"Why are we here again?" Rudra whispered to Maitree, who was looking at the menu.
"Trust me. The food is good here," Maitree said, still perusing the menu.
"Okay, okay," Rudra murmured, looking around.
It's a small restaurant, so tiny that Rudra and Maitree, from where they were sitting, could touch their neighbor by stretching out their hands. The restaurant had small tables and black stools on one side, and on the opposite side, they were sitting at slightly bigger tables and benches. The restaurant was facing the beach; despite its size, the restaurant was mostly full, with college students and young couples.
Rudra widened his eyes when he saw tiny dust bunnies beside the door and whispered to Maitree, "Are you sure they clean this place?"
"Rudra," Maitree whined and showed him the menu, "pick," she said, with threatening eyes.
"Okay, okay," he said, putting up his hand and looking at the menu.
"Hold," she said, shaking the menu.
"But it's dirty," he said, shaking his head in refusal.
"Fine," Maitree said, frustrated, holding out the menu for Rudra to see, to which Rudra gave a thankful expression.
"Just so you know, they serve the best noodles," Maitree said, peeking from the top of the menu.
"Okay. Since it's your night, I am going with noodles," he said, crossing his arms.
Maitree closed the menu in an instant and clasped her hands together with an excited smile. "You will love it."
"I am sure I will," he said, laughing at her excitement.
"Chicken or beef?" she asked, pointing at him.
"Chicken," he said with a confirming smile.
"Okay," she said, putting up her hand and yelled out for the waiter, "Ray, we are ready."
"Hey MaiMai! You're back! Haven't seen you in a while? How are you?" Ray, the 30-year old waiter, came and greeted Maitree.
"I am good! Been busy at the hospital," Maitree said with a smile, putting her arms on the table. "The restaurant is full," she said, looking around.
"Nights are always full," he said, waving his hand.
"Oh! Ray, this is Rudraksh," she said, gesturing towards Rudra, "Rudraksh, this is Ray; Ray's parents own the restaurant." They both smiled at each other.
"MaiMai brought you here. That means you are special," Ray said, looking at Rudra. Rudra's smile grew wider.
"Anyways, MaiMai will have beef pan-fried noodles, and what will you have?" Ray asked, looking at Rudra.
"He will have the same, but with chicken," Maitree answered, smilingly representing Rudra.
"Okay," Ray said, laughing a little, "and the usual grape soda," he wrote on the notepad.
"Yes, make that two," Maitree said, showing two fingers. With that Ray left.
"Are you going to tell me why you love this place?" Rudra asked, putting his arm on the table.
"My college is a five-minute walk from here," Maitree said with a smile. "Sona and I used to come here all the time, to celebrate all our small and big accomplishments, and take away when we are upset. It's sort of my comfort place," she said, softening her eyes.
"So, we are celebrating something today?" he asked with a questioning smile.
"I think we are," Maitree said with a shy smile.
YOU ARE READING
Threads of Destiny
Romance"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 kn...
