The Edge of Reality

Chapter 4: The Cafe

Murtvika picked me up just shy of 11:00 the next day. Her green jeep roared in our driveway, and I hoped that Agni wouldn't be angered by it as I left through the front door. As we drove, she turned on the radio to an upbeat tune and asked what kind of music I liked. I wasn't quite sure how to answer, because not much outside media entered our house, and she seemed slightly astonished I didn't even know anything from the top 40 list of pop music. She gave me a brief education in music, movies and non-path books as we rolled through downtown, an area of the city I hadn't seen before. People were sitting on the street talking and laughing, some of them going in and out of brightly lit shops. A few people were playing music on the street for tips, while others were receiving money from what I could only distinguish as drug deals. When we finally arrived, I was charmed by the small cafe: The Hideout. It seemed a bit large for a cafe, having two roomy seating areas, but the big couches and chairs scattered among the tables made it seem homey. The walls were filled with random memorabilia and the air smelled of coffee and baked goods; this place felt as comfortable as home to me. Murtvika and I sat at a table and she ordered for both of us, telling me she knew a great special after I seemed overwhelmed at what to order. As we waited for the meal, she started to prod me.

"You seem so tense, Tesha, what do you do for fun?"

"Fun?" I asked. I enjoyed my day to day routines with the others in my house, and they weren't focused on outside activities. I wasn't even sure what other people might do for enjoyment.

"I like reading," I finally said, grasping at any answer to give her. "Monohan and Agni have a great library of literature about the path."

Murtvika raised her eyebrows and started to speak, but seemed to change her course of response instantaneously. "You know, being on the path doesn't mean that you can't do anything else. There's a lot of world out there to see and enjoy, aren't you curious about it?"

"Well, yeah," I replied, struggling not to sound stupid. "I just thought that we have to stay completely focused, without any distractions."

"Well..." she seemed conflicted. "I know you have to listen to Mohannan and Agni because they took you in, but I don't think enjoying the world we were put in is wrong."

"That makes sense," I replied. I did understand, but I quietly wondered if she could still reach the other world if she kept living like she did. She was knowledgeable, but Mohannan was older and wiser. He knew best. Even thinking this, I was disappointed that I wouldn't have the opportunity to see more of this life.

Our waitress brought our meals out- burgers with french fries- we thanked her and began eating. I'd never had this kind of food, and I was instantly sold on it.

"This place is really cool," I said between bites. "I really like this atmosphere- it's really lively."

"Yeah," Murtvika replied. "This is probably one of my favorite places to eat."

"I wish I could be here all of the time," I said, imagining appreciating the music, people and food on a daily basis. Home was comfortable, but the café had a quality to it that was both peaceful and exciting.

"Why don't you work here, then?" Murtvika suggested. She must have seen the shock on my face, so she tried to reassure me. "It wouldn't be a distraction- everyone has to get a job at some point, to make money to live. Why not work somewhere you would enjoy?"

I thought about it for a minute before I let my face give anything more away to her. Monohan worked and, as far as I could see, he was staying on the path. I knew I wouldn't stay with them forever and, even if I did, it would be good for me to grow up and take on some responsibilities.

"You're right," I exclaimed. "I think I could definitely work here!" And with that, excitement began to bubble up within me. Before we left, I filled out an application and turned it in. It wasn't until the ride home that I started to regret acting so suddenly. I was an adult, but that didn't matter to my guardians. They had been angry when I left the house alone and had barely let me go to lunch with another believer- what would happen when I told them I would be working downtown? I tried to think of an argument to support my case as Murtvika continued talking about pop culture with the radio blaring in the background.

For the next couple days, I stayed silent about my plans to work. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure out any good way to convince my guardians that I should. I did decide to confide in Astrio by the second day, however. He may have been young but I cared about him more than anyone else and, despite not being allowed to spend too much time with him, I wanted him to be part of my life. As we sat against the wall on my bedroom floor, we talked about it.

"It's pretty cool that you're going to be a waitress," he told me. His voice was quiet but much stronger around me than with Monohan or Agni.

"I'm really hoping that I'll get hired," I replied. "I think it will be fun- and besides, I can bring home some extra money."

"I hope you do too," he said. "Agni is worried that you'll stop caring about us, but I don't think you will."

"Of course not!" I cried, kissing him on the forehead. "You're the most important people in my life. Don't ever think I'll forget you."

"Even when you become a rich millionaire?" he smiled cheekily at me.

"No, then I'll come take you to live with me in my mansion. And we'll eat ice-cream all day by the pool."

He grinned at me and scooted closer to me to lean on my shoulder. I sighed as the worry of the future melted away for a moment. The shadows outside grew longer and the last rays of sunshine bounced through the window and around the room. We sat there until there was nothing left to see but the thoughts in our heads.

Dinner that night was interrupted by a phone call, and Monohan looked annoyed as he stood up from his steak to answer it.

"Hello?" he picked up abruptly. "Tesha? No, I speak for her... tell her what? ... A job..."

I felt the blood drain out of my face as I dared glance up at him. He was looking at me with a poisonous glare and I knew I was in trouble.

"Yes, yes, I'll tell her," he continued. "You too." He hung up and motioned for Agni to follow him as he left the room. She looked back at me confusedly.

"Welp, I guess you don't have to tell them now!" Astrio said, trying to lighten the mood before the storm. I was too terrified to respond to him. They were yelling in the next room, and it sounded like Agni was crying. Sometimes their voices would hush, but then raise back up again. It seemed like hours before they returned to the table, and they looked at me with solemn eyes.

"You got a job without asking us," Monohan started. "Without even telling us."

"I'm sorry," I started. "I didn't know how to-"

"No you listen to us," Agni spoke up in almost a yell. "We are here to protect you. It's not for you to decide things like this while you are under our roof."

"But," Monohan continued, somewhat calmer. "We discussed it and have agreed to let you work there. What you did was disrespectful, but we think it will be good for you to learn some respect in this environment. Agni and I will go and look at the establishment first, but we suppose you must start working at some point."

I was speechless. It had a rocky start, but it had gone so much better than I had expected. "Th-thank you," I managed to quietly stutter. Agni put her hand on mine.

"Just always remember. Keep your eyes on the path. If you get too close to the edge," she held up her thumb and index finger close together, "it will be 'this' easy for you to fall."

I looked her in the eyes, and the joy drained out of me. This was not about fun, this was about survival now. "I won't fall," I said. "I'm still following you."

"Good..." she said. "Good."