Shakes & Creams

August, 1992. Family of four shifted to the City of Sun and beaches (Sweat goes unsaid). The 2 kids, the naughtiest ever, were excited to be in the city. This became their land of dreams. All that the 9-10 year olds can think about is Chocolates and Ice Cream. Nothing less, nothing more. Father, being the sweetest and not realizing what more the kids can demand, took the family to a place where only Ice Creams & Milk Shakes were served. After living in a town for most part of their chotu lives, the kids were amazed that the whole joint was specifically meant only for ICE CREAMS!!! The kids were over the moon (dreaming about 2 cones with double scoops in both the hands and four flavors). They were confused and were not able to decide on what to order. After a stringent round of elimination process from the menu ("inky, pinky, ponky..." ), 2 items were selected. Mouth was watering, eyes were glowing. The wait for the biggest sundae of their lives was over. After a long wait, the waiter had placed the sundaes on the table. The kids sneaked over the table and looked into the eyes of their parents to check if they would scold them if they grabbed the sundae. After seeing the re-assuring smile, the kids jumped on their seats and started gobbling the goodies. The older one was able to finish his sundae, the younger one was hardly able to finish half of it. Father knew that the small one is going to gift away most part of his sundae to him (as usual). The small boy had actually consumed more than expected. Everyone was surprised. That was the best ice cream the boy ever had in his life. This became a weekly routine for the kids for long time to come.

As the years passed by, kids became boys, boys became teens, teens became adolescents, then adults, but nothing much changed in the Ice Cream front. Weekly affair to partying to treats to get together to dates to hang outs, anything and everything, this was the place for the boys and girls of the locality (and also many more souls wandering around the world). This place, my dear readers, is/was the "Shakes & Creams" on top of the Adyar bakery in Chennai. The Waiters ensured that the appetite of the customers hit alarming levels before they decide to serve the ice creams.

Shakes & Creams started as an ice cream only joint and later added lots of unnecessary items to its menu. The quality of ice creams and other new dishes was on a steep decline around 2004-05. The place which was over crowded and the most happening place in the locality slowly became the most horrible place around. With the rise of CCD's and Pizza culture, S&C was running out of time and business steadily. Alas, the once loyal kids never turned up to this place. Not even to remember the good old times. The memories were there in their hearts but the place just didn't remind them of the good times. The kids had no idea what might happen to this place. They moved on with their lives and shifted out of the city one fine day.

Time just flies, many years passed (not too many), the younger one came to the city to visit his family. He noticed that the S&C was renovated and it was appealing for one last chance before totally dumping it from the must-go places in town. Given that the relationship with the place is long standing than most of the friendships, he decided to give it a try, the last chance to prove itself.

Funny isn't it, the same kid for whom the place was a heaven during childhood was pleading him to return for one last time before ignoring it for eternity. In life, we start ignoring the once important-caring-loving people and fail to give them one last chance. Wonder how many such important-caring-loving people are still waiting for their loved little ones to give just one missed call. Move-on-man attitude has not done good to the youngsters, they are just moving away but not moving on anyways :). The generation gap between the parents and kids seems to be miles apart. May be the G-gap between our parents and grand parents was not too much. The rise of technology and uncertainty in life has surely led to this revolution (being optimistic to call that a revolution!! Shame on me).

The last chance was given to S&C. It turned out to be one helluva treat. He was shocked to see that the quality of ice cream served was same as the one he ate for the first time. The pricing, quality and quantity were amazing and nobody in this universe will be able to match this. Down with the CCDs and other Cafe joints where one has to pay a fortune for a sip of coffee and a feel of ice cream.

Sorry for the lover boys/girls, this is no longer a place suited for dating. You will be sitting right across a super mart entrance =). Good times guaranteed for the family and friends who just want to chill out and bite the dust.. oops .. ice creams.

Need i mention that i was the younger kid (of course, my brother being the older one). Am loving it! One more time ! (Wait till McD sues me)