He parked his bike carefully outside the caf� and paused for a moment, taking in the ambiance before stepping inside. Sampark removed his helmet, the slight rustle of fabric and clink of metal breaking the gentle hum of the caf�. As he made his way to the food counter, he noted its location on the right-hand side of the caf�, just 10-15 steps from the main door.
The food counter was a hive of activity, manned by three employees, each equipped with an order machine directly in front of them. The caf� had a soothing vibe, with soft lighting and a warm, inviting atmosphere. On the left-hand side, the seating area was filled with wooden circular tables, each accompanied by four wooden chairs cushioned for comfort. Despite the caf�'s calm ambiance, it was bustling with people, with every table occupied except for one at the back corner of the caf�.
This particular table, though missing a chair, offered a stunning view of the valley beyond. Determined to secure the last available spot, Sampark quickened his pace towards the food counter. He ordered regular tea and cookies, the transaction was swift and efficient. The employee accepted his payment with a smile and advised him to take a seat, assuring him that his order would be brought to him shortly.
Sampark nodded in acknowledgment, weaving his way through the occupied tables toward the empty corner. The anticipation of a quiet moment with a scenic view quickened his steps as he reached the table, ready to enjoy his tea and cookies in the serene corner of the bustling caf�.
A couple of moments later, the employee arrived with Sampark's tea and cookies, placing them gently on the table. "Here you go, sir," the employee said with a courteous nod. "Thank you, sir" Sampark smiled in acknowledgment, appreciating the prompt service. He took a sip of the tea, its delightful warmth spreading through him as he savored the flavor. Settling back in his chair, he turned his attention to the stunning view of the valley visible through the balcony, allowing himself a moment of peaceful reflection.
"Excuse me," a soft, gentle, feminine voice interrupted his thoughts. Sampark looked up, his gaze landing on the source of the voice. It took him a moment to register what he was seeing: a beautiful girl with a fair complexion and a touch of sun-kissed brown. Her hair was a captivating mix of straight and curly, with a few strands playfully falling across her face. She had a square jaw and round, expressive eyes. She was slim but not overly so, her figure hinting at someone who probably works out, yet with a touch of softness. She wore a blue-white ethnic kurti embroidered with delicate flowers, paired with blue denim jeans. She stood behind his table, radiating a charming blend of confidence and innocence.
Realizing he had been staring, Sampark quickly cleared his throat. "Yes?" he managed to say, his voice a bit unsteady.
The girl smiled, a knowing twinkle in her eyes as if she was fully aware of the effect she had on him. "Are you waiting for someone else?" she asked, her tone light and casual.
"Uh, no," Sampark replied, still a bit flustered by the unexpected encounter.
"Okay. Actually, this place is a little crowded, and I saw you sitting here alone. So, I was wondering if my friend and I could sit here. Is that okay with you?" she asked, her voice almost pleading in its innocence and charm.
Sampark's eyes shifted to notice her friend standing behind her, likely busy ordering food while the girl scouted for a place to sit.
"Oh. Ah. Yes. You can have them," Sampark responded awkwardly, not quite believing his luck. It wasn't every day that a girl asked to join him at a table, especially not one as captivating as her.
The girl smiled warmly, clearly pleased with his response. "Thank you so much!" she said, pulling out a chair and signaling her friend to join them. Sampark couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as he prepared to share his table with these two strangers who had suddenly brought a spark of unexpected delight into his day.
As soon as they occupied their chairs, the two girls began gossiping about what they had ordered and the crowd that had gathered at the caf�. A few moments later, her friend's phone rang. She got up from her chair and went to the balcony to take the call, giving her friend a quick gesture that likely meant she would be back soon.
All of this happened while Sampark was sipping his tea. He picked up a cookie, dipped it in his tea, and enjoyed the savory treat. As he raised the teacup to his lips, he noticed the girl was observing him.
"Hi, I am Shreya," the pretty girl introduced herself with a warm smile, clearly interested in starting a conversation.
Sampark smiled back. "Hello, I am Sampark."
"You're here by yourself?" she asked curiosity in her eyes.
"Yes," Sampark replied.
"How come?" she asked, trying to understand why someone would enjoy tea alone in a crowded caf�.
"Actually, I went out for a bike ride. I enjoy my solo rides during the weekends. I heard about this caf�, so I decided to come here," Sampark explained politely.
"I see. But by yourself? What about your friends?" she continued, genuinely interested.
"I have a friend in the city, but he's out of town at the moment. Usually, I like to go out on bike rides alone. Often, I wander around the city, and sometimes I find myself at a cool destination. It's therapeutic, you know. I enjoy it a lot," Sampark explained humbly.
Shreya nodded, seemingly understanding. "That sounds nice. It's good to have something that brings you peace."
"Yeah, it really is," Sampark agreed, feeling more at ease with the conversation. "What about you guys?"
"We often come here, like 2-3 times a year, maybe more," Shreya said, her eyes lighting up as she spoke. "I mean, It's just outside the city. The drive from the city to here is really nice, with great scenery. Mostly, I come here to enjoy the variety of coffee they offer here, and the food is pretty good too. Plus, the vibes are great. It's therapeutic in a way, you know?" She emphasized the last words, hoping to get a reaction from Sampark.
Sampark smiled, appreciating her attempt at humor. "Hmm, that sounds nice. It's good to have something that brings you peace, you know" he replied. They both laughed, enjoying the playful mimicry.
"So, are you from around here?" Shreya asked, her curiosity piqued.
"No, I'm from Odisha. I work here in an IT company," Sampark responded. "And you?"
Shreya acknowledged Sampark's response with a nod. "I'm from here, born and brought up in Pune. I also work in an IT company."
"Cool, cool. What domain are you in?" Sampark asked, his interest genuine.
"UI/UX designer. And you?" Shreya responded.
"Nice. I'm in cybersecurity," Sampark replied.
Her friend finished her phone conversation and returned to join Shreya at the table. Their food had already been served, and Shreya and Sampark exchanged a glance before Sampark politely allowed the two friends to enjoy their meal together. After they finished eating and returning their plates, Shreya came back to the table, only to find Sampark standing on the balcony, taking pictures of the valley.
"I thought you had left," Shreya said playfully, her voice light and teasing.
Sampark found himself momentarily off guard. "Oh, no, I was just trying to get some pictures," he replied.
"For an Insta story?" Shreya joked.
Sampark chuckled softly. "Uh. No. Just for myself." He continues "Actually, I deleted all my social media accounts about a year ago, maybe earlier."
Shreya looked at him, confused and dazed. In a world where social media was omnipresent, it was surprising to find someone who had opted out. "How come?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Surprised that anyone would be interested in why he wasn't on social media, Sampark explained, "Well, I have very few friends, like three or four. I never really uploaded any photos because I don't think I look good in them. Instagram and Facebook didn't do much for me, so it didn't make much sense to be on social media. So, one day, I decided to delete my accounts."
"Wow. I never would have guessed you had zero presence on social media. That's a first," Shreya responded, genuinely surprised. "Why do you think you don't look good in photos? I think you look pretty good," she added with a flirtatious smile.
Sampark smiled a bit, taken aback by the compliment. He never expected a girl to find him attractive. "Well, I don't know. I just don't think I look good in photos. Plus, I feel embarrassed uploading pictures on social media," he admitted shyly.
"C'mon," Shreya laughed and took a long pause before asking another question to Sampark. "So, any girlfriend or girlfriends?" she asked, more curiously now, wondering if this decent, polite, and well-behaved guy was single.
Sampark, still smiling, shook his head. "No, no girlfriend," he said, feeling a mix of shyness and warmth from her interest.
Shreya's eyes sparkled with interest. "Really? A nice guy like you, all by yourself?"
"Yeah, just me," Sampark replied, feeling a bit more comfortable.
"Well, their loss," Shreya said with a wink. "You seem like a great guy."
Sampark blushed slightly, not used to such direct compliments. "Thanks, Shreya," he said softly, feeling a strange but pleasant sense of connection with her.
After another long pause, "Were you ever in a relationship before, or had any crushes?" Shreya asked, her curiosity evident. "I am sorry, I just.. got carried away. It's okay, you don't have to answer that" she added hinting that she might have overstepped here.
Sampark paused, deciding whether to share his past. It was a difficult topic for him, but he chose to reveal a part of it to keep the conversation going. "Well..Ah.. I was involved with a girl once, about 4-5 years ago."
"So, what happened?" Shreya inquired, her tone gentle and caring. She had noticed the hesitation in Sampark's voice and the expression on his face that hinted at a painful memory.
Sampark took another pause, glancing at the valley before turning back to her. He tried to explain without revealing too much. "You know how things can get when two people are on different pages. I wanted a relationship, and she didn't. Things got ugly between us after that. She still wanted me around, but things got worse for me, and eventually, it ended badly."
Realizing she had touched on a sensitive subject, Shreya quickly apologized. "I am really sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, Sampark."
Sampark, trying to hide his inner sadness, responded hesitantly, "Oh, it's fine, don't worry about it. It was a long time ago. Chill."
Just then, Shreya's friend joined them on the balcony to let her know it was time to leave. Shreya nodded and looked at Sampark. She had felt a connection with him and noticed that despite all the personal questions she had asked, Sampark hadn't pried into her life. He had been polite, humble, and well-behaved, never flirting or crossing any boundaries. This made her realize what a genuinely good person he was. Given that he wasn't on social media and seemed a bit shy, she figured he was not much of an outgoing person and might not ask for her contact information.
Finally, after building confidence, nervous Shreya asked, "Sampark, I had a great chat with you. And since you have very few friends in the city, if it's not too much to ask, I was wondering if we could meet up in the city sometime. I mean, if it's okay with you. No pressure."
This unexpected invitation left Sampark in shock and excitement. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that a girl as pretty and kind as Shreya would ask him out. Or 'Is she?' Realizing he had been silent for a moment, he composed himself and replied awkwardly and nervously, "Oh, yes. Sure. I would love to." He handed his phone to Shreya so she could input her number.
Shreya was pleasantly surprised by his response. Despite having dredged up a painful memory for him, Sampark was willing to go out with her. She smiled as she saved her number in his phone. "Here it is. Text me once you get home or when you are free, and we'll decide when to meet," she said in her cute and innocent way.
"Yes, absolutely. I will," Sampark replied, his excitement palpable at the prospect of their upcoming date.
"It was really nice meeting you, Sampark. Unexpected but surreal," Shreya said in a soft and affectionate tone.
"Indeed, it was," Sampark responded charmingly, feeling a newfound sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.
