Green Matcha
Kumily Bus Stand:
“Anna! Coffee kadaikuma?” asked Pandya.
“Illa Thambi, I’m out of coffee powder. Do you want any juice?”
Pandya nods in the negative and moves on.
“Damn! Why did you agree to this?”
“We don’t agree to things, we take orders from the Boss” replied Guna.
“Where do we start?”
“First, we need to make contact with our NCB insider. Stanley had informed us that there’s a new strain originating in these parts. The Narcs think it’s related to an older variant from our Goan friends”
“Still doesn’t answer my question. Where to now?”
“I haven’t written a book on tracking Cocaine strains you know.”
“Appo, listen to me. Let’s have a coffee and call that NCB insider. I can’t think without coffee,” suggested Pandya.
“Anna! Is there any nearby coffee shop open at this hour?” Guna asked the shopkeeper.
“There’s only one cafe open at this hour. Go down the road and take the third right”
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Wild Beans Cafe:
Parthiban and Keerthi are cleaning up the kitchen as they close for the weekend.
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“Anna! Why do you always listen to such old songs? Have you heard of Anirudh Ravichandran?” asked Keerthi.
“I can’t tolerate these EDM instruments, ma. Your sister and I have surrendered to the tunes of Raja and do you think we didn’t have such hip songs in the 80s?” Parthiban asked rhetorically as he selected a playlist on his phone.
An old Tamil classic begins to play.
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Two strangers walk towards the shop and enter the cafe. They ignore the ‘CLOSED’ signboard.
“Chetta, kada adanjukidakkunnu. naale varoo,” said Parthiban in Malayalam, gesturing for them to leave.
“Coffee kadaikuma?” said the younger one as the bulkier man strolled through the cafe.
“Sorry Chetta, we’re closing for the day”
“Ok, that’s not my problem” said Pandya placing his gun on the table.
Keerthi and Parthiban froze. Guna shuns Pandya to calm down and pulls him back.
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“I don’t know about you but I’m not leaving without a coffee?”
“Aiyo! Mad fellow. Why are you creating trouble here? Remember why we’re here,” pleaded Guna in vain.
“Ok, calm down. I’ll get you the coffee,” said Parthiban.
Pandya’s gaze shifts towards Keerthi.
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“Why don’t you bring me the coffee?”
Keerthi obeys at the behest of Parthiban to avoid escalating the situation. Guna sensing Pandya’s intentions tries to distract Parthiban.
Keerthi brings in the coffee and Pandya touches her inappropriately. Parthiban, observing the turn of events from a distance contemplates his next move. “Should I or shouldn’t I?” he pondered. The moment Pandya touches Keerthi’s hands, a hot cup of coffee is flung.
“Ah!!!” Pandya falls down recovering from the hot coffee on his eyes. Guna grabbed the gun next to him.
Only to have it flicked by a kick from Parthiban. He punches Guna and pins him down on all fours. Guna grabs Parthiban’s neck trying to tame this beast.
“Dei! Let him go” said Pandya who had recovered from the burn.
“Thendi! One more stunt and I'll slit the girl’s throat,” threatened Pandya as he brought a table knife towards Keerthi’s throat.
Parthiban relents and get’s up. “Should I or shouldn’t I?” he pondered. He catches Pandya’s hand moving closer to Keerthi’s neck. A decision was made at that moment.
Within seconds, Guna and Pandya lie dead on the floor. Keerthi stumbles to the ground replaying the turn of events. The floor is stained with blood flowing from the headshots on the bodies. Parthiban crashes to the ground with Pandya’s gun still firmly held in his hands. “Oh God! Not again..” he pondered.
“Parthiba! What happened? Who are these guys?” asked a startled Joshy who had burst into the cafe upon hearing the gunshots.
The cops reach the cafe as Joshy helps Parthiban and Keerthi.
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Thekkady Police Station:
Joshy reaches the police station the next day.
“Where is he?” He asked the sub-inspector.
Joshy rushes to the interrogation room the inspector points towards. He sees a handcuffed Parthiban.
“Remove the handcuffs at once. This man is innocent and acted in self-defence. Here’s the affidavit from the magistrate. The two men are validated gangsters,” shouted Joshy at the sight of a confused Parthiban.
Parthiban is released, and Joshy drops him off at his home.
​“Don't worry, Parthiba, everything will be alright,” said Joshy helping Parthiban stand and taking him towards the jeep. They are flooded by the paparazzi. Parthiban covers his face. The photographer grabs the reflection off the jeep’s windows.
“Local cafe owner fights gangsters!” read the next day’s headlines.
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