My first day, my first time, my first thought and my first fright...and oh my God! My fright comes out true. I was in a remote district before coming to the Pakistan’s heart of education. I had adjusted myself well there and a month back, when I was told by my father about his posting to Lahore, well, I thought to myself, things are never going to be the same again. I lost my friends, I had liked for years; I lost my teachers, I had disliked for decades; I lost my campus, which was pathetic but marvelous; I lost my café…nothing much to say about that!

But today when I step into this new environment, I come up with ever new thoughts and zest. But once again I come across everything that I just left back. It is my first day and my first time in this school. But where I find as good friends, as annoying teachers, as dismal but awe-inspiring campus, I wonder why I have also found a similar cafeteria. God! And now you want me to say something about this. This, this, this!!!…this is why I earlier said, as annoying teachers! But I am not going to lose much hope, because even if I am not able to satisfy you with my writing I am sure of one thing, my wretched college campus is wonderful in a sense that it has enough hide-outs to run to and through, in case I need to skip a class.

So with all the enthusiasm within me, which I am bound to lose as we move on, I shall tell you of our college cafeteria. Made with, duh! Cement and brick of course, it is a monument of art and craft. Had Zafar lived to this day, he would have bought this magnificence at once. He and only he of the great Mughals would have bought this, for he was the only one with little intelligence. But today, I wonder who would like to buy it, even if it comes with a Mercedes! Anyhow, this piece of architecture is unique in its every sense. Where people like the cafeterias broad and peaceful, I am sure these are the two factors you are impossible to find in this unique case. Even with five people within, it is packed and even with no human stir, it is tumultuous. The cats and dogs can take our job when we are absent! The shelves are so clean that you can see your reflection in them. It reminds me though of scientific knowledge: layers of oil can act as good reflectors of light as they bring smoothness to the surface. And yeah so what that they employed white marble for the shelves, being lamp black it still has that oily shine. Whenever you step into our café you are reminded of the administrative skills of the Principal. He never bothered putting on the expensive translucent glass, he knew that within a month or so, the blend of dirt and grease will do its magic. It has another advantage too. No child in our college needs to peak through the windows with his nose stuck to the glass, and I am talking about those children who hate dirt.

I think I cannot give more time to the form of the cafeteria because there is a lot more to discuss. How can we forget the eatables while discussing our eatery? They serve all kind: Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and Continental. Though you can only find "samosas", "nan-kabab", and "kutta-burger", but they are made in all recipes. Sometimes you can find a couple of roaches and other arthropods. For the Chinese lovers, it serves as a great cuisine and for the rest; well you can pick out the specimen for your biology practical. Sometimes the ghee after its entire refinery in isolation for months, can yield such products as can make the cooking more Mexican. At the same time our café runners are also humans so they can forget to put in some spices and serve Thai or sometimes put in a double dose to make Continental. Whatever the taste, it has the same form over the years. Oh and now for the "kutta-burger" I had mentioned earlier, it is a local delicacy. With the ever increasing price of mutton, someone can hardly afford to make a burger with butchered mutton in it. So what they can do is add a number of pulses and for the taste, or for earning a free conscience, you can see traces of thread like structures dispersed in the mixed pulses. That is some meat, and since no human is willing to eat that, the Lahorites have termed it as "kutta-burger". In the later days of the month, when you are hardly left with some ten rupees, it is a perfect breakfast. The cold drinks are served hot, so that you can take double pleasure: enjoy its taste as a soft drink, and the warmth as tea. Not only the drinks but the "samosas" also fulfill a dual purpose since they are served cold. You can find a variety of sweets too, but you have to look at them just as sweets not candies, because where they may sweeten your mouth, never anticipate a taste. Yet the products are loved by all the kids, as most are eating on someone else’s account, and that someone can think of it as good in order to satisfy himself at the loss of his fortune.

Though you can always enjoy our cafeteria, but the right time to step in is when the bell just rings for recess. The entire college, hundreds of kids, would get into as much a space, as can hardly hold ten. And wow, everyone can fulfill his purpose. It is a perfect time to pass loud comments to teachers as in the mob anyone can hardly recognize you. It is a perfect time to slap your friend, as he can hardly raise his hand to take the revenge. It is the perfect time to pick up someone’s cap, for he can hardly look for you when you disappear in the crowd.

In any and every way, our college café is a must see. But as I told you that I am going to lose my energy and excitement as I continue with the narration, so I think I have reached that state. I don’t want to bore you further with my thoughts of my cafeteria. And secondly and more importantly I cannot give myself further grief, by letting you know which ditch I have fallen into. So I end my writing with a hope that if tomorrow my father gets posted to some new station, then with the scenario just like the one I am into today, God please give me some other form of canteen.