Sitting at the corner table of Leopold café I was waiting for my beer to be served. A Saturday evening could not be better than treating yourself with food and alcohol of your choice at your favourite café when no one is there to be with you. This has been my top pick since the first time I visited the place three years back. I come to the place very often, twice, or thrice in a month, all the way from Kurla. That evening it was raining, the first rain of the season. Sitting all alone, I was watching the people around, which is to be one of the best ways to spend my leisure. I found love in the eyes of people, I found outrage as well. I found people celebrating friendship, I found people busy with their cell phones and not talking with the person in front.
My Bira was served, so I took a sip. And then I saw her, soaked in her black dress. She seemed to be in a haste. She looked around the house, and it was full that evening. She called the Floor Manager and quickly had words with him. Both the pairs of eyes threw a glance at me. There
was a vacant seat at my table. Am I so fortunate, I asked myself; I fell in love with Leopold Café more when the manager came to me and said,
“Excuse me, sir, are you alone?”
I am Twenty-Seven, I stay in Mumbai, which is thousands of miles away from my hometown, I
broke up with my girlfriend and I barely have any close friend in this city. Of course, I am alone
– I thought. But only I could say “Yes”.
“If you don’t mind, would you please share the table with that lady?” The Manager said pointing
at her.
I looked at her and I had no reason to reject the offering. I thanked God for being so generous
and agreed with a smile.
2
It had been fifteen minutes since she joined me at my table. The only word she said after taking
her seat was “Thanks”, with a grin. I thought ‘Here’s the chance boy, the love of your life has
come to you, go get her’. I said to her, “Welcome”. She ordered one Bira and some Chicken
wings for her. And my heart loaded up with euphoria as I found a likeness in choices for the beer
brand. I could not resist myself as I said “You like Bira too” with a wide smile on my face. She looked at me, smiled a little and went busy with her cell phone. I felt insulted, I condemned myself for saying such stupid things. I looked around to check whether anyone had noticed this, and I was satisfied as everyone was busy. I said to myself, if she has her pride, you have your
own dignity. I was determined, I would not look at her. So, I finished my Beer with that
determination. I thought of leaving the café, but ordered another Beer, as I wanted to sit there a little longer.
Her food had come. I noticed her while she was having her beer and chicken wings. She had one beautiful pair of smoky eyes. Her untied, dark hair was still wet. The scarlet of her lips was
mesmerizing. I felt like I have not seen such a beautiful lady for years. And right then she discovered me staring at her, she did not seem very pleased about that. I turned my head to the other side as quickly as I could. My heart started beating faster since I expected her to say something. But she ignored me, again, and concentrated on the food.
Half of the bottle of my second beer was finished by the time she received a phone call. I listened to her saying on her phone “hey, where are you?” pause “I am at Leopold café, I was so hungry”
Pause “Yes, I am almost done.” Pause “Okay, see ya”.
She hung up the phone and I took another sip of my Bira. I was continually pondering how is it possible that I would reach out to her. I wanted to begin a conversation, but I knew I would be ignored. I prayed to God to show me a path, and suddenly I saw someone entering. A young man, tall about six feet, having biceps like John Abraham and beard like Virat Kohli. He was coming to me, does he know me, I asked myself. He came forward and stopped by the table. In no time, the lady I fell in love within the last half an hour left her last piece of chicken wings and
hugged that muscle man. And I watched her be embraced in his arms. I bowed my head down as
I could not watch that. She paid her bill and left with him within a few minutes, and I was alone again. I ordered another Bira.
3
It was 9’o clock in the evening. I came out of Leopold café with my broken heart, stepped on the street, and it was still raining. I decided to get drenched as I thought that would be the best way to heal the pain. I stopped before a cigarette shop and bought one gold flake lights. Finishing the
cigarette, I boarded the first taxi I could find. The rain was slowing down then. I took my earphone out, plugged them into my cell phone and was about to play the Elvis Presley songs when I saw someone waving hands to my Taxi. I asked the taxi driver to stop and there she was.
A Young lady, around twenty-two-twenty-three, came to the window and asked me “I am unable
to get any taxi on this rainy night. Unfortunately, my phone got switched off, I could not reserve any Uber also. I need to go to Andheri. Would you please give me a lift?”
I did not know how to react. “Sure, come in. I am going that way.” I replied.
I moved to the other side of the seat as she came inside. She said “Thank You” with a smiling face. I found her very pretty, although I knew she would ignore me anyway, so I said “Welcome” with a stern face and kept looking at the outside of the Taxi window. Suddenly I heard her asking
“Do you stay at Andheri?”
Had she asked me! I did not expect that. I looked at her and pretended that I did not listen to her.
So, I asked, “Sorry, did you say anything?”
She said, “I asked, do you stay at Andheri?” and she smiled.
“No. I stay at Kurla, near Chembur. But I am going to a friend’s place tonight.” I answered.
I turned my head the other round and kept staring at outside.
“Well, you are from Mumbai only?” She continued asking me.
“I am from Calcutta,” I said.
“We say ‘Kolkata’ these days, don’t we?” she smiled.
“I prefer being this way” I smiled back.
“I am from Kolkata too. Doing my higher studies here. What do you do?” She asked.
I was delighted knowing she is from the same city I belong to.
“I am a full-time Accountant and a part-time writer” I smiled.
“Oh, you are a writer! That’s great” I found her to be excited. Although I promised myself to stay calm, so I replied very serenely “Yeah I do write but have not published yet”.
“You will” she smiled. “I love reading. Shall I have the privilege to read your stuff?” She asked after a tiny pause.
And I could feel my heart beating faster. I asked myself ‘Oh boy, is she the one, the Love of your
life?’
*** END ***