Cup runneth over?!

Oh no, not Horlicks again! I can't wait for the milk strike to get over!

Chennai’s avowed creatures-of-habit brigade got off to a bad start one morning earlier this month.

Oh, they got it right – initially.

Awoke – picked up newspaper of choice – turned to story of choice (usually the sports page or the obituaries) – reached out, and found.... emptiness.

NO COFFEE!

No davara, no tumbler, no life-renewing elixir.

Chennai reverberated with the force of a huge chunk of citizenry going into caffeine-deprived shock simultaneously.

Apparently, the morning milk, essential of essentials, had not arrived.

Why?

Because those responsible, rather disgruntled with their lot, had decided to say it with gestures.

Well, can’t blame them.

After all, they had to make their voices heard – more power to the People, that’s what you say.

Poor Chennai, though – unused to declaring the day officially open until that first sip of coffee... preferably filter coffee.

Which explains why those who shrugged, saying bizarre things like: “Why fuss? Have it black. Or have black tea,” were looked at askance.

Statements like that, to traditionalists, are akin to that old ‘let them eat cake’ suggestion... (and you know what happened to those guys!).

Of course, things got sorted out, to everyone’s relief.

And, hopefully, a salutary lesson was learnt.

Never take anything for granted.

Not even a cup of coffee.