Tumse Hi Tumse... ( Unedited)

Coffee?

*This chapter is short and unedited.*

"Can I open the window?" She asked in her sweet voice, looking at me in the eyes.

How could I say no?

I smiled and nodded yes.

She quickly opened the window.

Freeing her hair from the black claw clip, she let them fall on her back , covering her bare shoulders.

Her gaze was fixed outside the window, her elbow rested on the side and her head rested against the seat.

I wanted to talk to her but hesitation took over me. I didn't want to interrupt her. She looked so calm and delicate, lost in her own world.

Minutes passed and the urge to hear her voice grew more and more.

I tried to catch her glances in between; she appeared utterly serene.

Giving up on my earlier thoughts, I finally asked.

Tea?

She glanced at me with her heavy-lidded eyes. It was as if she could drift into sleep at any moment.

And I instantly regretted disturbing her.

Coffee? she asked back, her voice sweet and just above a whisper.

It put my hesitation to rest, causing me to smile.

I pulled the car over to the side and stepped outside to fetch two cups of coffee from the small coffee joint before me.

Like the earlier times, it was surrounded by quite a number of people, even at this odd hour.

Waiting for my turn on the counter, I glanced at the surroundings, letting the nostalgia sink in.

It used to be the hangout place of our circle during the college.

This was the time when Riddhi shifted to Delhi for her MBBS degree, I reminded myself.

After college, like everything else, we lost touch with this place too.

Grabbing the coffee cups, as I turned to walk back to the car, I found her standing outside the car, leaning on it and rubbing her arms.

On reaching, I handed her both the cups of coffee while she looked at me with her furrowed eyebrows.

I walked over to the back seat door and opened it to grab my blazer.

"Take it. You are cold,"

She hesitated a bit.

"It will not bite you", I added, trying to ease her hesitation.

Her eyebrows relaxed and lips curved into a small smile. She took the coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Why coffee today? As far as I know this doctor prefers tea,"I asked out of curiosity, leaning beside her against the car.

"This doctor likes to make her own tea. Many say, she makes the best tea in the world. Now would you agree? You had the privilege to cherish the exquisite taste?" She said. Her eyes shined and eyebrows raised in cheerfulness while saying 'best tea in the world.' I couldn't help but smile at her way of expression.

She was talking about the last time I visited her after the whole 'who's gonna drop whom home' thing'.

I chuckled and said,

" Well, I should have it at least 3-4 times to see if she maintains the 'exquisite' taste each time. Only then could I decide," raising my eyebrow, imitating her.

"Fair enough, fair enough," she replied, nodding her head and then sipping on her coffee.

And a momentary silence followed.

"Also, is it too late in the night for the early bird?" I asked, before adding-
" The doctor I know believes in - early to bed, early to rise m..."

" Make both men and women healthy, wealthy and wise," she completed, reminding me of our shared childhood memories.

Her aajoba often said this to us kids.

"And here I am sipping coffee at 2 am," she said, letting out a breathe.

" As of now, I'm just healthy," she added, causing me to chuckle.

"Did he bother you?" I asked, after contemplating a lot.
It did catch her off guard. A minute ago, we were reminiscing about the old times and now I was asking her this. I just hoped, it didn't make her uncomfortable.

Who? She stopped smiling and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

Mr. Mathur.

And who else?

"Not much. He was respectful throughout," she said with a neutral face and continued sipping her coffee.

"You can be honest.' I said turning my face to see her.

She sighed and said-

" A little bit " specifying with her index finger and thumb.
"It's nothing I can't deal with though." She added.

"But you are no less. You added it to my irritation," she added, keeping her free hand on her waist and looking at me with her accusing eyes.

" It was fun seeing you control your frustration like that. I have never seen this side of you. You looked funny," I replied, straightening myself to stand properly.

" Funny?? I looked funny?? " Now she had put both her hands on her waist. This time, glaring at me with those brown eyes of hers.

" fun...ny anddd beautiful," I replied, nervously.

After a few seconds of silence, she laughed, causing the dimple on her left cheek catch my gaze.
And before I could realise, I was smiling.

In all this, an hour slipped by unnoticed, making us lost in the comfort of each other's company.