4.7.07

No More A Private Affair!

Remember the day you decided to go on your first date? The hunt for the perfect place probably ended at what you would term as a safe and secure ice cream parlour or restaurant. With a very limited seating capacity just perfect for the two of you, and far from the madding crowd, so that you could immerse yourselves in your own world. The bold ones however opted for open parks, which soon became quite a risky game.

Gone are those days. Sadly, the number of such joints is on a decline. With the advent of the modern glass door cafes. Call it modern or trendy or whatever, the lovebirds are not too happy with the concept of sleek architecture.

Today, any new coffee pub or snack parlour seems to be in vogue with their western counterparts, offering the customers a clear view of the outside world and vice versa, where the danger lies.

The ambience, food or service plays no role anymore, thanks to these structures, which prevent the pair from estranging themselves from the outside world and relish the world inside. And of course of their own.

No more do the lovers drown in each other’s eyes. Instead, one of them, especially the girl has hers fixed at the door, with the fear of being caught red-handed. The entire date turns out to be a formality. Unlike earlier, where they spent hours sipping on one glass of fresh juice sharing dreams, hopes and promises.

Amidst these sad faces are a few content ones too. Obviously, those of their guardians. They fear no more of their young wards staying back for special classes, or late visits at a friend’s place. For them, glass indeed remains a boon.

The search continues. With a request to the architects, ready with their blue prints. Please avoid glass doors. It could end up being a bigger barrier than any other.

14 comments:

craving to love life said...

hey,...the architecture has changed,....so are the ppl goin to the pubs and coffee places and restaurants,...the best way to have a private life in dis world is to have a public life,...promulgate o tel the world wat u are,...they'l get used to u and hu eva u wid and thus even a glass house wud give ya al the privacy ya need,...personel exp miss,.....hey,..how cum ya neva reply to m comments???

Anonymous said...

That was an intersting article to read..Howevr, that potrays only the perception of one sect of the cofee/pub going community. Thr r other ppl like a group of frenz, office colleagues et. all who visit these hang-out places too, who wud anytime prefer a more transparent view.
Ohh..even if its a date, sometimes the glass barriers can help too..The guy has a choice in case the gal sux!!!

Vivek said...

wow...
cool..
girl u have started thinking...
or else it may be that i just noticed it now..

anyways this is good stuff..

and by the way u told me that u r going out for lunch today...
I am getting a hunch how this post was born....
Was it a good date? ;)

Anonymous said...

What if the door was not glass and the girl didnt see her parents coming in till the door was open. Its worse right? I would say the glass door should be tinted as the girl can see her parents coming in, but the parents have no clue whos inside.

Personally i like open/glass spaces than closed and dingy places. But i would rather go to some place where my parents are in no way going to be there. Come one you can find such places.

Gastro Mallu said...

Hmmmm....i still prefer the Dingy and run down college canteens or small time coffe shops/resturants in town....but then if u r really looking or good date places...well ATTIC is a good option!!!....now dont give me the raised eyebrow look Saritha...yes the cost is steep but come on for a date who cares!!!!!

As for the so called Coffe Shops or shud i say THE GLASS CASED PUBLIC DISPLAY areas...u know like the ones in western countries where the keep antiques and please keep passing comments on it.....well i hate em....its too noisy and oh my too YECH!!!!!

TO HAVE A DATE ONE NEED NOT WORRY ABT THE PLACE FOR IF THT IS A WORRY THEN MY FRIEND UR RELATIONSHIP HAS A PARTNER CALLED FEAR & DOUBT...believe me such relationships are not wrth it.

Saritha Rajagopal said...

@ craving : I hope your message gets across to all those who fear the world.

@ anonymous: For friends, it's fine. And ya, like u said, for blind dates too! ;)

@ Vivek: Trust me, I just voiced out an opinion. Nothing personal about it. : )

@Umesh: I guess its hard to find such places in my part of the world! And ya tinted glass doors are def a gud option.

@ Mushi : Thanks for that suggestion muchi. :) Will try Attic.

N A R I YA L C H U T N E Y said...

:D , You are getting Old and is missing those days when you were out for a date :). If you are truly in love , you wont bother much about the place because you ahev nothing to hide :P

Jai said...

Yup, lack of privacy seems to be the norm these days. I think it reflects the current trend of thought among the yuppy and younger crowd, that privacy is not that much of a sought after an ingredient these days. They seem to 'want' being seen with dates. And it's not gender specific either.

But all hope's not lost, for the choosy ones who take the trouble to get the right place, there still are enuf joints around that provide ambience and coziness for that 'right' date. :-)

sujit narayan said...

times are changing.. gone are those days when letters and card used 2 be an internal part of conveying ones sentiments 2 other.. nw its all thro net, cell phones n God knows what other gizmos...
may be nw romance is meant 4 the bold ones only.. who cn defy their parents, relatives n naattukaar :) but yes the ol traditional things are vanishing.. sad in a way!!!!

sujit narayan said...

times are changing.. gone are those days when letters and card used 2 be an internal part of conveying ones sentiments 2 other.. nw its all thro net, cell phones n God knows what other gizmos...
may be nw romance is meant 4 the bold ones only.. who cn defy their parents, relatives n naattukaar :) but yes the ol traditional things are vanishing.. sad in a way!!!!

Harish said...

Ok I differ and I guess it's coz of my eclectic nature.

Not that, you are wrong or anything, but hey, look at it this way, the world's view is changing. More open. Transparent. Ok I know it is yet something to come into politics, but may be eventually it will like the liberalization happened, eventually, to our benefit.

And more importantly its actually a nice architectural trick to the space constraint that these people have. Having a transparent wall seemingly increases the space. Well lit and with a view.

Plus imagine the security that the girls (in India at least) feel instantly before entering the shop. You don't have to take the courage to go 'inside' the shop to realize 'oh shit'!

But then of course I completely that you may not be able to 'express' completely when you have that 'moment'. But then again, do you really most of the times goto a place with a pre-defined state of mind. No right. You still have options to try! Why highlight the negative side of the option that you do not enjoy!

And hey, if you seriously want a private affair, let me know, can show you around! And privacy guaranteed! ;) I like the way you think!

Anonymous said...

How sad... this is really an issue to be discussed about. Especially in a country where even with all the progress we have attained, still a large percentage of the population find it difficult to have atleast a meal a day, we should really conduct, maybe a seminar on this ...

Saritha Rajagopal said...

@NC: Man! Thanks for reminding me dat Im getting old! ;)

@ Jai: Hmm..guess I havent searched enuf! :)

@ Sujit: First lesson live: Be bold! Right?

@Harish: Where where where??

@Anonymous: I understand! There'll be a solution. Dont worry!

Saritha Rajagopal said...

@Sujit: Oops! Typo! First lesson in love: Be bold! Right?