Gokul Coffee Bar

If you walk down Salem Road in Palapattarai, you’ll eventually hit number 45 where Gokul Coffee Bar sits. It’s a small place, nothing too flashy. We’ve got a few tables and the smell of coffee is always hanging in the air. Most of our regulars come in at the same time every morning. They don’t even have to say what they want anymore; we just know. It gets a bit crowded around ten o'clock when the local workers take their break. The street outside is usually full of bikes and people rushing somewhere. Inside, it’s a bit different. We just keep the milk boiling and the grounds fresh. The walls could probably use a new coat of paint, but nobody seems to mind. We aren't some big chain with fancy names for drinks. It is just coffee. We serve it hot and we serve it fast. Sometimes the stove acts up or we run low on sugar, but we manage. My family helps out behind the counter when it gets really busy. We like being on Salem Road because it feels like the heart of the neighborhood. People stop by to chat or just to stare out the window for a minute. It isn't a complicated life, but it’s ours. We’ve been at this spot for years and don’t plan on going anywhere.