By Kuriakose Saju
He hated this place. The plastic green walls, the smiling clown, the completely idiotic staff who stood behind the counters in their funny hats and fake smiles and the even more annoying people who hung off the metal stools and wooden fixtures apparently under some illusion that the processed patty they were gobbling down contained the meaning of life and happiness.
It was always the same kind of people too. The madly-in-love couple that makes you sick to your stomach who’ll sit and stare at each other over cold slush from behind their bug-eyed sunglasses. The extended family reunion who sit at conjoined tables, replete with crying babies and hopped-up toddlers running around like little moving hurdles you have to jump over to get to your table. And who can forget the college kids who have somehow confused the joint for their college canteen, cracking retarded jokes and complaining about why Reshma didn’t listen to Sunny when he told her to stop seeing Jacky because of Varsha. Jacky probably didn’t like all the staring Reshma insisted on.
What he hated even more was the fact that he was here by himself. Usually, if he had to walk into the place, it would be with a couple of friends who were his buffers to the rest of the world, his familiar faces in this sea of strangeness. Public places did that to him. Like everyone was watching his every move, from when you slowly step inside the vast corporate kitchen and feel the burst of cold air on your shoulders from the air-conditioner right over the door. He had become the sole reason why these people have chosen to take a break from their chewing-like-a-cow routine.
“You’re fine.” He muttered to himself, “Nothing to see here.” He slowly made his way to the counter and looked up at the neon-lit menu that was glaring at him from above. “What meal would you like to order today, sir?” The girl behind the counter seemed to be on the clock; the more orders she punched in, the more her commission perhaps? “Give me a second.” He was wondering what must have prompted this girl to go into the food business. Maybe she’s still studying and this is a part-time job. Or she’s got a family back home that depends on her income from this burger factory. He wondered about how many people took this job seriously, like this was their ambition and they were living their dream. He snuck a look at the manager, who apparently went by the name Raj as per his badge. He was definitely the important man here, he was given a green full-sleeved shirt as opposed to the green t-shirts worn by the others. Wow. That must make this guy’s day.
“Sir, what meal would you like to have?” The girl was getting impatient. He would have liked some more time. Couldn’t blame her really. The line behind him was steadily growing. “Give me a burger with cheese, medium fries and a Coke, no ice.” The girl flashed a brace-covered smile and disappeared. He looked around, waiting for his order to appear. The mob inside had gone back to their chewing and was again involved in their own little insignificant problems and dilemmas. He hated the collective chewing and sipping, the cacophony in general. It gave him a headache.
“Here you go, sir. Dine in or take away?” “Take away, please.” The girl put everything inside a brown bag and handed him the package. “Thank you, sir. Have a nice day.” He took the bag, grinned a weak smile and turned around towards the door. He had asked for no ice but he could feel a truckload of cubes clashing around in his plastic cup. He was too tired to rectify the mistake. As far as he was concerned, the ordeal was finally over. He could leave for now. Tomorrow, it would be another place, another set of faces. But for now, he was done.