The Rules Of Pursuit

29. Mia's Muse

The Traveller picked us up from the landing point and transported us back to the shop. We borrowed an USB cable from one of the helpers and transferred the pictures of GoPro to Avinash's phone.

"I look hideous," I screwed my face.

"You look cute." Avinash showed me a picture where I had my tongue out.

"Ughh you keep them." I groaned as we mounted his bike.

"What is the name of the Cafe again?" He asked kicking his bike to ignition.

"Cafe De Piccolo," I repeated.

We navigated through the heavy traffic and finally reached the cafe Mia had mentioned.

I unclusped my helmet and brushed my hair with my hand.

"Are you sure Mia will be okay?" Avi asked me.

"Yes, quite sure." I assured him.

The cafe was quaint and picturesque. The exterior had white woodwork while cream woodwork adorned the interior walls. Small wooden chairs with colorful seat cushions, and glass topped wrought iron tables sat across the cafe floor.

I found my roommate sitting with a girl in Indian attire. That must be Fatima.

Mia came up when see spotted me and pulled me to her table.

"Fatima, this is Naxi."

"Hi Naxi," Fatima smiled brightly. I couldn't help but notice that her pretty porcelain face was covered with scars.

"Hi Fatima. It is nice to finally meet you," I grinned. "Mia eats my head with your stories all the time."

"And she eats mine with yours." Fatima smiled back, wrinkling the scar that ran down from her upper lip to her chin. There was a deep gash on her right cheek too, though it was healed, but it had left its mark forever.

"And Fatima this is Avinash." Mia pointed her hand at Avinash, who hovered behind me.

"Naxi's crush?" Fatima exclaimed. Mia gave her a warning look "I mean the guy from your dance team." Fatima tried to salvage.

"Right you are." Avi politely shook her hands.

"You guys ordered anything yet? I am famished."I groaned.

"We were waiting for you." Mia pushed the menu towards me once I and Avinash settled down on the two empty seats across them.

"I will have one chicken burger with extra cheese, French fries, white sauce chicken pasta, a red velvet waffle...and a peach ice tea...that's all." I pushed the menu to Avinash.

Mia motioned the server and placed our orders. Avinash ordered a continental chicken sizzler while the two girls ordered a chicken pizza. I wondered how their stomachs could be satisfied with so little food.

"Mia never told me about your love story," I told Fatima while we waited for our food, "will you do the honour?"

"Ummm should I sit in another table?" Avi asked nervously, not sure whether he should be privy to Fatima's story.

"Unless you feel repulsed by a lesbian love story, I don't find any reason for you to leave." Fatima grinned.

"Oh...no...no...its just that.." Avinash tried to explain.

"You can sit here and listen Avi...I hope you don't mind me calling you Avi." Fatima said kindly, Avinash smiled nodding in response. Mia shared my shock, gaping at Avinash.

"What?" Avinash smirked.

"Nothing." Mia and I replied in unison.

This was probably the first time Avinash had allowed a complete stranger to call him 'Avi'. Fatima was obviusly unaware of this fact because she immediately started with her story.