I stirred my coffee over and over waiting to see some
foam on the top. Across the counter,
memories swirled on the steam that plastered the window on that beautiful snowy
morning.
“Aditi, whenever you need to talk, I just want to let you
know that I have your back.” I lingered. Good people don’t go out of your life
until you wish them away. Vasavi came back around and I was glad.
“Main nahin sehti” the joy that this statement brought to
me was inexplicable. I almost forgot my compulsion to stir the coffee. There
aren’t many cool people you find in the multitude of drama you’ll see walking
around you every day in college. I smiled when I thanked my fortunes for having
met Vibhawari.
“I’m happy that you’re happy” and I get back to my coffee. I take a sip. It
needs more coffee beans. I forget how much I put in and enough is never enough,
it seems. Just as he forgets things. Prabhat can be annoying. But just as I
said this in my head, things fell into place. After all, just as coffee beans
keep giving out colour to the milk even if they’re not just enough for the
perfect coffee yet, he comes around. He doesn’t have to be around to do things
or think things he wants to for you, about you.
And another thought raced to my mind. I took a deep
breath. There’s something that gives. She lends me something that I seem to
need a lot of times. I suddenly stand straight, charged. I put my coffee down.
I have to set up the counter for work. Eesha’s work obsession is something I
could never match but her persona may have put some pieces of my puzzle into
place for me. I am more of my own person when she’s around.
I sighed. I had too many coffee beans in my coffee now. I
put more sugar to regain the balance. I chuckled as that could have made some
metaphorical sense, too. Lit kids, pfft! But then it’s not a lost cause. Aayush
does give the best pep talk. I’ve never heard better. He could even beat the
girls who think they’re the “best” at this.
The bell tinkled and the door opened. My reverie broke
and it startled me. My coffee jumped right out of my mug right into the sink. I
looked back to see who came in and then right back into the sink.
“Ah! I need more coffee beans!”
