A Lot Can Happen Over Coffee…

Location: Coffee Day, Hyderabad, India

It was on one of the mornings that we had off that Ibbs and I decided to go and get a nice hot cup o’ joe and get some work done. And what better place to go than the Indian equivalent of Starbucks: Cafe Coffee Day.

We sat close to the back, near the whirring coffee machines, and I noticed a couple who were in deep conversation with each other. They were both young, most likely early 20s, she in a salwar chemise (a long tunic with matching pants and scarf) and he in a white t-shirt and blue jeans. I only mention their clothing because it becomes important later on.

The spot where Ibbs and I were sitting was also right by the one unisex bathroom most Cafe Coffee Days have. About 10 minutes after our arrival, the young woman I had been observing went into this bathroom. Then, about 10 minutes after that, the young man goes in. Now at this point I had actually thought the young woman had left the coffee shop, but I was proved incorrect when lo and behold she emerged 20 minutes after her man had gone in.

She sat back down at their table and proceeded to readjust her clothing: pulling a shirt sleeve down, fixing her scarf. While she was doing this, she began glancing over to my table with Ibbs, most likely because my poker face is terrible. Another 10 minutes passed of her looking over at our table, and me trying to covertly look at hers, when her partner in crime emerged. It was at this moment that I made eye contact with her.  And what did I do?

I grinned.  And I got a smile in return.