Having found myself a spot where there was a whirlwind effect of air, I was at peace! Air was rushing past me . And feeling like I was standing at the gate of a moving train.. This place was also something related to trains– a metro station :p
Someone with a mask apparated in front of me, blocking my view. “Kahan bhyi”.. Said he! lowering his mask. It was him.
Why the hell didn’t I recognise him! even with a mask on! I should have recognised instantly.
Because – He had put on weight, for his own good. -:D. And looked better because of that. I was looking for the skinniest guy in a blue check shirt for some reason. :p That was how he looked when I saw him long long back for the first time. And that is still my mental picture of him.
We were meeting today after two years. It was decided the one who came late would pay the full bills for the day. Not that it mattered to either of us, but somehow today we both reached at the same time. Exact same time. -:D. We had found the perfect midpoint by time of our meeting place! Purely by chance.
Our conversation started with – Last kahan mile the hum? Hogwarts Cafe! Unity One? .. 2019.. Yr 2-3 saal ho gaye!
We came out of the metro station and put today’s hangout spot on the map– the Social – Hauz Khas.
Google – temporarily closed!
Shivansh- Ek kaam kaha tha tumhein! -:p
Me - Haan, to aisa kahin likha nahi tha ki it is closed forever. Temporarily closed to kal raat tha! :p
Now, hunting for a new place to sit.. Googling..
I saw a result which looked nice– The Tea Room – 4.5 rating. A book cafe. Bas, aur kya chahiye.
As is obvious– I don't really do research. Jo pehla dikh jaaye.. Chalo.. :D
Shivansh came up with Kunzum cafe. I remembered one poetry club I was a part of, held its meetings there. It was also a book cafe and obviously loved by poets. Since I knew my poet writer folks who would have chosen it after research, Kunzum it was.
It was less than 2 km from our location. Too less.
Walking was one of our favourite activities – alone and together. Long walks and chit chat. Like the Victorian era, only if the roads were also as green and had large forests on both sides.
Chalo, maybe not as lavish as the English countryside walk, walking in Hauz Khas was better compared to most places in Delhi. Wide roads lined with big trees, and as we came closer to Kunzum, big roads with Deer Park on one side. Getting closer to an ideal walking space!
In no time, we reached our destination. Though no sign of our cafe. So, we did what people do when Google fails. Asked around locals. We found a bunch of kids, probably college kids and asked them where is Kunzum. And they told us it closed down long back. So we asked them what would be a good cafe here to sit in! And they said what you all should have known–
The Tea Room. My intuition is never wrong! :p
So finally the place we went to was The Tea Room From Blossom Kochhar. It was an unexpectedly beautiful place. I am a person who goes to a sports complex to hang out. Cafes are never my choice. I don't even understand why people travel and sit here just to eat some food and call it chilling. But at times, I take other people’s choices into consideration. And at times I don’t regret doing that. And this was one such time. We stepped in – wooden flooring, white rough walls, amazing decor, a mid sized room that felt spacious, the view outside of an urban jungle. And books! There was a peacock too, walking leisurely in the jungle below.
We took our time to look around and analyse our surroundings. The quotes on the walls, the feel of the walls, the colours of the decor, the minimalist design, the view from the windows. For the next few minutes the topic of conversation was – how we would decorate our personal spaces like this place. Then it extended to business ideas of starting such a book cafe in a place of our choice. And who would do the decor. And on and on.
Next, order food. I never expect food to be good! But again, today, I was going to be proved wrong for all the notions I keep so close to my heart. I liked the coffee and even the pasta.
Next– chit chat.:P. Our high level talks touched upon TV series, future plans, office life and the regular topics. Which we always talk about but talking about the same things with the same person– in person is so different. And as this quote better explains–
There were people around. A girl writing something in her diary and reading some books there. Looking at her, I could see myself choosing this place for reading and writing and spending some time here had it not been so far from my place.
Then two more groups. One of them changed their seats after some time and came and sat next to us. Even though the whole cafe was empty. They were in college. That was all I could make out from the “assignments” word that I unintentionally heard. Later when they went, we couldn't help thinking why they came and sat next to us. Maybe our conversation was so interesting that people wanted to hear it. At least that was the conclusion we came to.
I don't think Shivansh talked much. We had been there for one hour, and for a few hours I can talk alone. -:p By the time I could remember asking him about all the things I had to ask, it was 7 30. As a hint of politely asking us to leave, the serving folks bought us the bills. They told us – the closing time was 7 but they had extended it only for us. Now it made sense, why slowly the cafe was empty. We hadn’t even taken pictures, let alone me letting Shivansh talk. Shivansh’s turn could wait but not pictures.
So we clicked pictures. The best ones below –
We took these, definitely irking some of the folks who were doing overtime. More so by asking them to take pictures for us. And on the top of it, I didn't approve of some to which Shivansh said–
I will take your pictures alone, mere saath tumhaari achhi nahi aa rahi! I am looking better! :D I ll leave that to the reader to decide, but punchline to achhi thi :p and meri pictures bhi.. :D
With enough pictures in our phones, we paid the bill, got what we couldn't stuff in packed and went out. Out again for a walk. Back to the metro station.
On the way, there was Naturals. Our favourite ice cream place. Even though we were full, we could make space for ice cream.
And thank God we went there. Ice cream is a good dessert and hence perfect closure to a meetup over food. But here we even got great pictures. And a person who took amazing pictures. Itni achhi to humne nahi click ki thi humaari. After all, what are good memories? The feelings you will remember, the small and big things I am recording of this day. Yes, all of thus philosophical stuff, but most of all, pictures. Good pictures make memories sweeter.
Back to the metro station. I am not surprised, maybe enviously surprised, Shivansh remembered the way back. All of it without looking at maps.
I wont remember the way even if I came here everyday for 10 days. On the 11th day, I would NOT remember. And I am speaking from experience. -:p
It's not that I am not alert. Chalo that is there, I do not remember the way around unless I really focus and store landmarks in my head, but this guy has a photographic memory.
At the metro station we stood at the windy spots. The ones I couldn’t help but notice in the beginning. Where due to some effect the air was tunnelling and whirling and at some places, we could feel a strong wind. Like wind tunnels. We spent some time thinking about how this fluid mechanics worked but mostly, just enjoyed the wind. (This is WIP- research ki jaayegi ispar aur -:p)
Ab waapas ghar! Thoda dukh to hota hai, like when a Harry Potter novel comes to an end or a feel good TV series comes to an end! Similarly, saying bye– especially to a friend to meet whom I am ready to travel 1.5 hours one way, even if that is after two years. :p
It was better when we met for the first time for our internship. Where we met everyday, first for working on cool projects and then in the evening for exploring the new city and the amazing campus. That was 9 years back and I still remember it fondly.
Now that I can;t exactly go back in time to those days. In the present, meeting him even for a few hours is like going on a vacation. Completely relaxing!
Being with people with whom you are there in the present completely, there is no space in your head for anything else is so cool. It's important to have such people in your life – Who make you laugh, who make everything feel effortless.
And *touchwood* , humaare jaise ho to kya hi kehna..
Ek veg, ek non veg..
Ek jise beer pasand ho, ek only juice for me please..
Ek over ambitious in theory, ek overachiever in practice..
Ek intelligent, ek thoda zyada intelligent :D
And most importantly,
Ek jo plans banaaye, ek jo unhein execute kare.. *touchwood*
(PS – I know it sounds cheesy at a lot of places, par saaf dimaag se padho, to you will feel jealous :D)
Hona chahiye ek aisa dost who with whom you make Mondays fundays.
Hona chahiye ek aisa dost jo tumhaari har baat par– Theek hai bole, baad mein wo kaam ho naa ho, ye tum dono ki qismat :p
So is the case with us. Today we have agreed on many plans for our next meetup. If they are executed you will see #2 of Cheeku and Manu :D
(PS- His name is Shivansh, as expected he goes by Shivu for his friends and family. When I think of what he looked like when he appeared in front of me today and lowered his mask.. The answer is Cheeku :D. So it's Cheeku for me and this series.)
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