DENIAL ✔

::: 2 :::

At the usual spot by the wall, he sat with his laptop on the table and a huge cup of coffee. The semi-full cafe turned crowded on a mid-week much to his surprise. However, the spot that used to be occupied by the cafe's regular customer had been occupied by someone else. He doubted if she had stopped coming after his last note since it has been four weeks.

Osha, he learnt her name when one of the many men she met called her aloud. She had been a regular customer to the cafe who often comes to work on her art. A calm and serene lady she used to be however, he started noticing a change of body language when she met someone for the first time and it continued every time, she had someone over to meet.

Sitting at a table not so far from where she usually sits, it wasn't hard for him to find out that the person she meet are those her mother had chosen as her prospect groom. Soon, he realised she isn't a lady who wants to get committed but wishes to be free. Despite knowing about her, his heart involuntarily started sailing closer to her every day and in her every successful denial of her mother's choice, he too celebrated with her.

From her second meeting, he began writing a short note after the end of her meeting either complimenting her looks or her way of handling the matter or just some random note. Perhaps his last note had gone overboard for a stranger who has been eavesdropping her every conversation.

The doorbell ringed for the umpteenth time and for the umpteenth time, his murky brown eyes darted to the door waiting for her arrival. The morning turned evening and he quit waiting to meet her for the day.

As he got out of the cafe and into his car, he noticed a lady clad in red saree breeze into the cafe. A familiar lady, "It must be her." He jumped out of his car and peeked from outside.

Osha appeared to be calm than she usually does whenever she waits for someone. Her lips adorned a beautiful smile, a carefree one and the casual chat with the waiter confirms, she isn't waiting for anyone.

He rushed to his car, grabbed his phone, he checked his appearance. Running a hand through his thick hair and brushing his white shirt and straighten his brown pants, off he started back to the cafe.

Sliding onto the chair before her, he was greeted with a confusion stained on her beautiful face.

"Hi! I'm Tejas." He waved once and plastered a wide smile on his face.

"Hi." She greeted reluctantly, her hazel eyes filled with curiosity.

"Didn't see you for the last few weeks. How are you?"

Her brows squeezed, she tried to remember if she had seen him before or is, he randomly starting off a conversation. "I'm fine, thank you. Have we met before?" she asked.

Tejas nodded, "Many times in fact." He raised his hand and signalled his order.

She wondered if he too was a regular customer in the cafe. "But I don't remember meeting you even once."

"That's because our meet had never been more than a couple of seconds. I used to be sitting at that table," he pointed to a table behind him in the next row towards the wall.

She stared at the table longer than anyone would, mentally replaying her visit in the cafe. Failure to remember him at that particular table had her inwardly groan. Sometimes, she hated herself for not noticing things and people around her. Especially at times as such when someone tries to rekindle her weak memories.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember," she grinned.

"That's alright. You will remember me from now on. So, tell me have your mother stopped finding a groom for you?"