Coffee Break!!

Attempt to tell a story. Leave your reviews as comments if you please

Part 1

The cup of coffee in her hands was still hot. The vending machine was the most sought after in the office. It was also the perfect place for a good bit of gossip and some girl time. Pallavi’s friends were all from different floors and different departments. After spending hours in front of the computer studying project reports, preparing quotes, following up with the site offices and
putting up with an old bag of bones called the Boss, coffee was the only energizer available with ease.

Being a new guy in an office teeming with sober grown- ups was a test of nerves. When he had accepted the offer, he had not anticipated to be stuck with a desk job. At least they were kind enough to point out to where the coffee machine was. All the while he was left to his own devices to learn about his duties and responsibilities. It had been a long time since Kaushik had felt this helpless and lost, his first day at work was turning in to one bummer of a day.

The new guy, she noted, had been staring at the coffee machine for a long time. Suddenly she felt important and powerful because of her knowledge of working the machine. Confidently she strode forward and beaming her most friendly smile punched a few buttons and got a big cup of coffee.  And still beaming she handed the cup. “You are new here?”, she asked. “I am”, he said. Then she extended her hand in friendship. Pallavi met Kaushik.

Part 2

Pallavi was working hard at her desk. The report was due for the morrow. There were a few at their desks that time but she was not bothered. Her report was only halfway through. Her head screamed for coffee. Her nerves needed them badly.

It had become common to run in to Mr.Kaushik these days but she didn’t expect to run in to him at this hour. Though she would have loved to chat, today she was too occupied to even have afforded this break. So with just a small smile she quickly brought her coffee to her desk with her.

The girl had been his first human contact in the company and it was a little refreshing to run in to her during the coffee breaks. He had stayed late today to finish up some work before the coming weekend and was surprised to run in to her at this hour. Her tension was obvious. A quick glance at her floor revealed she didn’t have much company. His coffee-time friend needed him.

“My stomach is grumbling. How about yours?”, a familiar voice asked from above her. It was Kaushik with a starved-to-death expression. “Killing me” she said as she clicked to close the final worksheet she had worked on. Some hot and fresh print outs in the morning would please her Boss. At least she would try.

They walked quietly side by side. She was secretly happy for the company and he was pleased to note that he had been useful. The roadside Dosas filled them up and for the first time they shared a little bit on their families. Her parents were in Coimbatore and his were travelling. She was in a PG and he was, well, with his big joint family. Finally as each rode their bikes towards home, the day seemed to have been a breezy one.

Part 3

After the deadliness of March, every employee looked forward to the holiday season. Every August the company would celebrate its Annual Day. The older generation employees and the younger blood were always at loggerheads at work but both of them agreed on the celebrations, aka paid to have fun.

Pallavi had been a school and college champ in athletics and so was one of the first to register for the event. All the sugary coffee shots and sitting at desk ensured that she was the third runner up. Nevertheless, participation was more important than winning the game. She still wanted first place and went in for the Relay race as well. In the final lap however she took a dive and grazed her knee. Loathe the sight of her tears be seen by anyone, especially any of the guys, especially the guy whom she shared her coffee breaks with.

There were some competitions for the employees family members which had the spouses passing parcels and children drawing, dressing up, running, jumping and what not. The crooners soon came on stage and amidst loud cheers men and women from various departments, stood in front of the mike. Some were nervous and some completely out of pitch. Then there was Kaushik.

What coffee had done to her body it had not done to his voice. When he had finished his song, her heart was brimming with joy and pride. She was happy for her friend. A congratulatory hi-five was the order of the day. Besties was the word for the day.

Part 4

Birthdays were always a low-key affair for him and Kaushik preferred to keep it that way. But a bar of chocolate awaited him at his desk that morning. “TREAT” Pallavi screamed as soon as she saw him. She did not plan to let him go by easily. To back her up, her cronies too pitched in and Kaushik had no choice but to relent. That evening he and a guy friend were rendered mute by the boisterous bunch of colleagues he was treating with Ice-Cream. Then something tugged inside of him, the smile on one particular girl’s face.

“I had a good time. Happy Birthday once again”, the message read. He didn’t plan to delete it in any time in the future. She had slowly become a very close and dear friend.

Pallavi was taking a longer time with the coffee today. Her break-time friend was missing and she was too embarrassed to seek him out openly.  She had to admit to herself that she needed less of the beverage and more for an excuse. “Hi. Didn’t come to work today?”, she messaged hoping she didn’t come across too eager.

The beep woke him up. Falling sick after an ice-cream was just  not what he needed and just what he was not going to admit and get her concerned. But then again, he couldn’t lie to her.

“HaHaHa! Poor Baby!”. Her sarcasm made him smile. “Oops, sorry, you take care. Was just kidding.” The list of messages to be saved for posterity now increased by two.

Part 5

It was now a given, whenever Pallavi stayed at work late, Kaushik would accompany her. They’d talk about everything under the sun while standing under the moon. When he had had a not so good meeting with his manager, Pallavi pacified him with tasty chaat. When her promotion was confirmed, Kaushik surprised her with a giant coffee mug.

The day his transfer orders came in, it was one of mixed emotions. The vending machine was gurgling out a hot mix of coffee powder, milk and water. The room suddenly felt crowded and not a word could be exchanged. That evening they were at their usual roadside shop focused on the hot plate of lemon rice in their hands.

“Finally you can say goodbye to warming the desks”, Pallavi remarked. There was only silence in response.

“This lemon rice is good, wonder why we haven’t tried this before”, he said. The unrelated comment seemed strange to her.

“You know what Pal, there are so many things here that I am yet to try. In the beginning I did not enjoy the idea of a desk job, but now, it wasn’t so bad.”

“Suddenly this transfer does not seem so much of a great news. I feel I will be losing a lot in this game. Losing a lot. I guess I will miss something. You know right, my family, but so many live away from home. I can bear with that. But..”

“But what?” Pallavi had no other words.

“But, I guess I will miss you the most.”

Part 6

The wedding was as traditional as any other. The parents were warm and welcoming of each other. Their children’s life and happiness was more important than anything else. Kaushik had changed loyalties to a different company so that he could be close to his girl. Pallavi now had time for her girlfriends and her coffee breaks were filled with reminiscences.

The honeymoon was a well planned one. Lush coffee estates of Coorg welcomed them and embraced the two with its cool air. After holding hands throughout their dinner dates and engagement days, they finally got to hold each other. 

“You taste like biriyani” she said

“You taste like lemon rice” he said

Sun rose slowly and Pallavi lazily opened the window curtains. The cup of coffee in her hands was still hot and she had another for her still sleeping husband