Portrait of a citizen.

[Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi]

Perched atop the second floor of Mohan Singh Place in Central Delhi, the Indian Coffee House is a soft ode to an earlier time. It belongs to an era of affordable snacking out that existed long before the age of take-away sandwiches, self-service counters, and stewards in T-shirts and baseball caps. Prices continue to remain modest here, and the ambience is steeped in a blend of informality and restraint. Head bearer Ranveer Singh Gusain is the coffee house’s senior-most server. This afternoon, he graciously agrees to join our Proust Questionnaire series, where citizens are invited to make “Parisian parlour confessions” and reflect on the experiences that shape them.

Faults for which you have the most tolerance.
When customers complain about high prices on the bill.

Your favorite occupation.
Looking after plants. In fact, the plants on the coffee house terrace are my doing.

If not yourself, who would you be?
A farmer in my mountain village, Bandaur in Garhwal Himalayas.

Where would you like to live?
In my village, among the hills and forests, with clean water and open space. Delhi feels suffocating; dum ghutta hai. After retirement, I plan to return there, raise goats and hens, and plant fruit trees.

The principal aspect of your personality.
I am always thinking about my family, trying to keep them happy.

Your favorite qualities in a man.
Loyalty towards his workplace.

Your main fault.
Sometimes I lie to my madam—my wife, Beena, I mean.

Your idea of happiness.
Watching any Sunny Deol movie.

What would be your greatest misfortune?
It has already happened: the loss of my parents. My mummy, Jasoda Devi ji, passed away first, followed soon by my father, Rajesh Singh ji.

Your heroes in real life.
My parents. From them, I imbibed the qualities of honesty and hard work. My father too worked at the Indian Coffee House and helped me get this job years ago.

Your favorite names.
Aditya and Suraj, the names of my sons. Aditya will complete his graduation next year. Suraj has just given his Class 11 exams. In my time, we did not value education as much. I studied till Class 8; my father till Class 5.

What do you hate the most?
People who flatter those in higher positions. I never bow down to anyone, except when I am in the wrong.

The natural talent you’d like to be gifted with.
I wish I had completed my graduation. My fate might have been different. I could have been working as a manager.