Cracked Cup

Mert’s mind had drifted off as he watched the buzz at the door. Since they’d arrived, he hadn’t been able to fully focus on Begüm because the crowd and noise at the entrance kept distracting him. When Begüm got up, saying, “Well, I’ll just go get the coffees then…,” Mert realized he had upset her and tried to pull himself together. But he couldn’t help thinking, “I mean, what’s so special that’s worth standing in line for this long? It’s just a coffee, and a dessert after all…”

The café had opened recently. Their social media advertisements and professional videos had drawn in a flood of people. The presentation of chocolate flowing like a waterfall over their desserts was mouth-watering. Seeing those ads made you want to try one yourself. When Begüm sent Mert the video, he too had gotten curious.

The crowd at the door was waiting in line to try one of those desserts. They eagerly waited to capture videos of the chocolate being poured over the dessert and share them with their followers. As soon as a table was vacated, others would rush to grab it. The crowd waiting there never seemed to dwindle throughout the day...

Begüm returned with the coffees and sat down. “So, what do you think of this place?” she asked, placing the coffee in front of Mert. “Let’s see after the dessert arrives,” he said with a smile. “You have to go get the dessert yourself when it’s ready,” said Begüm. Mert looked in the direction she pointed. It was a place hidden behind people holding up their phones, recording. A plate was being prepared every moment, and people were constantly filming to capture the perfect shot. A weary-looking waiter was calling out for the owner of the plate through the crowd.

Mert shrugged. “Well, I guess we’ll wait then... Are the coffees any good, at least?” he asked, taking the cup in his hand. It didn’t smell bad, but he’d expected something better for the price. The cup had a crack in it. “My cup’s cracked,” he remarked, noticing a similar crack in Begüm’s cup as well. It wasn’t leaking, and it didn’t prevent them from drinking, but it certainly didn’t look well-presented. The table next to them emptied, and a group quickly sat down. Clearly, they didn’t want to lose the spot to someone else. They stacked the previous customer’s dishes and cups and left them by the palm plant used as decoration. That’s when Mert noticed a pile of dishes accumulating there. It seemed the waiters couldn’t keep up with the chaos, though some were chatting in the back. They could have easily cleared those dishes. Mert waved to one of them. He wanted to get his cup replaced and thought it would be good to remind them about the unsightly and potentially dangerous stack of dishes.

“They’re probably working hard; it’s not easy with such a crowd,” he said to Begüm.

It seemed as though the waiters were deliberately avoiding eye contact. They turned their backs to the customers and ignored the voices calling out to them. Eventually, Mert managed to get one of them to notice him. “Hey, could you please change my cup? It’s cracked. And could you also clear these dishes over there? People keep piling them up, and they might fall and break...”

The waiter didn’t listen to everything he said. “One second, I’ll be right back, sir,” he replied and walked away. Just then, they heard the call for the dessert they’d been waiting over half an hour for. “Begüm Hanım! Can you pick up your dessert?”

“I’ll grab it,” Mert said, taking the cups with him as well. He got the cups replaced, picked up the desserts, and came back. They tasted the dessert and looked at each other. “Well, it’s not exactly... you know...” They couldn’t find the right words. And one of the cups had a crack in it again. The stack of dishes still hadn’t been cleared, and the new customers added more to the pile.

“Begüm, you know, this cracked cup is actually a sign,” Mert said. Begüm looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean? Are you reading coffee grounds now, Mert?” she teased.

“No, no, not like that. Everything in life gives a warning before it happens. Nobody fails all at once. As long as this business owner keeps responding the same way, things might not turn out well for them…”

Mert continued. “People dismiss simple things. They think, ‘It’s crowded, so this is normal.’ But when you look closer, they’re serving a very expensive coffee in mostly cracked cups without a second thought. They’re unaware that their team has already lost its sense of professionalism. Their social media presence and the line at the door are enough for them. Maybe they think a business that’s popular on social media is successful. But this curiosity will fade; customers will take their videos, eat this not-so-special dessert, and leave. But they won’t feel the need to come back a second time. If the dessert had been really good, maybe things could have turned out differently...

Because if the substance is good, people don’t focus too much on appearances. If the substance isn’t good, they exaggerate the appearance. And no one stays interested in appearances for long...

All of this—look, do you see that owner refilling the coffee right now? Every day, the cracks in the cups they touch are showing them the reality. They’re giving signs...

‘’How can you be so sure about this, Mert? I think it’s just a coincidence...’’

“Nothing is a coincidence. There are reasons behind everything. As a person matures, they learn to read the signs and traces in life. Those who can see how things work understand that they are signs and clues. They can foresee that tiny details can be harbingers of much bigger things. They can understand that there are unchanging laws in life. Sadly, most people see these things every day but just walk right past them…” Begüm didn’t listen further.

“Whatever... This place is in a prime location, and it’s very trendy. I don’t think anyone will care as much about a cracked cup as you do!” she said.

“I hope you’re right, Begüm. I really do...”

Mert didn’t drag the topic any further. “If you’re done, let’s go.” As he spoke, he placed their trays on the stack of dishes left behind. He grabbed his phone and keys from the table, and they made their way out through the crowd.

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                      Experiential Design Teachings and Decision-Making Themed Blog

Experiential Design Teachings aim to give purpose to a person's life.

To be happy and successful in life...

"Since the existence of humankind on Earth, the greatest friend and foe have never changed. The person in the mirror..." 

Yahya Hamurcu 

Who’s Who? The Art of Understanding People 
Mastery in Relationships 
The Psychology of Success
Mastery in Avoidance
Designer (Strategy Design)

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