I was invited by a friend to write a short story about a picture she took at a cafe, following is the link to that picture, the below story is woven around that image.
It was a chilly, windy day. Not many people were out on the Tremont St. Dr Kavya with her quick small strides made her way towards Massachusetts General Hospital . Chin tucked in her scarf, gloved hands snuggled in the deep pockets of her Metallic Burberry Trench. She moved with a sense of urgency and purpose. Couple of pamphlets were flying off in front of her suggesting a wind that was picking up. She walked past the "The Thinking Cup" her favourite coffee joint, which was more than a coffee place as far as she was concerned. She had always dropped in .. but not today.
Six years back it was a similar day. Young Kavya looked at her phone , it read "Temperature 6 degrees , feels like 1" , the screen started glowing with snowflakes, and Kavya too was being surrounded by light snow which was slowly settling around her. She took a few more steps on Tremont st. and decided its best to take some shelter. "The Thinking Cup" was the closest place from where she was standing. As she stepped in , the rhythmic wind chime which was hung right at the entrance to meet the moving door, gently set off announcing Kavyas persence. She hurriedly closed the door behind her , and brushed off the little snow off her
shoulders. Kavya looked around, it was a quaint little place , felt warm and the place had a certain air which.. may be spoke of the owner, it was warm and welcoming.
Kavya looked like any teenager, casual off white sweater, a pair of rugged jeans with beige knee length boots which were topped with a circle of little white fur, she sported a nice violet yellow mix color cap, but Kavya was unlike most teenagers. Her clear bright blue eyes were always searching and had an inquisitive look.
Kavya noticed that the place was just being setup. Almost everything was done barring a few lamps lying on the floor ,which were still to be unpacked. She moved to the corner of the seating area. The wall had a brick overlay which gave it a very beautiful rustic look. Adjacent to the wall was a simple window which gave a great view of the street. She immediately felt at home . The couch was brand new, she ran her fingers on the soft suede leather, it felt so relaxing.
"Location : Coffee Shop Feels like.. : Home " chuckled Kavya to herself trying to imitate the weather description on her phone earlier.
"Chamois !" "The leather.. it's Chamois", I got it custom made for the lounge. It's here , here .. and here ! " said a man who made his way from behind the serving counter, pointing at different areas where Chamois was used.
"I am Azlan, the thinker behind the thinking cup !", he said in an amusing way. He had a smiling face and probing eyes.
"You like the Nook eh ?" "Good for you ! I also like it in there, gets me thinking " smiled Azlan.
Azlan was in his fifties, grey hair but was stockily built . He sported a white shirt with grey stripes and his sleves rolled up to his elbows. He talked with open hand gestures, his hands had the bearings of years of sincere hardwork. Azlan carried an air of a gentle, sensitive man. Azlan too carried the same clear honest eyes. Kavya was pleased with the jovial nature of Azlan .
The weather worsened and it started to snow heavily now.
"Oh no I ll get late now", despaired Kavya.
"Hmm don't worry I am sure it will subside in a while" reassured Azlan.
"Well It's my birthday today and my folks wouldn't want me to be late " , said Kavya innocently.
"In that case why don't you have a seat and I'll be right back" , said Azlan.
As Kavya took a seat she peered out the window which was now turned blue and the halo inside the was just surreal.
Azlan returned with a small cake with a single candle on top. He also unpacked a lamp and hung it right in the corner to light up Kavyas face. The light from the candle and the beautiful lamp with its cylindrical nets filtered the light in ways which made the entire corner magical. It was as if some one had lit a bonfire and little shadows of unknown objects were dancing across the walls.
"These are the best cakes on this side of the river", said an elated Azlan.
"Happy Birthday !"
Months turned to years, The Thinking Cup always had the Nook reserved for Kavya. Hardly there was week that she wasn't there. Azlan and Kavya shared a special bond. In time Kavya shared that all she wanted to do in life was to help others and she has taken upon the goal to graduate in medicine. That was the day when Azlan made her coffee with a chocolate sprinkled plus sign and had said
"Here you go doc !" . Both of them had a hearty laugh.
Each year on Kavyas birthday Azlan added one more lamp to the Nook . This last Friday their friendship was 6 years old ! They celebrated with the same birthday cake and Kavya remembered how she blew out the lone candle.
Whoosh....
the incoming wind too made a similar sound and Kavya snapped back in the current moment. She was at the hospital campus. She looked at the patient log and moved to the concerned floor and room. She stepped in and looked at the bedside record , had a few words with attendant head nurse and turned towards her patient.
Last night a few drunk men roughed up Azlan and ransacked the cafe. It happened when they figured out his Iranian descent. Azlan had couple of broken bones and a bruised face. He slowly looked at Kavya. Kavya reached in her pocket and took out a picture she took last Friday. She placed it next to Azlan .
It was a picture of the six lamps under which the Nook gleaned of tranquility.
Note -
Nook is a corner secluded area where two walls meet.
Chamois leather - a soft suede leather formerly from the skin of the chamois antelope but now from sheepskin.
The Thinking Cup is a popular coffee chain in Boston. One of them is located on Tremont St.
It's actually pretty close to Massachusetts General Hospital!
It was a chilly, windy day. Not many people were out on the Tremont St. Dr Kavya with her quick small strides made her way towards Massachusetts General Hospital . Chin tucked in her scarf, gloved hands snuggled in the deep pockets of her Metallic Burberry Trench. She moved with a sense of urgency and purpose. Couple of pamphlets were flying off in front of her suggesting a wind that was picking up. She walked past the "The Thinking Cup" her favourite coffee joint, which was more than a coffee place as far as she was concerned. She had always dropped in .. but not today.
Six years back it was a similar day. Young Kavya looked at her phone , it read "Temperature 6 degrees , feels like 1" , the screen started glowing with snowflakes, and Kavya too was being surrounded by light snow which was slowly settling around her. She took a few more steps on Tremont st. and decided its best to take some shelter. "The Thinking Cup" was the closest place from where she was standing. As she stepped in , the rhythmic wind chime which was hung right at the entrance to meet the moving door, gently set off announcing Kavyas persence. She hurriedly closed the door behind her , and brushed off the little snow off her
shoulders. Kavya looked around, it was a quaint little place , felt warm and the place had a certain air which.. may be spoke of the owner, it was warm and welcoming.
Kavya looked like any teenager, casual off white sweater, a pair of rugged jeans with beige knee length boots which were topped with a circle of little white fur, she sported a nice violet yellow mix color cap, but Kavya was unlike most teenagers. Her clear bright blue eyes were always searching and had an inquisitive look.
Kavya noticed that the place was just being setup. Almost everything was done barring a few lamps lying on the floor ,which were still to be unpacked. She moved to the corner of the seating area. The wall had a brick overlay which gave it a very beautiful rustic look. Adjacent to the wall was a simple window which gave a great view of the street. She immediately felt at home . The couch was brand new, she ran her fingers on the soft suede leather, it felt so relaxing.
"Location : Coffee Shop Feels like.. : Home " chuckled Kavya to herself trying to imitate the weather description on her phone earlier.
"Chamois !" "The leather.. it's Chamois", I got it custom made for the lounge. It's here , here .. and here ! " said a man who made his way from behind the serving counter, pointing at different areas where Chamois was used.
"I am Azlan, the thinker behind the thinking cup !", he said in an amusing way. He had a smiling face and probing eyes.
"You like the Nook eh ?" "Good for you ! I also like it in there, gets me thinking " smiled Azlan.
Azlan was in his fifties, grey hair but was stockily built . He sported a white shirt with grey stripes and his sleves rolled up to his elbows. He talked with open hand gestures, his hands had the bearings of years of sincere hardwork. Azlan carried an air of a gentle, sensitive man. Azlan too carried the same clear honest eyes. Kavya was pleased with the jovial nature of Azlan .
The weather worsened and it started to snow heavily now.
"Oh no I ll get late now", despaired Kavya.
"Hmm don't worry I am sure it will subside in a while" reassured Azlan.
"Well It's my birthday today and my folks wouldn't want me to be late " , said Kavya innocently.
"In that case why don't you have a seat and I'll be right back" , said Azlan.
As Kavya took a seat she peered out the window which was now turned blue and the halo inside the was just surreal.
Azlan returned with a small cake with a single candle on top. He also unpacked a lamp and hung it right in the corner to light up Kavyas face. The light from the candle and the beautiful lamp with its cylindrical nets filtered the light in ways which made the entire corner magical. It was as if some one had lit a bonfire and little shadows of unknown objects were dancing across the walls.
"These are the best cakes on this side of the river", said an elated Azlan.
"Happy Birthday !"
Months turned to years, The Thinking Cup always had the Nook reserved for Kavya. Hardly there was week that she wasn't there. Azlan and Kavya shared a special bond. In time Kavya shared that all she wanted to do in life was to help others and she has taken upon the goal to graduate in medicine. That was the day when Azlan made her coffee with a chocolate sprinkled plus sign and had said
"Here you go doc !" . Both of them had a hearty laugh.
Each year on Kavyas birthday Azlan added one more lamp to the Nook . This last Friday their friendship was 6 years old ! They celebrated with the same birthday cake and Kavya remembered how she blew out the lone candle.
Whoosh....
the incoming wind too made a similar sound and Kavya snapped back in the current moment. She was at the hospital campus. She looked at the patient log and moved to the concerned floor and room. She stepped in and looked at the bedside record , had a few words with attendant head nurse and turned towards her patient.
Last night a few drunk men roughed up Azlan and ransacked the cafe. It happened when they figured out his Iranian descent. Azlan had couple of broken bones and a bruised face. He slowly looked at Kavya. Kavya reached in her pocket and took out a picture she took last Friday. She placed it next to Azlan .
It was a picture of the six lamps under which the Nook gleaned of tranquility.
Note -
Nook is a corner secluded area where two walls meet.
Chamois leather - a soft suede leather formerly from the skin of the chamois antelope but now from sheepskin.
The Thinking Cup is a popular coffee chain in Boston. One of them is located on Tremont St.
It's actually pretty close to Massachusetts General Hospital!
