RUMA and JABARI

Chapter 1

She has finally found the one she has been looking for, her stomach felt light and her mouth dry. She felt all feelings, known and unknown. She has hidden this one treasure well enough and now it is within her grasp.

Ruma leaned on her sleek mahogany desk, collecting herself, exhaling; she opened the envelope and pulled out the papers. She ignored one of the papers containing his information as her gaze landed on the picture that accompanied them, his photo, the one she has been looking for, for twelve years. As she looked at the photo, a man with dark brown eyes stared back at her. His face was squared size, and his curls covered his head like a cap. She sighed and stood straight, walking back to her office chair to sit down.

Keeping the photo gently into the envelope, she glanced at the papers containing his information from his age, work and address. He owns a garage, he works in the garage. Ruma suddenly felt uneasy, she had to see him, to quench what's gnawing at her. For now, the photo and information are enough, for it holds the key, and she wants to unlock whatever door it is.

So she changed from her office attire into running gear and dashed out from her office, sprinting as fast as she could until she reached the park with the stairs that she always relieves some of her stress. Ruma mounted up and down for about 30 minutes. A sheen of sweat rolled down her forehead, and her thighs were already sore; she knew they would ache later. Her body was already damp from the amount of effort her body had endured.

Letting out a breath, she sat at the bottom of the stairs and observed her surroundings now that she felt her head was clear enough. The street was quite empty; everyone must have gone to work or tended to their business, only a few people seemed to be on the road. What was she to do with the brown-eyed man, she thought. The sudden shrill of her ringtone interrupted her musings. It was her secretary, grudgingly, Ruma picked up the phone,

"Meetings with the Wubrews is in the next 30 minutes" the secretary announced

"Cancel it," Ruma ordered. "I have somewhere to be"she added

"But this is very important", the secretary gingerly reminded Ruma.

"Reschedule it then" Ruma said.

"Rescheduling the meeting would be difficult because we went through a lot before we could schedule it."

"Then let them go," Ruma said.

"But..." the secretary started again

"Thank you," Ruma said, ending the call.

She made up her mind, she has to see the mechanic. Ruma got up and dusted off herself, heading to her office but with a different plan in mind.

~~~~~

Jabari took a deep breath and let out, here he is, in front of a pretty giant building, with a bold sign on the top that read 'Tea with Us.' It is a multi-floored tea shop with apparent exotic architecture visible through the glass walls. It had a diverse style ranging from a nature-themed style to a wooden one that screams simplicity. At the top, there was a balcony with unlit golden bulbs that were breathtaking. He thought to himself that the place would definitely attract people.

On closer scrutiny, the place was boisterous as it was lunchtime. They were different people going about their businesses, with some sitting. While others had their computers on, some were chatting away, and the waiters were busy taking orders. Others had takeaway packs in hand as they strolled out of the building.

His heart was hefty as he stood; he pondered if she could recognize him or not. It's been twelve years since he last saw her. The girl he helped cross the street to go to school on every weekday. Her vast aquarella eyes had haunted him every night. She was from an ample home that stands valiantly across the street from where he worked as a mechanic boy on the street, his clothes a bit tattered and his face soiled with engine oil. Still, she never minded, her face always held a tender smile and would always say "thank you" for helping her cross the street.