My Life is a Perfect Lie

Episode 12

I check one phone after another.
I can't decide. If I like one it's out of budget, if it's in budget I can't find color, if everything is fine it's out of stock.
"Teena, man help me out" , I beg.

"Just pick something ", she replies.

"But... "

"See, you just have to have a phone that can make and receive calls and runs internet. Pick anything that's in your budget"

"Okay", I gloom

"Come on, hurry up. take this one", she hands over me a black phone.

"okay"

"We have to go to palace too. So be quick"

"How many times shall I tell you it's Sunday "

"And how many times shall I tell you, Mr. Carter had told we have to work 7 days a week"

"Forget, I don't think he remembers ", I say giving cash on the billing counter.

"Oh, please. Don't you remember, he insisted on discussing this before we start the work. It means he obviously remembers"

"Yeah but who works on Sunday, man!"

"You agreed to do that"

"Yeah I did but.... ", I take the phone. "Listen, I don't want to go okay. It's my day and I had a crazy week, I need a break"

"You are not going?"

"No"

"Okay, we'll go then"

"what? "

" I mean me and kabir"

"What will you guys do there ?"

"Make paints"

"As you wish"

"Okay"

"Let's eat something? "

"No,  I'll go"

"Okay, Teena", I say giving her a side hug.

She turns around and put both her arms around me.

"Bye"

"Bbye"

I see Teena crossing the road. She gets into a cab and the cab pulls away. I walk up to a cafe next to the mobile shop. I pull the door, it doesn't open. Of course, because it says push.
I smile on my own. I push the door and step in. It's a small cafe with wooden chairs and tables scattered like a college canteen. Walls are white with doodles all over it. Some boys doodle on a  white wall which is in front of the entrance. The cafe is full of youngsters. no kids or old people here. I wonder why?
There is a counter on the left of the entrance. I go there.
"Excuse me", I say to a lady standing with her back towards me.

"Yes", she turns

"I would like to have a cold coffee, please"

"Sure and anything else? ", she says looking up from her round steel glasses. Her straight face doesn't invoke any interest in me to order anything more.

"No thanks", I say smiling.

Her red colored lips stay straight. Her black eyes fixed on the notebook. Her tender white fingers write so fast. She tears the paper and walks through the door behind the counter.

I search for an empty table or a chair at least. I see one in the corner. My phone rings.
it's ringtone so loud every head in the cafe turns towards me.
I take the box out of the bag. I haven't unboxed my phone yet. I try to make it quick. I put the box on the counter and open. Okay charger, earphones, manual, Uh! where is the damn phone!
I turn the box upside down. phone falls on the table, vibrates and rings simultaneously. I pick up the call.