Nescafe Dorabjees

Down at the Camp Gulalwadi Corner, things are usually moving fast. Our little coffee spot is tucked in there, right where the two roads meet. It isn't a place with sofas or soft music. We have the Nescafe machines that hiss and whistle whenever we make a cup. The smell of the powder and hot water is the first thing you notice when you walk up to our counter. We get a lot of people who are shopping in Camp or just passing through Gulalwadi on their way to work. There are always boxes of milk stacked up in the corner because we go through them quickly. The counter is made of dark laminate and has some scratches from all the coins and keys people put down. We have a few jars of biscuits on the side, but mostly it's just about the coffee. Sometimes the power goes out and we have to tell everyone to wait for a bit while we check the fuse. The staff knows most of the regulars by their face, even if we don't know their names. We keep a small bin for the paper cups, and it fills up fast on cold mornings. It’s a simple setup. We don't try to make it look like those big cafes in the malls. It’s just a corner for a quick drink and a moment of rest before moving on.