“I saw you taking tea at the corner of the street”, he said, sounding almost as if he was accusing me of a horrendous crime.

“Yes, of course”, I replied indignantly. “I go there every day.”

He looked at me for a long instant. He thinks it is below one’s position to be taking tea at the wayside chaay-waali’s place where the commoners frequent, I said to myself. He is too high for such cheap pleasures.

“I used to take tea there too”, he said suddenly, to my surprise. “I used to enjoy their bajjis as well.” There was a pause whilst I stared at him in disbelief. “That was before I upgraded to Café Coffee Day and McDonald’s. I dunno how I could forget the taste of those delicious bajjis!”

I continued to be speechless.

He said, “Would you mind if I join you today evening?”