By Hindustan Times

Mumbai, June 29 -- A lot can happen over coffee, and author Chetan Bhagat can vouch for it. For Bhagat, cafes, coffee and conversation are crucial to research behind any book he is writing. Though picked up from the West, Bhagat feels that they have become a trend in India, but not necessarily for the coffee itself, but more so for the comfortable environment they provide for people to interact.

The author or books like Five Point Someone, One Night At A Call Center and Two States, has been roped in by Cafe Coffe Day to talk about his love for coffee shops, and how they have inspired him over the years. Latest fad Says Bhagat, "Be it an interview, friends discussing college cut-offs or opinions on the latest movie, sitting at a cafe is the perfect stage to play out life in its various forms."

For Bhagat, personally, it is hard to keep up with fashion trends, especially those of the women in the country. "At coffee shops, I find myself catching up on the latest women's fashion," he laughs. "I like observing their earrings, or the clothes they are wearing, and translate the information into my books".

Through his travels, Bhagat says that he has found that the youth have given coffee and cafes a new definition. "Incidentally, among the modern youth, it is mostly the women who make coffee shops their comfort zone," says Chetan. "People don't go to cafes only for coffee and quick bites anymore."

Coffee talk

In all his works, and most prominently in One Night at a Call Centre, Chetan has made sure there is a scene in a coffee shop. "It is at a cafe that word of mouth takes true shape," he says. "For small cities, cafes are the talk of the town. They might not have club memberships or offices to meet at, but they will always have a Cafe Coffee Day outlet."