Status symbol- Canteen or Cafeteria!

                                                               

Flicking his duster on the chairs, tables, stools, windows, ledges, whatever came his way, Ramu rushed to get the place in order. It was about time and people would start trickling in. Anna would get wild if the place were not ready as instructed. Few other boys also ran around in a similar task. They looked like participants in some ancient ritual, flicking dusters, running, jumping scampering from pillar to post.

Anna could be heard mellifluously chanting his prayers, invoking Goddess Lakshmi to fill his coffers while invoking Mother Annapurna to bless the kitchen and all who would partake the offerings from there. The tinkling of the bell, the fragrance of the incense sticks and camphor gently wafting in, contrary to the loud incantations.

And overriding all this was the strong aroma of filter Kapi permeating the canteen. The first to arrive were the two teachers who seem to wake up only after guzzling a couple of kapis, tucking into the breakfast of the day, be it warm upma with fresh coconut chutney, delicately flavoured kanda poha generously garnished with peanuts, coconut and fresh coriander or generous helpings of palate tickling sabudana khichdi. Ramu rushed to attend to them with a cheerful ‘Good morning Sir!’ They would smile and generously compliment him, but if he failed in his duties, Anna would generously dole out a few raps on his knuckles or lashings of his tongue.

The students would trickle in as and when they were free, or on their way back from the games field. The rich aroma of freshly baked buns and cakes drew them in like the Pied Piper churned his spell.

Of late, running around serving the children , teachers, parents, packing up polythenes of take aways was overshadowed with fear… Ramu and the boys had overheard the Principal tell Anna he had to pack his bags and move.

“Where will we go Anna? What will happen to us?” sobbed Ramu as the hush that had swooped down like a cold fog in the canteen where all the boys huddled close to each other and Anna to seek strength and succour, willing destiny to negate what they had heard with their very own ears. Anna looked away lest they saw the unshed tears sparkling in his eyes.

 Anna had run this canteen satiating hunger of the belly and the mind for more than 20 years. He had seen toddlers come tumbling in neatly turned out in spanking new uniforms, hankies pinned too their shirts with squeaking new shoes, yelling for “Mummmyyyy…” walk out as confident swashbucklers, keeping monthly rolling accounts in his ledgers. He was witness to countless farewells being planned and executed in his realm. He had seen budding romances, which at times led to happy families, bringing their little babies back to the Nursery. He was also there when the testosterone pumped in and the young lads thought they were no less than Shah Rukh or Amir or whatever be the flavour of the month. Whew! Those he had to handle with the utmost delicacy mixed with stern voice. Young bucks, ready to create their mark in the World. He loved them all! He loved to see them satisfied after a good tuck in. Annapurna and Lakshmi blessed him and them.

He collected his sinking courage, with a quick pranam flung at the feet of his  Gods he marched to the Principal’s office. The gentle knock was answered with an authoritative “Come in!”

“Ah Anna! How can I help you?”

“Sir can we not continue? Where will my boys and I go? We only know how to serve the children, the teachers and the parents here.”

“It’s the parents requirement. They coaxed the management to go for the international curriculum. They enforced changes in the infrastructure from lockers to interactive boards in each classroom. Now they want a Cafeteria. Like the one in the Golden International School. They want international stuff for their precious children.”

“But Sir chips, donuts, pizzas, burgers are not healthy. I have been following the articles of the topmost nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, she also recommends a hot home-made breakfast, like what we serve.”

“All that is fine. But now we have the Caterer from Golden International to come over. Just like parents want Shiamak Davar not folk dances during Annual Days, we have to move with the times Anna!”

Now the tears could not be held back as the flood of emotions burst the barrage like the swollen rivers in the Monsoons sweeping everything in their spate. The wise Principal let the old man relieve his pent-up emotions as he handed him a glass of water and gently patted his back.

“OK lets see what we can do,” said the Principal.

Humbly folding his hands and wiping his tears the old man feeling quite broken shuffled slowly out of the room.

The boys gathered around Anna, for none had ever seen Anna unhappy, leave alone shedding tears. The man sat quietly withdrawn, wondering how the Gods could have been unappeased. The grey clouds rumbled in the sky announcing the arrival of the Monsoon. The time of the year when nothing auspicious was ever carried out. No new beginnings, no new ventures, yet he would have to take a step forward for his boys and all their families.

As the school reopened in the new session, the new Cafeteria was the talk of the school. The swanky chrome and glass décor, the furniture, a huge TV screen, big posters of Football heroes and an odd one of cricket stars, stylized crockery and cutlery, the works. The bakery section offered, cupcakes, eclairs, hotdogs, burgers, pizzas. The continental section had pastas, salads, lasagna. The Indian section had a medley of dosas, even Cheese dosa, Chana bhatura, and Indian Chinese. The aromas were so enticing, the parents who came to drop their kids always carried some parcels home. They often wondered how the kids could focus on anything with such enticing heavenly smells. The waiters were all smartly turned out in pink shirts and navy-blue trousers and crisp candy striped, red aprons, with the school monogram. Beaming broad smiles, they greeted everyone with a cheerful ‘Good morning’. Ramu looked extra smart with his new haircut as did Anna in Khaki trousers and spotless white shirt. The ‘Cafeteria’ was now the pride of the freshly revamped International school.