On a busy street in Chennai, set in a vintage interior was a beautiful cozy cafe painted in sepia tone. In the background, Maestro Illayaraja's wonderful composition played softly enhancing the vintage feel.

A pair of hazel eyes darted to the door each time the bell hung on it, rang. Expecting to meet the person she had been waiting for the last ten minutes all while her pink lips moved syncing with the lyrics of the current song played in the cafe. Her legs tapped the floor anxiously.

She brushed off the small bread crumbs from her crease free red top and finished her platter of toasted bread yet the person was nowhere seen. Checking her watch once again, she tucked her amber coloured curly hair behind her ears.

The wait had been proving her words just right, 'a waste of time'. Her attention darted at the loud ring of the bell on the door. The person had finally arrived, she smiled a little not hiding much of her annoyance.

"Hi, Osha. I'm really sorry for keeping you wait." The man apologised and took a seat before her.

"You better be." She snapped while she kept her smile intact.

"I get it. I should have called." He raised his hand in surrender with wide smile. "You look beautiful." He complimented and turned to the waiter and gave his order.

"Thank you." She decided to keep her conversation as minimal as possible and quickly gave another order.

Meanwhile, Osha took the moment to take a brief note of the man, Richard whom her mother thinks is a prospect groom for her. He was well dressed, looks friendly, dark and thin. Overall was an okay for her but she knew that would not be the final decision anyway.

"Nice place," He commented.

"Yup, I used to come here often. It's my favourite place."

"Interesting. So, tell me about yourself." He had his warm smile etched on his lips, chin resting on his fist.

"Why not we start from the latecomer?" Osha suggested.

"Fair enough." He nodded and rubbed his palms together.

"I have two elder brothers and I'm the youngest. Most loved uncle, my nephews and nieces are dear to me. Relationships and friendships are important to me and it's them before me. I had been in a relationship before but it didn't work out for some reasons. I occasionally drink but I don't smoke. Easy going —" Osha opt to interrupt him.

"Okay. I think I get the picture of you and how things work around you."

Richard squeezed his brows, not sure where this was heading towards. He waited as she spoke.

"This is not going to work," she blurted without wasting much time.

"Wha—What? Why? We haven't really got to know each other yet and you assume this isn't going to work. Is everything alright? Have I said something wrong?" He asked, fearing if any of his words had her discomfort.

"No, not at all. Everything is fine, Richard. I know we haven't got to know each other well but . . . " she hesitated, scratching the back of her neck.

"What do you think about flaws?" she asked instead of continuing her previous statement.

"Flaws? It's acceptable. Everyone has flaws and people should not be judged by their flaws. We should embrace it and channel it positively." He replied after a moment of dither.

"Acceptable." She murmured and nodded. "So, you are fine with flaws?"

He nodded in agreement yet scepticism marred his face.

She scooted closer to the table and leaned forward. Osha whispered, "I'm selfish, I care about myself first and I have temperamental issues plus I'm zealous. We have contracting personalities here. So, I don't think we can go along."

Osha's way of representing herself, her way of speaking and her entire facade did not let out a little hint about the flaws she mentioned. She looked like the perfect girl a man would want by his side and live. A calm persona, serene hazel eyes, soft spoken and simply dressed lady with such flaws? Richard find it hard to take it as he leaned back on the chair.

"Selfish. Temperamental issue. Zealous. I see where we don't go along. But it also surprises me that I don't see any of these traits in you as a person. At least, I should be have seen your anger a few minutes ago when the waiter had been delaying your second order," he smirked as she rolled her eyes.

"Fine. I'm not selfish and I don't have temper issues. I just don't want to get married. I fear responsibilities of a 'family'." Osha made sure she quoted the word as she didn't want to be labelled as irresponsible. She only had problems with the word family.

"Okay. I get it very well this time and I agreed we won't be a good match. Family is everything for me and I want to have a family of my own whereas you don't. I also respect and appreciate that you did not come under pressure and faked yourself." The end of his mouth curled up.

Richard stood and extended his hand to her. "Glad to know you Osha. A personality who knows herself more than anyone makes the best decision for herself. Good luck in your life." He wished her as she shook hands with him.

"Thank you, Richard, for not being judgmental. This denial is important for me, to keep the peace in my mind intact." She laughed, tapping her temple.

"You are a free soul, Osha." He said and called for the bill.

"Forget about the bill, Richard. I'll pay. Thank you!"

Osha breathed out loudly and dropped on the seat. The entire event seems to suck her energy out in a whip. Richard was indeed a fine man like what her mother had told. He had a wonderful aura around him, anyone would like him in the first meet. However, they won't be able to work it out. She understood in his mini description of himself, they are not meant to be.

Richard deserves a better woman as his life partner who will fill more colour in his colourful life.

A waiter came forward and handed her a note written by an anonymous. She was told the person had left the note for her. She scanned around the mildly busy cafe and found no doubtful person around.

A sigh escaped her lips, she opened up the note.

Your acceptance of yourself makes you look gorgeous than you are in red. And he is right, you are a free soul. ~T

Osha frowned staring at the note, biting her pink lips in the process. She had been continuously receiving similar notes at the end of every meet with her mother's so called perfect-man. Yet she has no idea of who is the person.

------

Evening turned night by the time Osha reached her home. She swung open the gate with a creek sound and tiptoed into the house only to be greeted with an angry mother fuming before her. Osha understood the message flew to her mother sooner than she thought.

"What's wrong with you Osha? What did you said to convince Richard to say no this time?" Her mother cried in anger.

"I told the truth, ma. I can't fake my feelings. If I do, I'll be cheating him and myself too." She walked pass her ignoring her mother's burning rage.

"I don't understand you Osha. All the girls in your age are married and have children but you are still stubborn and behaving like a kid!"

Osha spun her head so fast; she would have ricked her neck. "Kid? Stubborn? What are you talking, amma? All I'm asking is to let me life the way I want. Why are you shoving your life principle into me?" She exploded throwing her bag unceremoniously on the floor.

Osha didn't mean to be rude but her simple request wasn't being heard in the family hurt her terribly. As though her decision for her life doesn't matter at all and all that matter is her marriage.

"I'm doing this for your future, Osha. You don't understand me now but you will when you grow old and you will regret when you do!" Her mother dashed pass her like a burning coal.

Sliding down with the support of the pillar, Osha slumped on the floor hugging her legs. Tears stream down from her welled eyes. No one understands her like how those strangers whom she only met less than half hour does. When they could figure out her problem, why is it hard for her mother?

Osha wasn't going to give up that soon, she wiped the tears away. If her mother is adamant then so is, she. There's no way she is changing her mind, at least for the time being.

------

Two weeks later, Osha returned to the cafe and sat at the very same table and waited for another groom her mother had selected for her. This time the man did not keep her waiting for long, he entered the cafe minutes after her.

Shyam, a humble, polite, highly religious and straight forward guy. She liked him as a person but a life together? She wasn't ready to be with anyone yet. Hence, she did the same once again as she had been doing for the last six meets.

Effortlessly, she shunned him away with only three words, "I'm an atheist."

The stupefied Shyam left with a comment she wasn't surprise to receive from him. "I can't live with someone who don't share the same believe as mine."

With Shyam's chapter closed within twenty minutes, Osha waited for her note she had been receiving every time. Out of every meeting, the simple note from a stranger had been something she look forward for.

Her pair of honey brown caught the waiter approaching her with the small piece of folded paper in his hand.

I have become a fan of your instant escape remark. I'm afraid I might say yes to you. ~T

Osha closed the paper and agitatedly looked around finding the person who had written it. What did the person mean by 'they might say yes'? She wondered if the person was someone her mother have sent to followed her.

Err... she groaned drumming her fingers on the wooden table. 

*************

Welcome and thank you for reading. 

This part 1/3, will be updating consecutively for the next two days.

Now, let me know about what you think of Osha's thought. 

Have you felt the same as what Osha felt at a point in life or do you think its a foolish perception? 

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