Our man J Bhoothalingam (JB) and his wife Mangalam (MB) occasionally go over to the neighbourhood Cauvery Bhavan for breakfast. Today was one such day. Today being Valentine's Day was just incidental.

At Cauvery's their table and seat are always fixed. They know everything about the restaurant and also the waiter Muthu who attends to that table.

Everytime they go to Cauvery's they order the same stuff, yet out of their compulsion to have their daily conversation at the dining table, they had this chat today. Muthu knows exactly what they will finally order but he knows not to speak out of turn. He knows for the elderly couple that discussion is as important as the food they have.

Here are some extracts from their chat

MB: Old man, what will you have ?

JB : I did an extra round of the park this morning, so I will start with a Masala Dosa. Same for you ?

MB: No No. Wonder what oil they use ?

JB : Don't you see behind the cashier a board saying" We do not use any Palm Oil".

JB : Why not Pongal? See the couple in the other table are having.. Looks good.

MB : After the Margazhi month, I will not have Pongal for the next 3 months. I will start with a plate of Idli. They are the safest.

Their first order came in quick time.

JB : Masala Dosa is great.. But something is not the same about the chutney.

MB : I have idlis here only for the chutney.. I make better idlis. But this time they have changed the chutney... Too little coconut and lot of Pottu Kadalai (Roasted chana) , it seems.

JB : These guys are cutting costs.. Someone in the park was saying coconut prices have risen very sharply.

MB: I forgot to tell you.. The other day I bought coconut from our corner shop...After buying our weekly stuff he gave me a handwritten bill. I saw he had charged Rs 38 for a coconut. I usually buy at Rs 25-Rs 26, so thought price must have become Rs 28.. I told shopkeeper he made a mistake. He said Rs 38 is the right price.

Then Muthu came for their next set of orders.

JB: I am still hungry. I will have a plate of sambar vada. So Sambar vada and filter coffee for me.

MB : I will have just filter coffee. I might just taste of bit of the vada from your plate.

Muthu brought the plate of sambar vada having 2 pieces of vada. At that moment, a neighbour stopped by at their table and started chatting with JB something about the recent budget . As JB was busy speaking , MB polished off the vadas leaving just a small bit for JB to taste. This was also a routine act so JB was used to it.

Then filter coffee came in shining new davara-tumbler.

JB : Cauvery Bhavan has atlast decided to buy some new cutlery.

MB : Can't you see the new tumbler is a little smaller than their usual one ?

JB : Only you have the eye for such details..

MB : Cauvery owners surely know their customers may accept little lesser quantity but the strength of the coffee should not go down. With prices of coffee being what they are, they surely are being smart.

JB : Why , what happened to coffee prices ?

MB : In Ladies Club, some of my friends were saying coffee prices have gone up. Some crop failure in Brazil, it seems. Some are planning to shift to Green Tea totally.

Muthu then brought the bill .

JB : Just a few days back, many of my friends were getting overjoyed about how the budget will save some taxes for us. I was wondering what to do with the savings ? Start a recurring deposit at the bank or even go for an SIP. One guy Naren on TV says SIP is risky now.

MB : Our usual bill of Rs 400 is now Rs 500... so what savings are you talking about..

JB : What Nirmala amma gives from one hand, she takes from another. Whether her budget is balanced or not, our budget gets balanced.

MB : Good.. I continue buying coffee and coconuts as usual. !!