Threads of Destiny

Chapter 3: A Brewing Connection

"A minute late is a life lost" is a lesson Maitree Randhawa learned in medical school. Since then, the doctor in her has not allowed her to be late for anything. So, understandably, she was panicking when she reached the cafe at 4:01 pm. Even from the outside, the cafe looked serene - a perfect place to have a conversation or, even better, to politely yet firmly reject the guy. Waiting by the entrance, she looked around, recalling that Sonakshi said he would be wearing a red shirt. No, it's blue. Ah, there he is!

Approaching the guy in the blue shirt, Maitree quickly sat down and began apologizing for being late. However, she noticed that he kept staring at her intently for a few minutes without saying a word. In the midst of her apology, Maitree heard a shout coming from a short-haired girl wearing tight black pants and a pink crop top. The guy in the blue shirt abruptly got up and exclaimed, "It's not what you think it is." Maitree looked at both of them with confusion as the girl in the crop top gave her a vengeful look, a gaze that was enough to make Maitree stand up.

"You tell me! Are you two dating? Look, he's my boyfriend, so move it or lose it!" Maitree's expression turned into a mix of surprise and realization as she realized the situation she unintentionally stumbled upon.

"I'm sorry," Maitree said, feeling embarrassed. "I'm here for a blind date, and he was supposed to wear a blue shirt. I mistook him for my blind date."

The girl in the crop top responded, "Oh, really? What's his name? You could have started with introductions."

Maitree's eyes widened with realization as she replied, "I don't know his name; all I know is that he's a doctor."

Feeling a mix of awkwardness and regret, Maitree wished she had clarified the details before assuming the person in the blue shirt was her blind date.

Crop-topped girl gave Maitree a knowing look. "I know girls like you, the 'sanskari' types after good-looking guys."

Just as Maitree was about to defend herself, she noticed a white polo-shirted guy staring at her. His gaze felt strangely familiar, but it made her uncomfortable when she realized he was staring at her feet, specifically her ankles. Suddenly, her ankles started to hurt. Why did she take fashion advice from Sonakshi? "Now I have to suffer," she thought.

Wait! There was a bigger problem at hand. "I am a doctor, why would I want to steal your boyfriend? I am here for a blind date."

"Excuse me," said the man, wearing a white polo shirt. "I am Rudraksh Adhikari, her blind date. Miss, you should get your facts straight before making assumptions and throwing accusations," he addressed the girl in the cropped top.

The girl in the cropped top looked taken aback by Rudraksh's response. She quickly realized her mistake and felt a tinge of embarrassment. Gathering her thoughts, she replied, "I apologize for my assumption. It was wrong of me to jump to conclusions without knowing the facts. I'm sorry, Rudraksh."

Rudraksh, with a calm demeanor, nodded understandingly. "Thank you for acknowledging that," he said.

Rudraksh guided Maitree to a corner booth, and they both sat down. He ordered coffee for himself and tea for Maitree. Rudraksh looked at her curiously, expecting her to initiate the conversation. However, as he gazed into her eyes, he sensed a guardedness in her demeanor. He noticed that she occasionally touched her earrings and tried to smile whenever their eyes met.

"Stop that," Maitree said abruptly.

"What?" Rudra asked, confused.

"Stop looking at me as if you know everything about me," Maitree clarified.

"But I do know a few things, not everything," he said confidently.

Maitree raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Oh, really? We just met? Tell me two things you know about me other than my name and profession."

Rudraksh, sipping on his coffee paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "You don't usually wear heels," he began, "because you seem uncomfortable in them. Is this the first time you've left your hair untied? I think you often prefer to keep it tied up or in a bun because your fingers often touch your hair when you touch your earrings. Speaking of which, those earrings appear to be a special gift from someone, as you frequently touch them to ensure they're secure. Additionally, it seems you have a dislike for eggs, as your eyes displayed a brief moment of disgust when the waiter passed by with egg-based dishes."

Rudraksh grinned confidently. "That's actually four things, two more than you asked. So, did I get it right, or did I get it right?"

Maitree looked astounded, her eyes widening.

"Oh, and there's one more thing: it's quite evident that you're not genuinely interested in this blind date. You're here because someone close to you insisted that you come."

Rudraksh's perceptive observations left Maitree speechless for a moment. She blinked in surprise, her astonishment evident on her face. She hadn't expected him to unravel so much about her in such a short time. And for the first time since she came to the cafe she smiled a real smile and Rudraksh couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as he witnessed Maitree's genuine smile. It was as if a subtle barrier had been lifted between them, and a newfound connection began to form.

But, the smile faded away and she said "Look, doctor.."

"Rudraksh or Rudra"

"Okay, Rudraksh. Nope, Dr. Adhikari, you are right. I came here because my best friend Sonakshi insisted that I go on this blind date. I couldn't say no to her anymore."

"So, isn't that how new relationships are born? I can tell you about me, and you can tell me about yourself."

"But I'm not interested in you, so I don't want to know anything about you," Maitree stated firmly.

Rudraksh responded with a playful tone, "Well, maybe you should go on more dates with me. You might find yourself becoming interested once you get to know me better."

"I just got out of a serious relationship, and I am not interested in dating," Maitree reiterated, hoping the thick-skulled doctor would understand.

However, Rudra replied, "That's okay! I can wait. I'm only asking for one date. Is that too much to ask?"

Maitree's tone grew firmer as she said, "Yes, and I hope you never try to contact me or Sonakshi."

With that, she stood up, collected her handbag, placed the cash for the tea on the table, and turned around. As she walked away, she heard him say, "I don't have to contact you. We both work at the same hospital, so we'll inevitably meet in the hallways."

Maitree rolled her eyes and left.

Meanwhile, Rudraksh watched her departure and noticed her untouched tea. With a smile, he murmured, "So, she doesn't like tea. That makes six things I know about you, Maitree Randhawa. I'm intrigued to discover even more."

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