Haagen Daaz

Just cream and sugar. With swirls or chunks of chocolate or coffee or cookies or mint or caramel. No doubt the mere mention brings forth pleasant thoughts and intense cravings to many a patron of this cold delectable dessert. The first spoonful that melts on my tongue forever takes me back to a time when life was easy and free and a little aimless until I made it not that easy or free and definitely not aimless! Let me explain. The main piece of furniture in the scene that comes to mind is one very old couch procured by my room-mate from a yard sale down the street (a steal deal by the way) and a really, really crammed coffee table. A day-bed next to it, with a bunch of Indian wall-hangings above. The day bed is covered with copies of my thesis with my advisor's scribbles covering the margins! A Wal-Mart floor lamp, the shade gathering layers of dust, right next to it. The background of the scene is a kitchen counter full of half opened cereal boxes and Oreo cookies. A huge stockpot with the remains of “Vaangibath" - a favorite quick-fix of my roomie's. On the couch sat two individuals with a lot to say but saying absolutely nothing. They were talked out! Literally. Night after night of phone conversations that lasted well into the wee hours of the mornings had quite drained them. It still seemed like there was a lot to be covered though. When sitting right next to each other the flow of conversation was never that fluent or steady. Awkward pauses punctuated even the smallest sentences. But every night they would stare at the TV on which all but four mind-numbing channels were available till one of them said "Feel like some ice-cream?” And the other would readily agree just to have something to do. The bowls would be fished out and they would settle back on the couch.
Eventually the awkward pauses vanished. Conversation was easier as the magic abated while translating itself into love and comfort...the kind that makes wonderful marriages. The kind that rocks your world. The kind that can give you that lump in your throat. And not just because ice cream is cold.