Pill for a mellow heart

Short Story : The man in the coffee shop(final)

After Misha finished her remaining shift, Darsh anxiously awaited her return. Every passing moment felt like an eternity to him.

To distract his anxious mind, Darsh started fidgeting with his laptop. He attempted to play an online game, but he couldn't focus. In the end, he resorted to playing the classic dinosaur game.

Why was he anxious, you ask?

Because Misha had approached him first, and he understood the implication. He was not an oblivious protagonist from a Japanese anime. This made him anxious. What if things didn't work out? What if he wasn't worthy of her? What if he wasn't her type? What if she had a boyfriend? Or worse, what if she was engaged or already married?

Ridiculous thoughts, yes. But Darsh was an expert in overthinking. His anxious mind constantly told him he was inferior, and because of his inferiority complex, he had never had a girlfriend throughout his school years.

Overthinking is often deemed as bad advice, yet it is easier said than done when faced with challenging situations.

In an attempt to calm his mind, Darsh took a deep breath and reminded himself, "People have instincts, right? They can tell if someone is interested in them, right?"

Finally, Darsh decided, "Let's not dwell on all these 'what ifs.' Let's wait. If she tells me I'm not her type or something, I will accept it. If I get rejected, I will consider it as character development."

He muttered to himself in a low voice, "If she doesn't accept me, it's not the end of the world."

Amused by his own ridiculous thoughts, Darsh smirked and continued writing on his laptop.

Meanwhile, Misha approached Darsh, and this caught the attention of someone—the cafe manager. With a face full of wrinkles, it was evident that he was over 60 years old, or perhaps even older. His white hair and serene countenance exuded wisdom.

The manager thought to himself, "Ah, young love. It's a beautiful thing."

The manager was aware of the connection between Darsh and Misha, despite them not sharing much. He had observed them often, with Darsh facing the window and Misha stealing glances in his direction. The manager playfully teased her, asking if her mind was in the cafe or elsewhere.

On this particular day, the manager decided to give Misha a half-day off as a gesture of support. He knew that sometimes love needed a little nudge in the right direction. Misha expressed her gratitude, quickly changed her clothes, and approached Darsh with determination.

While walking towards him, Misha overheard Darsh murmuring, "If she doesn't accept me, it's not the end of the world."

She paused for a moment, her heart swelling with affection for his vulnerable honesty.

Love can make a person irrational.

Hiding her smile, Misha approached Darsh and said, "Let's go!"

Darsh was startled, and as he laid his eyes on her once again, his pupils dilated. Misha noticed his reaction and gave him a smile that felt heartwarmingly real to Darsh. Now Misha knew for sure that Darsh liked her, and the feeling was mutual.

Darsh stammered, "Wh- Where to?"

Misha replied, pulling his hand, "Since you didn't ask me out, I'll just have to take matters into my own hands." Misha made a playful double-quoting hand gesture.

Darsh's breath caught in his throat. He knew she had heard his earlier comment, but he hastily closed his laptop, packed his bag, and they both set off on an adventure, their first date.

Author - The story unfolds, as Darsh and Misha embark on a journey of love, self-discovery, and overcoming their insecurities.