AS USUAL, the cafe in a posh area was crowded around 4 in the afternoon. Individuals, groups, couples sat at tables, engaged in following their respective culinary pursuits -- and also in discussions, some in quiet whispers and some in loud assertions. There was laughter in the air and a general sense of merriment prevailed in the large room with several tables. Waiters and bearers moved around effortlessly serving the customers, many of whom appeared to be regulars in the place. Two groups -- sitting a few tables apart from each other -- attracted attention (because of the obvious differences and also obvious similarities). Both were young groups of some boys and some girls. Their collective conducts, however, offered a sharp contrast. One group was very busy -- in taking countless selfies, every now and then. Almost relentlessly, somebody in the group would raise his or her cellphone and everybody else would quickly form a huddle and look at the camera with smiles broadening the face. Such quick selfie-sessions would happen almost two or three every minute. Almost each of those 5-6 boys and girls would take pictures of the plates in front and sent those pictures to god-alone-knows whom.

 

Every now and then, the group burst out laughing and shrieking. Every now and then, the members of the group exchanged their seats among themselves. Every now and then, they created such noise as to disturb everybody else around. There was no conversation, so to say, in the group -- only senseless blabber and mindless laughter. A couple of other customers at the nearby tables did try to tell the group to be a little quieter -- only to be rebuffed with supreme indifference. A few tables away sat another group of five or six boys and girls, all bending over the table and engaged in a quiet discussion on some obviously deep subjects. Their faces did wear smiles, all right, but those were of their effort to understand the subject of the conversation. They, too, had plates from which they ate in cautious picks. The boys and girls did glance around occasionally, and picked up conversation again. Obviously, they were engaged in some serious subject. Some of them even referred to their cellphones -- possibly the Internet for references etc. But mostly, their phones were face-down and aside.

 

The overall sense of dignity that this group conveyed to the crowded restaurant was amazing, to say the least -- much in contrast with the first group: The members of the first had nothing serious to talk, and were almost fully immersed in their cellphones and selfies and jokes and laughter and ruckus that disturbed others in the place. The members of the second group were also immersed in their own selves, all right. But their sense of dignity was amazing and made many at other tables turn and take a look and admire the young people with quiet presence. Sitting with his colleagues at a corner table, the loosefooter took a mental note of the stark difference -- and unavoidably felt impressed by the second group.