays?” asked Karen.

“Well, I am into fashion designing. I work for this company which sells fashion accessories for women. I am into the market research area. “, Rick replied and continued,” The work suits me.”

Karen said, “Why?”

Rick paused for a long time. A very long time indeed. He took a couple of sips of coffee, looked at the clock, gave a pensive glance to Karen, stretched his arms and gave a sigh.

“Well, it’s challenging when you have to analyze women’s thoughts, their bodies, and their souls. And it’s easy for me to ….” Rick paused.

“To? To do what?”

“Nothing.” gravely replied Rick. A vacant face answered, “Nothing in particular. Just easy to move on.”

Karen again saw his face. He really hadn’t changed. It didn’t bother much Karen. For she knew Rick had his own ways of leading his life, his own norms, his own ideals. But Karen was a woman too. The woman understood the man sitting in front of her. The woman knew what the man was afraid of.

They continued talking about life in general, about their old friends, old bosses. They talked about him and her, about the coffee and the coffee shop. As they were talking Rick’s cell phone rang. He saw the number, looked at Karen, and excused her for taking the call.

Karen was looking outside, but something that Rick said over the phone caught her attention.


“Honey, I don’t understand you.”
“Okay, so what. I will have 2 hours to spend with you before I leave.”
[A long pause]
“I really don’t know. But may be yes, sometime soon. You know me. So –“
[A distracted and angry face]
“Okay then, good night. I won’t disturb you again.]
[Hangs up the phone]


Rick gave a deep sigh, turned around to Karen and started, “Well this is what I hate in every relationship that I have.” He looked angry.

There was a silence for some time between them. Rick was thinking about his past, about Elena, about his trips to France. He was also thinking about the countries he visited. He was thinking about Seattle, Johannesburg, Queretaro and many more. He was thinking about the red sparkling glow of the lights in the strip clubs. He was thinking about the pretty women walking briskly on the lanes outside. He was thinking about his trip to Finland, the Nordic women he would meet, the new adventures he would experience.

Karen saw his face, read the lines, and then turned towards the glittering pathways.

“Hi, guys do you need another coffee?” asked the waiter. “Sure.”, replied both almost simultaneously.

“Do you really like your coffee with so much sugar?” asked Karen after the coffee was served and Rick started pouring sugar cubes.

“Well.” Rick paused for some time. “Well, not that I like sugar so much, but that the whole act of adding sugar buys some more time to sit at the coffee table.” He smiled.

“Oh! Very smart! And I was thinking you liked sugar……” smiled Karen. Both laughed.

They drank their coffees in between their talks. One topic led to another. During these talks, Rick mentioned about Elena. He was seeing her for the past three years. And so was he frequenting his adventures elsewhere. He didn’t want to settle down, raise a family, and grow old together with someone.

Almost an hour and half had passed. They were feeling hungry. It was time for some sandwiches. They gave their orders and continued with their talk. To talk casually of the past is a wonderful feeling. Only when one becomes emotional, things become bitter.

“Why don’t you get married Rick? Well, it is your decision and no one has any rights whatsoever to force you into it. I don’t know. Perhaps, you are still searching for your soul-mate. Leave it, I was just curious.”

Karen dropped the subject and continued with the sandwich. Rick looked at her thoughtfully chewing a piece of bread. He took a sip of coffee and cleared his throat.

“You ask me why I don’t want to get married. Well… I guess I want a free life, no commitments, no attachments. . But I don’t understand marriage. It’s superficial, a vestigial custom! I want women in my life as a coffee partner. It may lead to something more or may not. It doesn’t matter. And then there are places where you can satisfy yourself.’

“Rick, you haven’t changed in these years. Your world still revolves around strip clubs, sex and Seattle. Life is not just having coffee partners; it needs a life partner as well. “

It was nearing nine. They got up, paid the bills and went outside. The wind was blowing a little harsh. The clouds had disappeared. Rick and Karen stood outside for some time talking over things.

“So, do you want me to drop you somewhere?”

“No, thanks. I will go myself.”

“No dependency – right! Rick, sometimes a dependency on others helps. So when are you planning to come back?”

“I don’t know. May be a year later. I will call you.”

They bid farewell. Karen crossed the street to the parking lot. Within seconds she drove away.

Rick stood there watching the streets and the coffee shop. He watched the table they were sitting at. How different the views were! Sometime back he was sitting inside and studying the wide world through a glass window. And now he looked at those seats from the wide open. Inside the coffee shop, it was frightening to see the outside world. And now he was a part of the world, completely unafraid. Wasn’t his analogy the same as his fear of marriage? He thought of Karen for a while. May be she never wanted to marry, who knows. But she did. He remembered over a cup of coffee Karen had said “You are looking for company, I for marriage.” He smiled at himself. On the side bench, the same old couple was sitting hand in hand. But he was alone outside the coffee shop. Alone in life.

Time was ticking. He had to leave for the airport. Elena would have forgotten him, forever. Or did she wait for him? He was standing inside a maze. He was not afraid that he may be lost; he was afraid that he may return to the starting point. He stood there thinking.

The ringing of his cell phone brought him from his maze to the present. He took the phone from his pocket and answered it. It was Elena.

“Hey, I just wanted to wish you a safe journey. Take care. I will miss you.”

There was silence on both sides for a long time. “Are you there.” asked Elena.

“Yes.” “What happened? What’s wrong with you? You have the tickets? Don’t you?” a worried Elena asked.

“That’s the problem. I think I left it at your place.”

“How many times will I tell you….” And she went on and on. Rick had kept the phone farther from his ear. He knew Elena very well. He knew she would become a good wife. After Elena got tired, Rick continued,” I am coming over now. If we get the ticket I fly, else will have to spend the night there.” They hung up.

From his coat pocket Rick took the plane tickets. He smiled at the words “Boarding: Paris Airport” “Well, let’s change it to “Boarding: Sunshine Coffee Shop”” He tore the tickets and threw it in the dustbin. He leisurely walked on the roads to catch a taxi. Karen’s words came back in his ears,”Marriage may not change you, but will definitely do you good.”