A Lot Can Happen Over A Cup Of Coffee

Like the guilty mind that continuously repents for forgiveness, like the humiliated soul that is ceaselessly curious for revenge, like the unborn child that endlessly stabs the mother for breaking open, overflowed the mystic evening waves in Marina Beach, eternally kissing the seashores with love and vengeance. Engulfed in countless thoughts, Meera kept staring at the blue water which was trying hard to meet her feet, while unconsciously making and unmaking castles in the sands of time.

      

Meera was a workaholic team leader and was infamous for mining all-out work from her team members. Many of her team members had switched teams and few had even quit jobs unable to manage the stringent deadlines. Only who loved work and who loved hard-working sustained in her team, which always delivered the best results. She believed that avoiding work just brings temporary satisfaction but doing work brings the real happiness. The sweat and exhaustion that arrives after hard work is sweeter than the bareness that arrives out of escaping work.

      

Whenever Meera is confused or worried, she comes to the sea for help, which usually consoles her by its magical music and mesmerizing touch. Even this evening, Meera was sitting there just to vent out her agony.

It was not an ordinary day for Meera. It was in fact, a delighted day, as she received the “Best performer of the Year- Award” in her Company, which is one among the top most MNCs in India. Yet, instead of being joyful, she was bothered. Though the award made her happy, having none to celebrate the success troubled her more. She felt completely void and empty and lonely. The tears that flowed involuntarily from her eyes competed with the salt and sadness of the fuming sea.

Unexpectedly, she got into her senses by the strange movement of a shadow near her. She was afraid to turn back as the shadow seemed very close to her and in a hand’s reach it appeared to touch her. Gaining her courage when she turned back, she couldn’t control laughing at her unfound fears as there was moving a guy who was trying to click the perfect picture. When her eye lens looked at the angle of the camera lens, she got awestruck by the fascinating view of the scenery just in front of her that she failed to notice so long.

Wherever the camera moved, her eyes too moved and she was getting hypnotized by the unknown sense of pleasure that unleashed out of every view. When we do something, we love the most or, when we are with the person, we love the most, time flies at the maximum speed. She didn’t know how long it went on like that as she went unmindful of time and space.

Only after the camera had shut, and the guy started moving way, did she return back from the surreal world. Suddenly, she felt a strange sense of happiness and craziness. Abruptly she stopped the guy and asked, “Can we have a cup of coffee?”. She was feeling weird at her own behavior. She had never called anyone for coffee. Inviting a stranger for coffee was something which even she felt surprisingly strange on her part. It was only then she looked at him for the first time.

He had a well-built structure and glowing face which was calm, composed and yet vibrant with energy. His eyes looked extremely powerful in the angular face. The way he gazed was like a camera snapping pictures continuously. He looked very classy. But the orangey Swiggy t-shirt which he wore, confused Meera on whether he was a delivery boy or a professional photographer. Like a school student waiting for annual exam results, when she awaited his reply, he just smiled. She couldn’t understand what his smile meant and yet followed him considering it as acceptance.

After few minutes of walk, she saw Café Coffee Day board glittering in the dusky sunrays. She entered and he followed. She couldn’t believe herself on her unusual behavior of sitting with a complete stranger. The highest paid team leader in one of the top most MNC was having coffee with a Swiggy Delivery boy for no reason. As none of the two seemed like extroverts, silence dominated over words. Breaking the silence, Meera asked, “Are you a delivery guy or photographer”. He smiled again and replied “Both. One for Survival and other for passion”.

“Why don’t you use your passion to pay for your survival? Your camera angles were extra-ordinary. Your amazing clicks, would not just pay for survival but win you laurels and luxuries. I am sure you are gonna be damn famous”. When he started to laugh hearing this, she was confused whether she said anything really funny. She again said, “I am not joking. I am serious about what I told”. He asked, “Why should I win laurels, luxuries and be famous?”. She was taken aback by his question. However she replied patiently, “Very few people have talents. Talented people should shine rather than people who show-off without substance. Not every body will be talented in every field. To identify talent itself is herculean. But, you are lucky that you know your passion and I can infer that you are much talented though I don’t have much knowledge in photography”.

“May I know your name please”, when he asked it, she understood that her reply did not convince him the least. She replied, “Meera”. He said, “Meera, though I don’t talk much with people, I feel like talking to you. You look so innocent and at the same time willing to listen. If you are ready to listen, I can share my philosophy of life. After understanding it, you can ask your doubts.” Instantly Meera nodded with curiosity.

“Freedom is the essence of life. We must be free to live the life we want, without hurting others. Everything else is secondary according to me. We think freedom is something which is curtailed by others. No, it is not most of the times. We curb our own freedom every time to please others, to earn money, fame, power etc. Anything which we gain, compromising on freedom does not yield real happiness. We have been trained and reinforced in every occasion to live a life designed by the so-called society, the basis of which is insecurity and not happiness. I want to be a truly happy person from the inside. External validations do not give me happiness.

You know what, mediocre people are the ones who are honored most of the times as people feel safe with them. Someone who is extra-ordinary is seen as a threat to society and is usually pulled down by some way or the other. When the yearning is freedom and truth, to live one’s life as per own’s desire, your so-called laurels, luxuries or fame matter the least.”

She interrupted, “You seem too much engrossed in freedom and fanatical against society. You forget that family is naturally the basic atomic unit of society. Are you against family too? Are you against societal cum familial roles of mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife, children also?”

He took a deep breath and sighed,” You are brilliant Meera. You nailed it and came to the exact point directly. I would like to correct you a little at this point. I am not against family or society or any man-made structures but I don’t believe in them. When you don’t believe in something, how can you be, for or against it?

 To me, nature is above human made structures and relations. By nature, you are a woman and I am a man and we are human beings. By creating roles, we only restrict the natural course. People had created roles, values and units and set boundaries and limits for a peaceful living during primeval times to mitigate the insecurities caused by recalcitrant beings. Even laws, rules and regulations were created out of insecurities over fellow human beings. Human made laws and structures were always discriminatory and their intentions were to uphold the power structures’ status quo.

Forget about religion, caste, race, nation or region, aggressive power struggles have been happening in families most of the times. At times, I also feel that nature is discriminatory too. The burden of producing off-springs is with women only by nature and though it has to be seen as strength, it makes women physically weak. Our education system, economy, society or polity all aim at one thing, to promote mediocrity and to stop human minds from thinking beyond the restrictive roles. When you perform your roles diligently, you would be lauded and when you disobey or question any injustice, you would be considered anti-social. The hierarchy established and upheld for centuries is so strong to break. Very few individuals who have broken the chains in their own lives have lived their lives truly.”

Though Meera understood that he talked sense, she was confused more than clarified. She asked,” Do you mean disobeying rules means freedom? Not taking responsibility in a family, society, country or economy is freewill?” 

 He smiled and continued, “ You are not getting the point Meera. I am a selfish simple guy and what I want is just a happy life out of my free will. I am not here to revolt, rebel or change the world. At the same time, I don’t want to fake my life to prove myself to anyone or please anyone. By anyone, I mean anyone. I was an IITan, got placed with a hefty CTC, worked like a slave for almost 5 years and now I am tired. I can’t live the routine designed by someone. When I wake up, I must decide my day which I am free to do now. I follow my passion; I deliver when I feel to. My wants are limited and I am happy doing part time temporary jobs, travelling out of my will and not indebted to anyone.”

“How long can you continue like this? If you get married, won’t you need to support your wife and children?”, when she asked it, he couldn’t stop laughing. He said, “I told you clearly, I don’t believe in societal roles. Why will I marry and give the control over my life and time to someone? I am much more selfish than you think. I don’t even have friends as I value time more than anything else. I can’t hang around friends and socialize, just to satisfy my insecurities. I feel complete all alone. Long term commitments are alien to me and I view them as obstructors of freedom.”

“If everyone thinks like you, there would be no next generation. Human race in itself would perish. Are you that selfish?”, retorted Meera.     

  “If everyone thinks like me, at least there would be one generation of human beings who live their lives wholeheartedly, without fierce competitions, with freedom of choice to think independently. Let human-race perish and if that happens, the Earth would be the happiest. All other species will have a peaceful co-existence without human interference. Human beings are the most selfish ones on Earth destroying all resources not for survival but for comfort and convenience.”

Meera was dumbstruck and her mind was forced to think. The happiness of the award she got that day, the sadness for nobody to celebrate it, all seemed trivial now. She understood that she was not living her life and was doing things just to prove herself to others. When people praised her for being a role-model, she was happy and when they rebuked, she felt bad. She had big dreams to change the world while not having control over her own life.

 “I think its late already Meera. Do you want me to drop you home? “, said he, breaking the chain of thoughts revolving around her. Though her mind was filled with thoughts, the shop was almost empty. The coffee cups before her went empty long back. She felt like a child refusing to get out of a toy shop. She wanted to freeze the moment and did not want him to leave. However, she knew how blank and unemotional he is. Like a kid she asked, “Can I join you for delivery once?”. He again laughed, “You are bringing out a different kind of delight in me. Something in you is attracting me and hence I am here with you. But let this be our last meeting. I don’t want you to disturb me again. Don’t ask any detail about me or contact me in future. Now let me login and take orders for delivery. If you wish, you can join me in all the deliveries tonight till 12.30 PM. After that we will be strangers again.”

She was hurt and happy at the same time. He infused fresh blood of life in her. In the red Activa roaring and flying over the Loop Road, gentle sea-breezes brushing her cheeks forcefully, full moon glittering with glow lovingly, sitting beside him weirdly, she felt a new sense of freedom for the first time. With overwhelming emotions, she uttered , “I will not contact you again. I don't know how I can thank you for this wonderful unforgettable moment. Will you just tell me, what your name is?”. He smiled again inside out.