Coffee at its best

There is not much left to enjoy in an evening when the day hasn’t quite gone in your favor and the mind is filled with chaos and confusion.

 Late one evening I found myself in a similar situation. There was no willingness within me to talk to anyone. Just an eagerness to be away from the people I know and amidst a crowd of strangers. I stepped outside my college campus and started walking on the pavement. It was getting dark and dull, aggravating my gloomy mood. I kept walking engrossed in thoughts about the day’s ill happenings. I came across a well lit coffee bar and instincts led me inside. It was as if the coffee bar was calling me towards it and I like an exhausted traveler seeking for some respite went inside.

 I entered and occupied a chair next to the window. A person came from the counter and asked me what I would like to have. “Black coffee” I said. “Five minutes sir” he said and went away. The place was filled with an aroma of the coffee beans. It was quite strong and started playing its own games, trying to induce in me a new spirit of resilience. I surrendered myself completely to it and let it maneuver my thoughts. The person brought the coffee and placed it on the table in front of me. I looked at the coffee long and hard and it seemed to tell a story.

 Long time back, one day a plant sprouted from the ground. With time it blossomed and bore fruits, green leaves and white fragrant flowers. The plant withstood extreme conditions- rain, wind and heat. It took seven to nine months for the fruit to ripen and turn crimson from green.

The plant in the story is the coffee plant and its fruit, the coffee berry which contains the coffee beans. Without facing the harsh weather conditions the coffee berry would never have ripened. If the berry would have fallen down during the crisis, it would never have ripened. Persistence and struggle was required for it to ripen. And the nice coffee I am enjoying today is the result of all of it.

I equated all of this with my situation and got all my answers. Relishing the rest of the coffee I looked outside the window and saw the moon up in the sky. I laughed to myself as only one thought was running through my mind now, ‘the best part about the end of the day is that tomorrow it starts all over again’.