It was the first day of the week and as usual the mundane routine began with my alarm clock ringing and the snooze button paid no heed to my sleep. So alas, I had to transition from my night suit to formals.
It had been 4 years but I never budged from stopping at Tim Hortins every morning before work. With the wearisome work drill, the role of coffee in my life had become like beauty without brains, the strongest blend still couldnt kill the fatigue. But this Sunday, tables were about to turn.
Parallel parking was always a torture and my luck seemed to have gone for a holiday, for quite sometime, so there I was struggling half asleep trying to get this right. After the back and forth in my Mustang, it was time to grab the same old coffee, sit on the corner table, check my emails and head to work.
"One Espresso, double shot and a plain croissant please"
The lady at the counter always had a straight face when she saw me, only because she had once asked me how the coffee was and instead of complimenting, I told her she should have one to figure it out. Somehow my art of bluntness drove quite a few people away.
"Here's your coffee and croissant", she welt the tray on the counter.
I walked with the tray towards my usual spot BUT there was a girl in a black dress and sneakers sitting with her hair left open and her back facing towards me. I was disappointed because it was my table! No, I hadn't purchased it but I felt an ownership towards it.
So I decided to use my bluntness and drive the girl away so that I could have the 20 mins of "me" time peacefully.
Excuse me, I'm sorry but this is my spot and I would appreciate if you could shift to the next table, I said.
She looked up and there was a tanned skin, brown eyes, cute lips gal staring right into me with a very obvious confused look.
Yes it seemed like a scene from a telenovela.
I didn't know your name was Tim Horton and this was your table, she said with utmost sarcasm.
I was aghast but at the same time relieved to see someone as blunt as me. Ironical right?!
For some odd reason, her reply melted me and I decided to up my game by using my "Apology" card
"I'm sorry, I've just been used to sitting here for 4 years and this table gives me a sense of companionship during my early morning coffee'o'clock", I said, hoping to buy some empathy.
"It's fine, I understand, I'm sure you wouldn't mind some company today? Would you?"
she asked. She definitely wasnt imploring and the confidence swept me off my feet so I sat right beside her and decided to explore as much as I could. What was surprising was my instant text message to my boss- 'I'm calling in sick, apologies'. And all this without knowing her day plan!
She sat there for 10 minutes and there was absolutely no conversation and yet I took a fancy to her.
My phone rang and I stepped aside to answer it, only to come back to an empty chair. I wandered around like a Prince looking for his princess but she was gone. There was a sense of void and a bit too early I guess!
With my concentration buds gone for a toss, I felt glad taking an off from work.
I drove around the hustle bustle of Dubai with no sense of direction and before I knew, I was in the middle of a desert. My car dwelled into the sand dunes and I had to halt. It's not a pleasant ambience to be stuck alone in a desert and believe or not but my manliness went for a toss as I went into a panic mode.
"Do you need any help", she said.
"Are you a Ghost", I asked her. You can't blame me for the lame question because it was game of co-incidence to have met her in the middle of the desert, but then again I still couldn't figure out how I ended up there
She laughed hysterically. I went into my telenovela mode again by constantly glaring at her as her laugh sounded like Christmas carols to me.
"Do you believe in destiny", she asked me and before I could answer she said, "I do, although it seems unreal but if we coincidentally keep meeting for the next 7 days, you'll have me in your life permanently", she said
I didn't realise but I was grinning. A million dollar grin.
We walked together and reached Chandini Chowk. She clutched my hand in the chaotic narrow streets and I suddenly felt protective about her. All of this didnt stop my wagging tongue from cracking the stupidest of jokes, using derogatory words in every sentence, bragging about my life story, sharing my thoughts etc etc. and all she did was listen, laugh, give a hi5, use the Delhi slang and NOT JUDGE ME!
I was so engrossed in the way she ate aloo tikki and not worrying about how it smeared on her face.
This seemed unreal! I unlocked my biggest fear, the fear of being judged, the fear of not marrying, the fear of not being able to be myself, the fear of losing someone. In a span of 1 day and 3 destinations all of this vanished. My heart was blossoming , love and affection prevailed. I was flying and I was holding her hand and flying above the streets. We flew so high with hearts all around and TRIIINNGGGGGGG...TRINGGGGGGGGG... It's 8AM...TRINNGGGG TRINNGGG... it's 8AM.
I woke up just to realise that I was dreaming!
But today felt different. After so many years I woke up with a smile. I sincerely wished she was sleeping like a baby beside me but even the empty side of the bed lured hopes.
Reality struck finally so I woke up, adhered my formals, drove to Tim Hortons, Paralled parked, took my coffee, but this time I smiled at the Barista and complimented the coffee she made, walked towards my usual spot and OMG, there she was, the girl in a black dress and sneakers, her hair tied in a bun and her back facing me.
