Yes, it's true . . . .

A year ago:

It was as if the the darkness of the evening was a metaphor for the darkness about to engulf his life. One of life's lemons had been squirted in his eyes again. He had lost someone who was very close to him. Someone who was with him through thick and thin, someone who was there to share his happiness and unburden his sadness. He had lost a friend. A friend who had always been there. A friend who had always given. A friend who had expected nothing in return. A friend who never said anything, but through his silence always made him feel special. His friend was gone, leaving him alone in this world. Leaving him with no one to share the silent moments. Leaving him with just memories. Memories of those sunny days, of those cold winter mornings. If he had known he would never see his friend again, he would have said one final goodbye. He at least owed his friend that much.

He had tears in his eyes, as he drove back home. When he entered his house, he knocked on his door. His Mother opened the door and saw the state her son was in. She rarely saw her son with such an aura of sadness. "What Happened?", she asked him. He was barely able to reply. He rushed to his room and lay down on the bed. She grew more worried. She asked him again. "I...I've lost a friend .....a friend today .." he could barely speak over the tears. "WHO?" she asked, with worrying concern. "The...The........ The coffee shop near our house has just closed". His mother was shocked. Though her expression said that her son is a moron, in her heart she felt his pain. His loss.


Fast Forward to Today:

He had heard this before. It never turned out to be true. Maybe this was a rumor too. Could it be true? He made his way their patiently. Once he reached there, he scanned around. He couldn't beleive his eyes. The rumors were true. Yes, there is a God. And he listens. Finally the wait was over. Now he wouldn't need to drive the extra 0.5 kms. His friend was back. In a new avatar. The coffee shop had become bigger and better. And it welcomed him with open arms. He was home again. The oh-to-familiar aroma, the comfortable seating. The free-copy-useless-tabloid on the table. He was so happy, he could cry.

*******

An interview call:

HR Dude: Since we have ironed out the details of the salary, and you don't have any questions, I'll mail the contract over to you.

Candidate: ..Er...Ahem.... I have something I forgot to ask ......

HR Dude: Yeah .. Sure .. Go ahead ....

Candidate: It may seem stupid, but it's important to me .....

HR Dude: ..Yeah.....Please go ahead ......

Candidate: Does your company have an espresso bar in it's premises?

HR Dude: WHAT????

Candidate: Do you have a coffee shop in our office campus?

HR Dude: .(in a is-this-guy-for-real-voice).......We have a ...... (famous bakery)...

Candidate: That's not an espresso bar ...... Do you have a dedicated espresso bar or not?

HR Dude: ...We don't have an exclusive espresso bar ....but our cafeteria does have vending machines .......

Candidate: (irritated and pissed of to the core) So your Fortune 500 company does not have an espresso bar or a sub standard coffee shop in or near it's premises...or in a 2 km radius?

HR Dude: .... No ....

----Click-----

HR Dude: Halo....Hello.....Yellowwww ... (gives up)