sometimes the universe conspires to usher you along a path that you wish you’d thought of on your own, and you WOULD have if you’d known better but the universe is vastly superior to you, not least in terms of size.

minutes ago, thakuru and i were by the doner kebab place near brine for brunch but it turned out that they only did takeout.

‘what the hell?’ i yelled.

‘let’s think of another place,’ thakuru said.

i pondered for a moment.

‘you like mexican?’

‘i’m not gonna eat.’

‘how about muchas gracias?’ i asked.

‘sure.’

on the way to muchas, i saw cibo and had a sudden change of heart.

‘let’s go there.’

‘where?’

‘cibo.’

thus we find ourselves by the counter, i mulling over the dishes on display, thakuru shaking hands with a friend. everything looks lush but then i am starving – i only had half a salad the night before.

i settle on chicken rice and we head upstairs.

‘by the way, have you seen that crazy ai art?’ thakuru asks.

‘oh where?’

‘midjourney.’

‘yeah i’ve seen some. but i doubt it’s quite got it yet. like i don’t think it really knows what a dog is.’

‘that’s because it’s going by images. it doesn’t understand the anatomy.’

‘well, i don’t know dog anatomy but i know when something’s off with one.’

‘it’s gonna get there. more data, more precision.’

‘but i’d always be suspicious that it hasn’t ENTIRELY got it.’

‘have YOU?’

‘all right, all right. you know what i mean.’

the meal arrives and the portion of chicken is generous. and i don’t mean generous like my little sibling who thinks they’re going overboard when they offer to buy dinner saying you’ll ONLY need to pay the GST.

i take a bite. dear god! this winsome combination of meat and spice and rice!

‘christ! it’s something else man.’

‘yeah? maybe i’ll take some home,’ says thakuru who’s having a cup of coffee. i order one, too.

and fellas, cibo is FAST. my drink is on the table in minutes.

‘i don’t know why i don’t come here more often,’ i say paying a bill that’s a good third smaller than a meal for one at shell beans. even with TWO coffees.

‘i don’t know why you do anything really,’ responds thakuru.

‘all RIGHT!’