There's a lounge above the trading floor where traders interact and exchange tips and gossip. There's a training room, too. The trading terminals here are not live and are used to introduce novices into the intricacies of online trading.

It's a busy day. Most terminals are occupied by traders in their 30s, who will spend the entire day at the café. Many of them are members.Membership comes at a price, anywhere between a minimum deposit of Rs 1000 and Rs 1 lakh. Non-members are charged Rs 100 per hour.

Double Dot employs an analyst, a chartist and a dealer who advise members on investments, be it mutual funds, buying and selling of shares or on market conditions. A software program pre-sets limits for trades, to prevent customers from making losses. The café also provides loans against shares, allows margin trading and offers telebroking.

After trading hours, Double Dot conducts intensive courses in derivatives, futures and options, and other methods of share trading.

Naeem Memon, a college student and a Double Dot regular, never leaves his desk except to drink water, take a bathroom break or have the lunch provided by the cafe. At the end of the day, he confers with other members in the lounge. "I think the ambience allows you to stay focused on your trades through out the day. Besides, as I have a PC to myself, I can change my mind any time without having to wait for a broker," he says.

That's where Double Dot has made a big difference. It has levelled the playing field between lay investors and hardcore stock traders. Till now there was no way a common man could trade on a daily basis.

Day trading requires skill and an understanding of the mechanics of the market, a line to real-time information and market gossip, and a quick and convenient method of making trades without shelling out huge amounts in brokerage.

At Double Dot, the brokerages are low. The screen-based trading terminals allow individuals to rapidly change their positions. Fast Net connections keep investors clued to breaking news. In-house experts offer insight into the dynamics of the market. And the lounge is the place to catch up on the latest gossip.

Says Mahavir Shah: "It's almost like trading from the comfort of my home with the added advantage of being clued into the latest market buzz. Unlike most brokers who shuffle money, the whole process here is transparent and walks the right balance between professionalism and friendliness."

31-year-old Rajesh Dutt runs his regular business out of Double Dot, even as he day trades. "I used the services of five brokers earlier,'' says Dutt. ''Today, I've retained three but I trade in bulk myself. I like the peace and quiet here. Besides, I can get tips or even personalised suggestions from the chartist. I appreciate their professionalism -- my cheques and payments are all maintained on a daily basis and I even have a ledger that keeps track of all my accounts."

Nishit Jain, Managing Director of Crescent Finstock, which owns the Double Dot brand of cybercafes, has ambitious plans. He intends to open 100 cafes across the country, with the next two planned in the Mumbai suburbs, Andheri and Ghatkopar.

He hopes to add value to the entire stock-broking operation and attract a new range of clients. "We think more than 70 per cent of our customers will be in the 23 to 30 years age group, typically younger than most people who trade in the stock markets." Jain also hopes women will form at least 25 per cent of his client base.

His initial gamble having paid off, Nishit Jain is extremely bullish about his plans. And, after a day at Double Dot, you can't fault his optimism.