Twists Twirls Perils & Pearls

17. Coffee tea and friends

Swarnima went ahead and made herself comfortable on one of the charpai when Arya jumped and sat next to her making her jump on the other side.

Hahahaha

The boys laughed and Swarnima joined them seconds later.  Arya sat next to Swarnima and pulled her towards himself.
Abhedya on the other hand was not liking the scene he was witnessing so he also went and sat on the same charpai. Maan smiled inwardly thinking the trio had not changed a bit. Swarnima however, felt awkward.

"So what do you guys want to have?" Maan asked forwarding them a paper printed menu card.

"Maan sir, after so many days? Where is Tara bhabhi?" a young boy waiter asked.

"Bhabhi???" Arya repeated.

"Oh ho!! So Mr Maan gets his 'lady' here for a date. Away from the city... secluded... wow!! Maan" Abhedya teased.

"Well! We don't get much time to 'date' and all but whenever we do, we used to go to regular cafe and restaurants until Nim suggested me to take her to a place which is different and where we could talk and understand each other. That's when I found this place and now it's our favourite hangout." Maan explained to the boys.

"Nim suggested? I thought she has zero experience in all this." Arya remarked.

"Arya, you are right. Nim has no personal experience... but she is an 'incurable romantic'... she is in love with the idea of love," Maan discoled to the boys.

Abhedya had goosebumps on hearing what Maan just said about Swarnima. 'His girl' was certainly romantic and if she could create such beautiful moments for others as she did for his parents and Maan what would she do for her love.

"I would like a masala tea," Swarnima ordered.
"Make that two" Arya said.
"Make that three," Maan said.
"I will have black coffee with no sugar," Abhedya ordered.

"It's celebration time Abhey at least order something nice. Why so bitter man?" Arya found it amusing.

"I don't drink tea and I don't know how will be the coffee here, so yeah, I guess black coffee is a safe choice," Abhedya answered curtly. Arya's arm which was still around Swarnima was bothering him a bit 'too much.'

"It's his choice, Arya. yeah that's the order and get those cookies." Maan told the boy who was waiting for the order and gestured him something from his eyes and the boy left smiling.

"What was that exchange through the eyes Maan?" Swarnima enquired immediately.

"Why so sharp Nim.? These two here could not even guess. Just five minutes and you shall know." Maan was impressed.

Arya came and sat in front of Abhedya now and Abhedya felt relieved. Why? He couldn't figure it out but he just was not liking the closeness between his friend and his girl.
'Oh! Stop now Abhey. She is not your girl. You have asked her to maintain distance and she is keeping it very well but you are the one who is breaching your own words.
Oh! She has and will always be his girl. No one can ever claim her and she only belongs to him. Words said in anger hold no meaning and importance. Besides, he can always apologise to her for his rudeness.'
Abhedya's mind and heart again started their debates when the boy who took their order brought two slices of bread with a candle on the side and kept them in front of Swarnima.
Maan said thank you to him and asked the boys to get up.
"Maan, what's this?" Questioned Swarnima.

"It's not your birthday and this is not a cake. So, don't deny cutting it. You do not want anyone wishing you on your birthday, you do not accept gifts from us, you do not want us to visit you on your birthday even. Nim, what happened with your parents on your birthday was not in your hands and how much we want to share the day and be with you, you keep pushing us away. I respect your decision because I know there is no point arguing but this is the least we can do. So, my dear sister please cut this bread with Nutella. We will consider this as cake." Maan spoke his heart out.