Chapter - 09

“Can we have another cup please? I really liked the coffee!” she looked up to him. She looked almost like a child.

In fact Avni was so mesmerized with everything that it felt like a dream she didn’t want to wake up from. The fact that it might have been first and last time in this new world had Avni almost panicked. Ranveer looked down at her from his towering height. He was surprised to see her actually enjoying the whole thing.

“Sure. But this time we are going to sit inside. It’s very cold now”.

Avni was herself taken aback. She had spent her life away from such places. In fact she wasn’t ever aware that coffee was available for Rs 5 and people could sit on the stairs of a coffee shop. The sheer simplicity and the freedom were almost intoxicating for her.

They took two extra cups and sat at one of the tables.

“Tell me something about your family, about yourself” Avni said

“My folks are in Punjab. Dad has some land. My elder brother handles the farming with him. My mom passed away long time back. Brother got married few years back and now I have two nephews also. They are so cute. Every time I go to the village, they ask me to check up all their friends..” Ranveer reached to his pocket and pulled his wallet. Taking out a picture, he showed it to Avni.

“They are twins. You can never tell the difference between them. My Bhabhi has such a tough time handling them”

“Yes, they are really very cute” Avni was touched to see Ranveer carrying the picture of his nephews in his pocket. It was almost like behind the tough and cynic attitude, Ranveer still had a village boy hiding.

“What about yours? Your dad is in hotel business, right?” He asked, pocketing the wallet again.

“Yes, but he started off right from the ground. He built his first hotel, a small eatery cum lodging on the only piece of land he had at that time. It opened the day I was born. That’s why he named me Avni. It means the Earth you know”

“Yeah, I know. I loved your name when you told me last night.” Ranveer smiled and winked.

“That is why I asked you out for coffee” his smile was as genuine as her dimples. “And what about your mother? She is also into the family business or is she a housewife?”

“My mother also passed away a long time back Ranveer”

“Hey, I am so sorry” Ranveer placed his hand on hers. “I know how it feels”

Avni kept looking down at her cup of coffee without saying anything. She was too proud to show
her vulnerable side. At the same times, with every passing second she was aware that they might not meet like that ever again. She could not ask for another coffee again. Ranveer wasn’t even talking about a second date. Her mind was racing, trying to find excuses to meet him again.

Chapter - 08

“OK”

He said something to the waiter and they picked up both the cups and came out of the shop with Avni. There was a small staircase of a shop which was closed and was up for rent. They sat down there. It was getting dark slowly. Avni had no experience of sitting on stairs and drinking coffee in cheap cups. But she felt so alive. So free. She was surprised to realize that she was actually enjoying the whole experience.

They just sat there sipping the coffee. Not even saying anything. Ranveer still seem to be regretting bringing Avni out for a coffee like this.

“You know. This is the best coffee I have ever had” Avni whispered.

“Come on. Don’t try to make me happy like this. This is coffee worth 5 Rs. Not what u are accustomed to” Ranveer said, sounding as if he was now totally regretting bringing her there.

“You won’t understand Ranveer. I feel so free right now. Even the air feels purer.” She turned towards him, smiled that dimpled smile and said, “Thanks for asking me out.”

It was almost unbelievable to even Avni, how calm she was. Her usual stubborn and fiery nature seemed to have vanished in front of Ranveer. She was aware of the effect this man was having on her!

She looked amazingly beautiful under the dim evening light. Her eyes were glowing with real happiness. Ranveer believed her.

“Why did you say yes for coming out for coffee with me Avni?” he asked, his voice disturbed, yet gentle. He regretted it the very next moment, expecting another snappy remark from her.

“If I tell you the truth then I really don’t know why I said yes. I generally go out in groups. I means with all my friends.” Avni replied, her voice was low and felt as if she was talking from a far away place.

He was surprised to see her this way, as if she was in her own little world.

“Wont your boyfriend mind you coming out with me?” Ranveer probed.

“No, I don’t think so. We are not that close.” Avni was looking at the cup as if it contained the solution to the entire world’s mystery. Her mind seemed to be far away. “Shekhar is actually my dad’s friend’s son. Our parents have always expected us to be engaged and I have never tried to break that illusion.”

The coffee had finished a long time back. The temperature was going down and Delhi winter was showing its true color. Their breath was forming soft mist. The silence was almost electric.

“Come on. I will drop you home. It’s getting dark and very cold now. You are again not wearing proper warm clothes. This flimsy sweater is all show no work”

Ranveer got up and gave his hand to Avni.

No sparks flew when they held hands; instead there was an amazing level of comfort.

It was as if they knew each other since forever. She slung her backpack as Ranveer picked up the cups and they went inside the shop to return it. It was nearly empty now.

Suddenly Avni realized that their date was over and they might not ever meet like this again.

Chapter - 07

‘May be he was just joking. I wish he doesn’t come’. She was yet to accept that she was actually looking forward to meeting him. Suddenly she felt her heart sinking.

‘He hasn’t even given me a time!’

She didn’t even have his number. Avni was now sure that he was just trying to flirt with her and impress her. Brushing those thoughts aside she buried herself in the book. As the clock inched to 4 pm and her classes finished, she said bye to her friends and went towards the campus gate.

She had told her dad that she was going to Sonia’a place for the evening. Now that she was sure Ranveer was not coming, she decided to take an auto or taxi and go home. Trying to cheer herself and divert her mind from Ranveer, she came out of the huge iron gates. The auto rickshaw stand was just few steps away. She started walking towards it.

“I think we had a date madam” a bike stopped right beside her. It was him. Avni felt her heart missing a beat. ‘God. You scared me’ She was still trying to find fault in him.

“So you are comfortable on the bike or should we take and Auto? I can’t afford taxi for sure” Ranveer’s eyes were again mocking her.

“Bike is ok. And since when are you waiting here? You didn’t even give me a time!”

“Umm let me see, I bunked 2 classes today. So I must have been waiting since 12. And don’t you think you should have given me a time? It was you who rushed off leaving me behind. And now come, sit. Your parents will get worried if you are too late. So we better go for that coffee now…”

Avni sat behind him. It was the first time that she was sitting on a bike. Her father had always provided cars for her. It felt strange, but so free. Avni was already enjoying this ‘once only’ date. As the bike picked speed, she could feel the wind in her hair. It felt cold, but she loved it.

“Where are we going?” Avni asked, trying to hold on to the bike. She was hesitating in holding on to Ranveer.

“There is a nice shop nearby where they serve good coffee. Not too many varieties, but whatever they have is good”

Ranveer could now feel Avni shifting, trying to maintain her balance.

“Haven’t you sat on a bike ever madam?”

“No. I haven’t. And stop calling me madam. I have a name and I think it’s quite nice” she snapped back.

“Ok ok. Don’t loose your temper. See I don’t want you to fall down. Just hold on to me and I will drive slowly.”

Avni gingerly put her hand on his waist, trying to hold onto his jacket somehow. It was getting colder now, her fingers felt just a bit numb. Ranveer had slowed down the bike and Avni felt much more comfortable now.

After 10 more minutes, they reached a small coffee shop. It was buzzing with students.

“Sit here. I will bring the coffee.”

Ranveer said and then went towards the counter. Suddenly he returned back and said

“Hey, you are not uncomfortable na?” He genuinely looked concerned.

Avni felt for the first time that he was feeling conscious about the difference in their standard of living.

“No. I am fine. I like this place” she tried to sound cheerful.

Ranveer returned in a minute and sat on the chair in front of her. The coffee arrived in no time. It was served in nice, clean but cheap cups.

“Let’s go and sit outside on the stairs. It’s very crowded here.”

Ranveer was actually aware of the fact that the guys in the shop had started to notice Avni now. She looked completely out of place with her expensive branded clothes.