An Accidental Friendship & Other Short Stories

Accidental Friendship

"Hey, Sarah. I just arrived at the cafe you mentioned." Agastya sent a voice note to his friend as he pushed open the door.

As soon as the door opened, he was welcomed by the aroma of coffee that danced in the air. A smile crept up his lips as Agastya inhaled the scent of the brewing coffee. The cafe exuded a warm and cozy feeling. It was a small cafe that had a vintage look. Agastya liked the design of the cafe. "Sarah has a good taste." He thought to himself.

As he walked in, he noticed a woman seated by the window, her back facing toward him. "There she is," he said as he walked toward her.

"Sorry. The shooting ended late. That's why I couldn't come on time." Agastya said as he sat down on the chair in front of her. As soon as his eyes met hers, he was horrified. Soon, it turned into mortification.

"I am so sorry. I thought you were my friend. I am extremely sorry to disturb you." Agastya got up hurriedly and moved to the other end of the cafe.

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"Rohan, I am done with work. I am waiting at the cafe as usual. What time will you be here?" Swetha texted her brother.

A short while later, her phone beeped. "Swetha, I will be really late today. My boss is making all of us do overtime. I can't help it. You can go home on your own if you want to but you can still choose to wait for me. It might take about an hour or so." It was a text from her brother.

"Oh really. Its okay. I can wait for you. But you must buy me dinner tonight as compensation." she replied.

"Really. Won't you be bored?"

"I brought my book with me to the office today. I can just read it while I wait for you."

"Alright then. Stay safe till I come and get you. And yes, I will buy you dinner."

Swetha slid her phone back into her pocket and took out the book from her bag. She lost track of time as she immersed herself within the pages of her book.

"Sorry. The shooting ended late. That's why I couldn't come on time." Swetha was startled by the strangers voice. She looked up only to find the stranger seating himself before her. Her eyes widened as realization struck her.

"I am so sorry. I thought you were my friend. I am extremely sorry to disturb you." he said before getting up and moving to the other end of the cafe. Her eyes followed him as he walked away. "Isn't that Agastya, the TV star? My my my... I can't believe it." she thought as she turned to her book again when a smile crept up her lips without realization.

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"That was embarrassing. Agastya, how could you? But she does look very much like Sarah, her hair especially. I wonder what she thought of me. Would she have recognised me? Oh look, she is smiling to herself. She must have recognised me then. Agastya, you had better cover up yourself. She is definitely going to take pictures of you secretly and most probably publish your embarrassing moment." Agastya was beginning to feel cautious.

But as he observed her, he noticed that she did not secretly click his pictures. She was not holding her phone at all. She was very much engrossed in her book. She did not even turn to look at him.

"That is a well mannered fan. Oh come on, Agastya. How do you even know if she is your fan? If she was, would she not have clicked your pictures? You are not as famous as you think, Agastya. Be humble." He chastised himself.

It was then that Agastya's phone beeped. "Hey Agastya. I am so, so sorry. I can't make it today. Some emergency came up. I have to go to my family in Pune immediately. I just booked my tickets and will be flying tonight. I am so sorry again but I promised we will meet up again once I am back. I owe you one."