I paused yet my mind was filled up with the same question over and over. That night as I was back home, I flipped through those pages of my past which had all those stories I wrote for him. There were poetries too in his name. Our souvenirs were too famous in those scribbles yet I felt like there was some flaw in me, that we ended up this way. I sat there pondering over all those thoughts again. Deb was right, I let him destroy me as I was prone to his words. Had I stopped it right then the story would have been something different?
The morning, as usual, was a busy one for me as I hurried to the bus stop while Deb showed up.
"Deb? You here so early in the morning?" I was astounded.
"Thought of taking a long ride, I can drop you at your workplace get in"
I hesitated at first but being the adamant king just like always Deb left no choice for me. I hopped into the car and he drove through the busy traffic.
"Its Thursday, " he said with an adorable smile over his face.
"Yeah my caffeinated stories would be waiting today at the cafe shop" I smiled.
"Uhm let us visit it together today what say?"
"Sure you can accompany me"
I got off as he drove away. The day was running quite busy for me that day. I saw a few messages from him as a reminder to take him along to watch those coffee flavoured stories. I smiled as I kept it back without a reply.
Evening set in and exactly at 4 pm my phone rang with his call. I answered it as I adjusted that scarf around my neck, checking over the mirror.
"Where are you?" He asked.
"I am getting ready to go to the cafe"
"Oh I am early then," he said
"What?"
"Yes I am already standing here I didn't see you around so I asked. Btw your table is booked under your name I guess the waiter asked some customers to go to some other table" he giggled.
A smile captured my lips.
"I will be there in a short while Deb, wait for me"
"Surely"
I disconnected the call as I walked out. In 10 mins I was there. He smiled at me as we walked in together and sat over my favourite corner table. The cafe was almost full by then.
"Latte just the way I like with chocolate pastries" I smiled placing the order.
"What will you like to have sir," the waiter asked him
"Just the same," he said
We smiled at each other while he looked around and whispered close to me,
"Where are your caffeinated stories Ms Ghosh?"
I giggled at his thought while I spoke up.
"Observe them silently over a cup of coffee and you will have your answer ready"
He nodded. Our order arrived as I looked around to find a girl in tears. He followed my gaze as we silently observed them together. Their table being closer to us, we could hear everything though barely audible
"I told you I don't trust you anymore, you broke it to pieces like smashing a mirror never to join again. Even though it gets fixed the cracks will still remain" the boy said
"I know I regret what happened. I promise not to do it. Please give me one more chance" she pleaded.
But the guy left in a haste. The empty coffee cup stood there witnessing their argument as she wept and followed him.
"Was this the story?" he asked looking back at me.
I smiled a little as I started scribbling,
"Some coffee flavoured stories exist in those silent pains of detachment too, some stories about tears, some stories of broken trust, some stories of those love tales which you thought will remain like forever"
He read it this time and spoke up,
"Maybe...."
"What is it, Deb?"
He paused,
"That's my story maybe...which ended over that coffee"
We fell silent.
His eyes spoke of a tale I wanted to read, while his lips sealed it so perfectly.
To be continued...