Coffee with the Crowd

Have you ever seen anyone sitting alone in a coffee shop? Now I don't mean the ones reading a book are talking into a phone or trying to write something. I mean the ones who are genuinely there just to have a coffee.

There is a sense of insecurity that weighs heavily upon most people when it comes to solitary outings. Add to it mushy couples and loud-mouthed college kids in the surrounding tables and you get one self-concious, crazed dude!

So, here I am, sitting in Coffee Day, alone, with Irish Coffee before me. Everytime I order Irish Coffee or Espresso, the waiters beseech me to reconsider. Or atleast, they warn me that it is black coffee. A guy in Barista went as far as to tell me, "Sir, it's only decaution (decaf). Won't taste nice!" I shall be the judge of that! De'caution' indeed!

To my right, a couple. Him smoking and her, watching him smoke, occasionally taking a drag herself. I am thinking they are conversing with their eyes. Not much communication otherwise happening.

To my left, two college guys, smoking to their lungs' content. They are taking turns talking into their cellphones. The lean one with the weird haircut (no, not me) speaks in a strained accent and style. "No de! I miss her and stuff. Last night we had a terrible party man(i think he means terrific, judging by what followed)! Neetha was doing something like salsa and moving her body and stuff (I would very much like to know what 'stuff' this Neetha was moving apart from her body). And I was like 'oh Man! This girl is great!' and stuff.....yeah, she was like his sister! I know de!"

The stout one with another weird haircut (what's with these weird cuts? Some new wave? I must be getting old!) speaks into his phone. He seems to be talking to his girlfriend 'cause I can't hear a thing.

Behind me, some loud mouthed girly gang. All talking at the same time. I don't want to turn around to see them. Might seem a tad too impolite. Anyway, none of them seems to be listening. "Guess where I went to yesterday? You won't believe! There's this amazing pub in residency road,-"..."Hey, that reminds me, there was this guy in the pub the other day looking at me like-".."Hey, did you see my new mobile? My dad bought it for me just yesterday. He-" and it goes on and on. Self-important. I am not sure if I do want to turn around.

All in all, I don't seem to be the only one alone in this coffee shop. And they tell me, 'No man is an island!'