Lavanya was sipping coffee and time was running past smoothly, like a well-orchestrated flow of harmony on a time machine designed for her. She slipped into a warm reverie as the smell and taste of freshly-brewed caffeine made her eyes light up and her skin tingle, but perhaps, there was something more than that. Faded jeans, clunky jewellery, and a cloth bag on her shoulder, a nose ring which slipped often as she readjusted it, and the warmth of a coffee shop which was her old-time favourite haunt. She was waiting for someone special, whose memories made her cheeks glow with an ardour which was reminiscent of dewy mornings.
The best part was, Rahul was meeting her after a long time, and his long-awaited visit was something she was anticipating with feverish intensity. Just the other day, they had been so close. They had met in a space which was cool and distant, far away from here, far away from the warm, cozy ambience of a coffee shop which had baristas smiling at customers with a benign positivism. But even in that space, there had been a tapestry of desire woven through shy and fleeting smiles, interlinked fingers,and churning desire flowing in and out of mouths which had known hunger in the most primal sense of the word. There had been mouth-watering recipes, there had been garnishing of cinnamon and spices, there had been sugar and spice, appetizing desserts and chocolate-coated kisses. There had been wine flowing like water and cheesy kisses plucked out of the air and smeared like dainty delicacies onto each other's skin.
Lavanya smoked her third cigarette as she remembered how wonderful Rahul always made her feel, even when she was low, and how they could fight like enemies, yet kiss and make up like star-crossed lovers. They were blessed with a resilient energy, and sparks flew whenever they were near.
Today, she thought, they would be one step closer to demystifying the unreal chemistry which had left them feeling like the world owed them something real. This may not lead to something like forever, but to be in the moment, to capture each other's essence, was what led them here, in the first place. This was a dream come true, and this concoction of coffee and cigarettes numbed her senses whilst she waited. That was the purpose, anyway, even as she knew the flavours of life would erupt when they would sit side-by-side. There would be desire, combustion, and madness spun out of the ordinary.
Just then, her phone rang. It was her husband. Jolted to reality, she realized she had been hoping for another call, and time had passed. Her lover had not turned up. Clutching her bag, she made a dash through the door. the meeting would ahve to be rescheduledf ro another day.