Empowering Roots…

Penned: 30^th May 2008

I am still traveling and there are just days to go when my blissful vacation ends. Now, I am sitting at Starbucks – Americas answer to our very own desi Barista, eating a nice Egg Fiorentine sandwich and sipping an Iced Latte with Atif Aslam singing in my ears. It is about 9 am in the morning and I came here to especially just do some people watch. I am going to be here for 4 hours or so while I wait for a friend to join me. She insisted that I go around looking for some places to shop. Since I have already done a fair share of my necessities, I wanted to do some serious people watch and spend some time alone to get some fresh batch of thoughts in my head. I chose Starbucks simply because of the number of people that come in at every single second. I am having fun. This is so cool.

I have always liked being in places where there are many people around. While I am penning down this blog, it is amazing to see how many people have walked in and walked out with their daily dose of caffeine. Well, its nothing to be amazed about to see people buy some coffee and their breakfast and go about their day – but it just so cool to just sit in one corner with your laptop and watch people do what they do and that also so many people just at one place walking by me.

I have seen a couple of mothers walk in with their baby trams and buy some cereal breakfast and sit for couple of hours feeding their new born. It was so cute to see a father walk in the same way with a tram with his probably a year old son and feed him just in the same way that a mom is doing on another table. Just taking a guess, they both are probably single parents who are just living in their own separate worlds. The table in front of me has a Mexican guy who is so engrossed in his food that he has not even looked up once to look around. I love to watch people eat their food like that. I just appreciate the way; they respect and devour what is in front of them. {May be its just hunger, its amazing to see how he is eating his sandwich, not a drip of mayo has fallen off. Wish I could eat like that}

Some of them that have walked in seemed to come here everyday. The employees greeted them using their first names and had some really nice and short casual chat with them before walking out. It is about 10 am now, and nearly 100 people must have already walked out – considering there was a big queue 30 minutes back. The Mexican Guy in front of me has now for some reason shifted into another chair on the same table, which is now exactly making him face me. He has kept his bi focal glasses down. He is now reading the newspaper by keeping it so close to his face that I am sure he could almost smell the paper.                                                                                                                       

It is amazing to feel and realize how my vacation days have passed by and everyday has been a new day – just like these people who get every morning to start a new day with their cuppa. The first day of my landing here, my friend and me lost our way. We were walking on a deserted street near the International Airport, when a cop’s car stopped by us and offered to help us. I am still grinning as I type this, as I am recalling the scared shitting bricks look on my friends face doubting the cop and if we should be getting in his car. My excitement was over the roof to get into a cops car since it would be a complete first time experience. She was so scared, that I could feel her hand grabbing my arm, just to be sure, that I would probably take the correct decision and not take up the offer. Another factor that was adding to her scare and doubts was that once we are inside, only the cop could open it from outside for us to get off. 

Anyway, I wanted to get into his car, as for some reason, I felt we were going to be just fine and he could be trusted. Moreover, we were just couple of miles from the Terminal where we needed to head and with the signs on the Airport – there was no reason that we would lose our sight of the way. We get into the back of his car, and for the first time I realized I was experiencing what I have always seen in the movies. The backseat was so narrow and so cramped that none of us could even move our legs. We were nearly crouched, cramped and very uncomfortable. All through out the way, it was a sight to see how scared my friend was. She was sitting close enough for me to feel her nerves cracking up with anxiousness. All just went well, as he safely escorted us to the correct place safe and sound. I must add that it was an experience for a lifetime that I will never forget. I loved every bit of the thrill and excitement that came along with it. 

Coming back to my current place, the Mexican Guy is still there with the paper on his nose. It is around 11am and again the place is full with many people. The table next to me is now occupied with a hot and all showy cleavage Lady who seems to be in her 30’s accompanied by a very tall Gentleman in his 50’s. I like what the Lady is wearing. It’s a nice short blue top covered with a black vest. It is very stylish and completely an “In Fashion” statement. Oh, the Mexican fella just left leaving all his newspapers on the table. Coming to the table right next to me, the Gentleman seems to be engrossed in what his Lady companion seems to be telling him so much so that he is been doing nothing but leaning over the table like a slanted lamp post. 

My sandwich and Latte is now over and I will be expecting my friend any minute now. I didn’t even feel and realize how time and the day has passed by just watching people. I wish sometimes, even “People Watch” would be a separate profession by itself, would be something that I would definitely endorse.