The wind ruffled her hair and made it a mess by the time she reached the bakery from before. She still couldn't process that a bakery that resembled ones from the cities existed in her hometown.
She fixed her hair by looking at the mirror of the scooter. She didn't wear a helmet as the surveillance camera placed by the government to catch rule breakers in the area was still 500 meters away from the bakery. It was her first time wearing jeans and a shirt in months and it honestly felt so different from what she had imagined. Luckily she had not picked up weight during all this time and it probably has to do with what she is going through these days. She wondered if smoking cigarettes had something to do with it too. Perhaps not, but that didn't stop her from thinking.
She entered the bakery after fixing her shirt from the lower back with her bag slinging over her shoulders. As expected, the morning rush was not present in her hometown but that didn't mean there were no customers in the shop. There were. Just a few.
She went straight to the second floor and waited in the seat from before. She played with her fingers for a while. Then, she proceeded to scroll down on her phone. By then the waiter came to take her orders. She ordered a black tea with a black forest cake. Her mind questioned her if it was a good idea to eat something sweet in the morning. But she brushed off the thought then itself. Besides, she was really craving something sweet.
As she waited, she ran her eyes across the room. They ran through every single feature in the room- from the table tops and the chairs to the people sitting there, the lights and finally, the walls. No new paintings.
Time ticked by. The waiter came carrying the pastry in his hands. The aroma of the freshly baked cake wafted in the air inviting the senses to delicious treats. The black forest cake stood gorgeously on the white plate. He placed the plate carefully on her table, right before where her interlocked hands were kept.
He neatly arranged the spoon and the fork on either side of the plate and left the place, leaving her to enjoy the pastry. She picked up the spoon and pressed on the untouched cake, taking a small portion of it and guiding it to her lips. The sweet flavour of the cake filled her taste buds the moment the cake touched her tongue and Ahaana closed her eyes, savouring the taste. A soft Hindi song was being played in the background that added to the experience and Ahaana adored every second of being there, in the bakery.
Samreen would love this place.
Ahaana froze. The music changed, and now Agar tum saath ho was being played, one of Ahaana's favourite songs of all time. However, it went over her head for she was sitting there still, frozen in shock at her line of thought, at the immediate realisation. Her eyes welled up with tears.
No. Not here.
She blinked away her tears. Suddenly the chair behind her clashed with hers. Startled out of her stupor she jumped out of the seat. Her reaction startled the person holding the chair as well.
"Ayyo, I am so sorry!" she blurted out on instinct. It was after that when she looked at the person's face. Surprise masked her sorrow.
"You are," she pointed a finger in the air, "The person from the store." She switched to English.
Recognition flashed in his eyes as well and his mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. His hair, curly and ruffled, appeared like bronze under the lights. He lifted his hand to his face and pointed a finger in her face. The silver bangle that she picked up for him the previous day rolled in his hand and he moved his hands to and fro in the air making gestures. Ahaana watched it with doubt and curiosity.
As if remembering something, he pulled out his phone from his shirt pocket and started typing after passing her an apologetic smile. She was about to go back to her seat, assuming he was busy texting someone when he suddenly moved the phone before her face.
Yes, I remember you. Thank you for picking the bangle for me. I couldn't say it then but I love it.
Oh.
Maybe she was right after all.
"I am glad you like it. I was not sure about what I was doing, to be honest."
He shook his head and started typing again.
It certainly didn't feel like it, if I may say. He bit his bottom lip. If it's okay with you, can we sit together?
Ahaana was taken aback. But she didn't mind it. So she nodded. The man dragged the chair back to its position and walked to the seat before Ahaana's. He pulled the chair back and slid in. He placed the phone on the table, his bangle colliding with the wood as he did so.
Ahaana wondered how to start the conversation. Should she begin by introducing herself? Or should she ask him to introduce himself? Would that be rude?
As she was busy pondering, she failed to see him texting again on his phone until he slid it over to her place.
I am Galen. 29. What's your name?
Galen. "That's a new name now."
Galen smiled to himself. I am aware of that.
"My name's Ahaana. We're of the same age."