COFFEE WITH KITAAB…….
Winter chills are best combated with a cuppa steamy hot coffee and a great book, while snuggling up under your favourite quilt. But, in this new age, the constant complaint is ‘where is the time?”So, here are a few tips for Tapi towners to catch up on both, Coffee and kitaab, in accordance to the mood theme…….

While waiting in babudom for your appointment with ‘Saheb’, at sales tax, income tax or smc offices, read Ludwig Von Mises, ‘Beuarocracy’-a fundamental examination and contrast of free market economy and beuarocracy.Get down to the brass tacks learn the crux of the subject. Make sure you sip on a double shot espresso to stay alert.

As you savor a café latté, awaiting your bank loan to be passed, try,’ Of human bondage’, W.Somerset.Maugham’s best known work. Of how a young Philip is at his uncle’s mercy, for finances that he has inherited and his intriguing relationships .A read that unsettles you and startles you into thought.

Sight seeing the grandeur of the pompous Dutch cemetery? take a cappuccino break and page through ,’Twilight’-by far the most readable in its league of vampire love stories. Addictive with the chivalrous charm and sweet nature of heart throb vampires Edward Cullen and Jacob Black, you probably will do the 600 pages in a single go.

Sipping a Mocha at your child’s school as you queue up to meet the Miss, make sure you catch up on,’The little prince’ one of the world’s best sellers, by French aviator Antoine de Saint Exup`ery.Translated in 80 languages it’s a delightful read of how a child perceives life and a must read for everyone who was a child once.

Gulping the milk rich ‘kophi’ at a Pandesara mill, as you pray for your ‘maal’ to be passed, try Ayn Rand’s ‘Atlas Shrugged’. The philosophical femme fatale who wrote the popular’Fountainhead’, has put elements of mystery and science fiction in this book she best describes as,’ The role of man’s mind in existence.’

Beauty parlor blues, while getting your hair and nails done, can be easily blown away with the American classic,’ Gone with the wind’ by Margaret Mitchell. Enjoy the turbulent love affair in turbulent times, between a charming, manipulative Scarlett’O’Hara and a rustic, roguish Rhett Butler as you take a swig of Irish coffee.

Browsing on the internet waiting to connect? Slug a chocochino and run through Thomas Freidman’s’ the world is flat ‘.It’s what you need for an indispensable update of globalization. His ability to simplify complex foreign policies and economic issues is incomparable.

At the local coffee shop, over macchiato, what better a read than Leo Tolstoy’s’The coffee-house of Surat’,that teaches how people from diverse faith and cultures around the world, once merged into our town [just as varied as the coffees now available] and learnt a lesson from Confucius.

Partake black coffee with a loved one and discover the passionate poetry of Pablo Neruda or Paulo Coelho’s soul mate theory in,’Brida’, on a garden bench. Flow with the verse as you nestle in the warmth of words. Truly, a lot can happen over coffee.

Tapi town tattle-Phyan ke side effects.

DREAM DATING DURING DANDIYA.............
Statistics show that in Gujarat, more people become a couple during Navratri than they do through any matrimonial institution, column or website. Everyone seems to be looking for someone during dandiyas, never mind if they already have someone by their side. Soul searching Surtis seem to be seeking the date of their dreams, their desires camouflaged by the colourful view.
Here is a sneak peek from last night, at Pandit Dindayal Indoor Stadium, where wishful matchmaking was on, in full swing, within and without the swirling circles-
Arty, kohl lined eyed boho chic; a Shanivari bazaar binger, looking for Kurta clad, college G.S.material types. Preferably with a stubble and knowledge of strumming the guitar to the tunes of Jimi Hendrix.
Rich lecherous Pandesara businessman, in printed polyester shirt that miserably failed to cover beer belly seeking a no strings attached [relationship, not blouse, silly!], pretty young thing; age no bar caste no bar, to help him get back ‘baugo mein bahaar hain ‘days, baar baar.
An elegant, strong minded, lonely divorced diva, Isckon mall shopaholic with great taste; loves men in uniform, err....barring the security agencies, of course. Searching for a well heeled boy who knows when and how to heel.
Old fashioned Surti Sheri garba lover; with vocabulary that could put the Aussies to shame and a degree in nose wax moulding, longing to get the number of English speaking modern girl, who can carry western outfits with as much as ease as she can make Gobi Manchurian.
Attractive, nimble footed, prize winner material, pretty gal. Well versed in Indian culture, sharp tongued, hoping to meet some rich, foolish, and good looking heir, with independent residence at Piplod area or a Dumas farmhouse.
Cute, Convent educated cheerleader type with pierced nose, crazy about fancy mobiles and fast bikes looking out for handsome gadget geek with accurate knowledge of PSP and Game boy, sporting long hair and lean looks. Sportsmen would be given extra preference.
Pasta fed, Burger king boy .With a passion for pets and daddy's fast cars flirting with the mousy looking ,freckle faced, intellectual girl with small waist, short hair and a penchant for ‘kaki ni pao bhaji and Binayak sandwiches’.
Cheeky grin dimpled cheeked, naughty eyed child woman, dreaming of finding a sensitive, well read gentleman. Should be able to quote Urdu poetry and appreciate the rains anytime of the year. Extra points if he has the finesse of Mr. Big, of Sex and the city fame.
Nattily dressed middle aged N.R.I, once married, now shy, man of few words but intense intentions, soon to launch new export label, shamelessly staring at voluptuous social butterfly.
Long haired Indian beauty, dressed in ethnic elegance. Bare back, barer arms, homemaker and yummy mummy, hoping the stud in tight tee and spiked hair will give her a second look on his way back from the coffee counter.
And just like that, within the suburban social circle, everyone who is someone in Tapi town was looking out for ‘the one’.
Tapi town tattle –Twitter jitter.