Beyond borders: When filter coffee met Chai

Destiny or Coincidence?

"Here we are," Rehaan announced as he parked the car.

Nitara let out a happy squeal and bounded up the stairs to the fifth floor of the building.

"Wait, Nituu!!" Rehaan called after her.

"Bring my bag, Mr. Chauffeur," she called back as she ascended.

"She's going to kill me if she finds out I lied about the lift being out of order... I need to reach her before Mummy spills the truth," Rehaan muttered to himself, breaking into a jog toward the elevator.

Nitara reached the flat first. She rang the bell, and a woman in her early 50s opened the door with the warmest smile, enveloping Nitara in a tight hug.

"Vanno ente molu?" the woman asked in Malayalam, which meant, "Is my daughter back?"

"Vannu... Vannit mummy ye dhe ithu pole tightt aayit kettipidichu," Nitara replied breathlessly, which roughly translated to, "She's back, and right now, she's hugging her mom tight, just like this."

"Why are you panting? And where's Rehaan?" Rehaan's mother asked.

"Mummy... The lift is under maintenance, so I had to climb up all the stairs... And Rihu's bringing my bag... Poor thing... He's climbing all the way here with my bag," Nitara explained.

Meanwhile, Rehaan emerged from the lift, bag in hand, and Nitara looked at him, perplexed.

"Mr. Rehaan K Nair... If I'm not mistaken, you just said the lift was under maintenance. How is it suddenly working?" she inquired.

"Even I don't know, baby. Don't you think this is a miracle? We should thank God for not troubling us. Thank you for your grace, Bhagwan ji... Let me get inside and extend my heartfelt gratitude for your blessings," Rehaan quipped, heading toward the door.

His mother grabbed his hand and pulled him back. "The lift really was under maintenance, right, betu? And you didn't lie because you wanted to help Nitu, right?"

Rehaan gave Nitara a sheepish smile. "Rihu, you could have just told me when we arrived," she chided him.

"You were so eager to see Mummy that you practically jumped out of the car as soon as we arrived. You didn't give me a chance to explain," Rehaan defended himself.

"Well... He's got a point, mummy... Let's forgive him this time," Nitara intervened.

"Whatever my daughter says," Rehaan's mother agreed.

"Thank you so much for your kindness, Nitara madam... I'll forever be grateful for your kindness," Rehaan said, and the three of them shared a laugh.

They entered the house, and Nitara excused herself to call her mother and inform her of her safe arrival.

Meanwhile...

"Why don't you just let her go, betu? She doesn't feel the same way about you," Rehaan's mother said seriously.

"I just can't let her go like that, mumma... She was the only person who stood by me during that horrific phase... She was there for me when I needed her the most... I can never repay her for what she has done for me... This is the only way I can support her... I'll always be the pillar she can lean on... I'll be there for her, always and forever... I love her a lot, mumma... I know she doesn't love me the same way, but I'll wait and make her fall in love with me... If not her, then no one," Rehaan confessed tearfully.

Nitara returned to the dining table after her call.

"Rihuu... Mummyy... I'm so hungry... Let's have dinner," she said, opening the casseroles. "Wow... Biryani!! And with chicken curry... I love it! Thanks a lot, mummy... I love you," she exclaimed, hugging Rehaan's mother.