Aarushi checked her frayed and delicate black wrist watch before opening the glass doors to book café. A shiny fluorescent board with 'Quill & Coffee' spelled on it in calligraphy stood at the top of the entrance. The front wall had been replaced completely with transparent glass allowing the customers to enjoy the spectacular view of mini garden developed in the front. The lawn had been well kept with meticulously trimmed rose bushes bordering along its perimeter and a jade green carpet of grass spreading all over the dark brown earth below. Little huts had been designed in yard to integrate the feel of freshness to property and its customers. Flower bed in the corner was in engulfed by the sprightly colored flowers of jasmine, lilies and peonies. Aarushi could see bougainvillea climbers loaded with pink and white papery flowers slowly climbing over the roofs of wooden huts.

Aarushi breathed in the fragrant scent of blooms before pulling the steel handle to entrance. A strong whiff of caramel and coffee greeted her; it was more sultry and pacific than the chilly wind outside. Aarushi could feel warmth spreading along her frozen limbs as soon as she stepped inside cozy coffee shop. Shelves loaded with books ran along the back and side wall of cafeteria, while central area housed tables and bean bags. Whole area had been carved out of wooden chunks, a slight fragrance of freshly chopped wood still lingered in the surroundings.

Aarushi stepped towards the wooden arch in her left which served as the reception desk. The wall behind it had been painted off white with golden fairy lights and quotes of renowned authors pasted upon it. She rang the bell on counter, as her eyes feasted over the ravishing beauty of this café.

'Coming', a voice as sweet as mellow rang through the cafeteria as a woman in her early thirties or late twenties appeared from the door at the faraway corner. She was dressed in a knee length white one piece along with a baby pink apron covering the front of her dress. Her rich black curly hair had been tied up in a bun. She held a loving grin stretching up to the crinkles of her eyes as she welcomed Aarushi.

'How may I help you miss?', she asked politely, Aarushi could smell affability and scent of freshly baked pastries radiating from woman.

'Actually I came across the advertisement of this café hiring part time helpers in the newspaper this morning; I am here to apply for the job', she explained.

'Ok, have a seat, let's have a chat', lady told her, beaming good naturedly. Aarushi passed her a genial smile as she took the seat across her on one of the tables. Night had fallen over, there were just two customers sitting in the faraway corner of café, absorbed in the fantasy world of books they were reading.

'Let me began by introducing myself, I am Jennie Samson, owner of Quill & Coffee, so you are here to apply for the job?', the lady asked her.

'Yes, myself Aarushi Sharma, I am a second year medical student at National University of Medical Sciences', Aarushi introduced herself, she was enthralled by the positive vibes emitting from the lady before her.

'I see... If you don't mind me asking, what urges you to apply for this job? I haven't seen many medical students engaging in part times', she enquired. Aarushi deliberated before answering.

'That's true, medical is a difficult course, not many manage to multi task successfully. My family had been encountering some financial issues over some time now, that's why I decide to take up this job', Aarushi replied cautiously. She saw a sad expression flicker across the lady's chocolate brown eyes, as she listened intently.

'I am sorry for your situation dear, but will you be able to take care of your studies while working here?', she asked her. Aarushi felt a sense of sympathy lining her voice, usually Aarushi would've disliked the sympathetic words of people over her condition, but hearing it from Jennie Samson didn't make her recoil in anger, instead she felt overwhelmed with admiration and amiability.

'I had some experience before, I am confident I can handle it', she smiled confidently. Jennie Samson's lips curved up in an approving smile.

'That's very brave of you, Aarushi, I am impressed. You can join in from tomorrow, basic salary would be twelve thousand a month', she told her. Aarushi nearly clapped her hands in joy after hearing the amount; she restrained her emotions with difficulty smiling gleefully at lady.

'That's so generous of you Ms. Samson! I'll try to put in the best of my effort', Aarushi gushed shaking her hand.

'Welcome to Quill & Coffee Aarushi; and Jennie would be fine, I am not much into formalities', she told her. Aarushi could feel her warm and amiable aura; she was someone who was easy to get along with.

'Ok, Jennie, I'll be on the work right at time', Aarushi said, full of joy. Suddenly a thought struck her mind.

'Umm... Actually I have something to discuss with you before I join the work officially...', she continued hesitantly.

'Yes?', Jennie prompted her to speak.

'I am currently participating in a project, if you don't mind allotting me the afternoon and late evening slots, it would be really helpful', she said, she wondered if Jennie would think negatively of her, she had laid down a demand before even working. To her greatest relief Jennie broke into a grin.

'Of course dear, you can have a flexible schedule, but you must give in six hours of duty per day', she laughed.

'I can do it, thank you, I'll see you tomorrow morning at nine, bye', Aarushi beamed as she prepared to exit the café.

'Have a good night', Jennie waved her as she exited the glass doors.

A cold gush of wind smacked Aarushi as soon as she stepped in the dark street outside. Streetlights were illuminating brightly spreading a pool of light below them, leaving few patches in between submerged in black. Reality crashed down upon her as her delighted mood was washed away instantaneously.

She had become entangled in a flummoxing thing called life. Her brain had gone numb like the chilly wind blowing around her, she sighed desperately hoping to seek some solutions to the huge mess she had landed herself in; she beseeched for appearance of an angelic figure to help her sort out her own sentiments and her chaotic life. She started off towards their campus wearily, hoping to hit the bed and escape into her world of dreams, away from all the sorrows and duties.

A moment later her phone rang, announcing an incoming message. She checked the lock screen, expecting to see Harshita or Anjali's name, it was already dinner time; they would be worried. Her eyes nearly left the socket as sender's name along with text popped up.

It was from her savior in the direst circumstances, it was from the person who knew her better than she knew her own self, it was from the person who knew when to rebuke for her naivety and when to give her unconditional support and comfort when she is stuck at the bottom of abyss, it was a text from her childhood best friend Juhi Mehta.

'I am coming over to Delhi'

She read the six words almost sixty times as her heart squealed in joy. She had not got much chances of seeing her best friend after leaving her hometown four years ago, though they had stayed in touch virtually, but social media and texts could not accomplish the level of pleasant and affable days they shared in school.

She missed roaming around their extensive campus until their shoe soles became worn out, she missed laughing senselessly at jokes which only both of them shared, she missed grumbling about teachers and discussions of wild running gossips that circulated through the school. Juhi had been the tough pillar that had supported her crumbling life, wholeheartedly entrusting her with her gracious and affectionate friendship.

At the time of Aarushi's departure, both of them had cried buckets of tears at the thought of separation. They had met a couple of times before Aarushi's selection in medical, after which they hadn't got much opportunity to see each other with Aarushi being caught up in her college life and Juhi preparing for her entrance exam in law college.

Yeah you guessed it right! Juhi was one year younger than Aarushi, but in their relationship she was the older and wiser one, who would keep a calm and realistic head when her friend is completely deluded by emotional outbursts and that's how they found comfort in each other. Interestingly, Juhi had been friends or rather acquaintances with Ajay as they had shared a peculiar love hate relationship being family friends and teammates during lawn tennis. Juhi did not hate him to core, but strongly reckoned that her friend deserved someone much better than Ajay. Juhi hailed from a family of reputed lawyers and desired to carve her future as a protector of law by becoming an advocate.

Not long back, she had managed to secure a seat in prestigious Patna University of Law and Sciences, her arrival in Delhi was the greatest news Aarushi had heard; this day wasn't so bad after all!

'K, let's meet up!' she quickly texted back, her face was stretched in a broad smile as typing appeared on the status bar.

'Cool, how about four tomorrow evening?'

'Fine with me, I'll send you the place!', she could not contain her excitement as she strolled down to her university. She was finally meeting her bestie after two long years.

[Flashback]

Aarushi and Juhi were strolling around the lively ground area, which had been decorated customarily to host the children's fete; it was a customary tradition of schools to host activities and fairs for children on the occasion of children's day every year. Fair hosted by their school was one of the best in cities with camel and horse rides, multiple stalls for games and delicious food and a huge dance arena. Younger students were often accompanied by their parents while older ones took the liberty to explore and have fun with their friends.

Most of Aarushi's batch mates were flooding over the dance floor, dancing crazily on some popular bollywood party song with their own friends' groups. Others could be seen stuffing themselves with mouth watering food and pastries at stalls. They had been given a coupon booklet which contained children's money for expenditure in fete. Aarushi and Juhi was neither a fan of dancing maniacally with a huge group of strangers judging their moves nor were they in a mood to enjoy food as they had just completed their appetizing meal from stalls.

So they decided to stick to their favorite job, strolling aimlessly. At this point, Aarushi could not remember how many times they had rounded the half a kilometer long boundary of their ground, gossiping about teachers and students. Juhi was filling her with latest deeds of her history teacher, Mrs. Shelly Singh, who happened to be a well loathed figure among students owing to her tyrant and judging personality when Ajay sauntered over to them.

'Juhi!', he called to her as he half ran half walked towards the duo. Interestingly, Juhi and Ajay were tennis partners and family friends. This fact was well known around the school, though their relationship was nowhere near as of 'friends'. Aarushi had been a witness to their childish banter and Tom and Jerry relationship. One day they would be getting along like close friends and the next day they would be ignoring each others' mere existence! Only time they would have an almost amiable non bickering interaction was during their tennis districts, after which both of them would be back to their MIA mode. Aarushi was completely dumbfounded when she first discovered this unusual relationship but with time she has become used to it.

Their interactions in school were constricted to near negligible, so Ajay calling out to Juhi could rule out the possibility of a normal conversation.

'What?', Juhi asked him, Aarushi could sense similar confusion in her voice as she herself was experiencing.

'Lend me ten rupees coupon', Ajay said to her. Juhi was taken aback by this sudden uncanny demand.

'I am sorry, what?!', she asked. Aarushi looked from Juhi to Ajay; Juhi was glaring at him, annoyed and confounded while Ajay was grinning a stupid mischievous grin.

'Could you lend me ten rupees coupon?', Ajay repeated his every word slowly as though speaking to someone hard of hearing.

'And why should I oblige you with my money?', Juhi retorted.

'It's okay, twenty would also be fine', Ajay told her as his grin widened.

'Oh really, well sorry to inform you, I am not lending you single penny!', Juhi stated glaring at him.

'C'mon, don't be a petty miser! It's just ten rupees!', Ajay told her rolling his eyes. Aarushi could sense danger written all over her friend's face as Juhi gave him a terribly annoyed look.

'Oh well, I am not as terrible as you! Begging around for ten rupees! Aarushi, come on, I cannot stand in the presence of poor hypocritical penny pinchers!', she tugged at Aarushi intending to move away.

'You can walk away if you want, don't regret it if I annoy the hell out of you for next whole term!', he told her smiling an impish and sly smile. Juhi could bear the tortures of hell, but Ajay annoying her for whole semester was worse than hell! She shot him an irritated look but stopped in her tracks, she could not let him have this opportunity.

'Fine, tell me the reason', she demanded, crossing her hands over her chest.

'It's not necessary', he replied. Juhi gave a hollow cynical laugh.

'Wow! Boy, you have amazing audacity! Begging around for money without a reason! Trust me, become a professional liar in future, you will roll in the dough', she told him, smiling sarcastically.

'Thanks for the compliment! At least I won't get to meet some misers like you who would get puffed up over ten rupees!', he said winking at Juhi. Juhi rolled her eyes; she looked at Aarushi standing beside her, looking at the conversation dumbstruck; she could not ruin their precious time arguing with this stubborn buffoon. She brought out her coupon booklet and tossed a coupon at Ajay.

'Hey! It's just five!', he called to her as she left with Aarushi.

'Beggars can't be choosers, young man! Be grateful to what you have, that's the mantra of life!', she shouted back at him, without turning to look back.

'I can't believe you did that!', Aarushi told her, shaking her head. Though she knew what Juhi did was correct, but she could not help feeling sorry for him. It was just ten rupees, they could've avoided the argument, but then how could they be Juhi and Ajay if they were not always getting into insensible childish banter.

'That dumbass did not even bother to tell the reason, how did you expect me to react? Shower him with flowers and praises?', Juhi snapped at her, still annoyed.

'No, but argument wasn't necessary. It was just ten rupees, besides we have already exhausted all resources here and were still left with some spare coupons', she tried to reason, which she knew was falling on deaf ears.

'He is a weird spoiled jerk, who is nothing but exceedingly pompous and pesky with his brain on ninth cloud! If he thinks that the whole world will bow to him just because he is a popular campus crush, then I'm sorry I had to clear his head! How can someone like a weirdo like him? Even the thought of it disgusts me', Juhi stated, scrunching her face at the thought.

'Umm... he isn't as bad as you think you know... he did apologize to me that day...', Aarushi mumbled. She didn't know why but she felt a little disappointed at the sight of her friend insulting him. Aarushi won't say he was the best, he was sure a high headed self indulged individual but he wasn't the worst boy out there and he was undoubtedly a charmer, a pretty one. Juhi was staring at Aarushi, suspicious and stunned.

'What's wrong with you defending him like that?', Juhi questioned her. Aarushi did not dare to meet her eyes, she herself didn't know what's wrong with her. Ajay had always gotten under her nerves, in past she won't give a damn about that boy or his existence; they were purely classmates whose fates had been entangled unintentionally.

'Don't tell me you have fallen for him!', Juhi gasped. Her best friend falling for her infuriating so called friend was last thing she wanted hear right now. Aarushi's cheeks had a tinge of pink as she swiftly turned around to face her.

'No! I won't fall for him, not even in my wildest dreams! I would rather like a dog than fall for him!', she nearly shouted. Juhi searched her face for something, and she seemed to find it. She sighed resignedly.

'Ok, I trust you and that blush on your cheeks', she told her mockingly.

'I am serious about it; I won't like him ever in my life! And that blush is nothing, I am just tired from all the walking!', she protested. Juhi laughed at her teasingly as they went off to game stalls in front.

[Flashback ends]

Aarushi entered past the doors of MTC café. Her eyes searched around the place for a familiar figure, she was very keen to see. After running her eyes around the area she saw her sitting near the corner of café. Juhi hadn't changed a bit from what she saw nearly a couple of years ago. Her long thick black curls were tied up in shambolic bun. She had tender white skin which glowed light red under the effect of sun rays falling on her. Her blue green eyes reflected the resolute no nonsense attitude she possessed. She was a beauty who could turn a few heads wherever she goes. Her eyes lit up with gaiety as her eyes landed on Aarushi standing before her.

Aarushi walked over to her pulling her into an embrace. She could feel all her worries and anticipations going down the drain with her hands wrapped around her best friend. She had been there when no one was there with her. She held the answer to almost all of her troubling questions.

'I am so happy!', Juhi said to her as she proceeded to take her seat beside her on the table big enough for three.

'Hmm, so am I! By the way did you put on weight?', Aarushi eyed her from top to bottom.

'What type of greeting was that?', Juhi told her pretending to be affronted and stunned. Aarushi smirked at her.

'That's what we call love my dear!', she told her with pretentious innocence.

'Damn girl! Medical got you I think!', Juhi exclaimed raising her eyebrows at her.

'Not more than you! Law is doing a great job on you,' Aarushi sniggered at her friend.

'My life is well, screwed up, first law entrance test and now all those case studies', Juhi rolled her eyes shaking her head in pique.

'I can see that, your hair have become a complete mess and those circles and wrinkles under your eyes is giving me chills, I am afraid I will be calling you grandma in few days', Aarushi said shaking her head in mocking dejection as she struggled to not to give her a sly smirk. Juhi's hand shot up to Aarushi's forehead.

'What are you doing?', Aarushi questioned her strange action.

'Nothing, just checking if you have some fever or something, 'cause roasting has always been my forte', she said.

'Don't tell me I exchanged my soul with you when I hugged you just now?', Juhi gasped. Aarushi snickered at her comments.

'Well, I think I took over your territory while you were busy with books!', Aarushi told her laughing. Juhi squinted at her formidably. Aarushi stopped laughing but continued grinning at her friend.

'Let's order something first,' Aarushi smiled at her innocently, as she searched for menu card on their table.

'We can scan here for options, you dumbo! I can't believe how you are still surviving in digital world!', Juhi told her shaking her head in mocked desperation as she scanned the code on their table with her phone. Aarushi pouted at her comment, Juhi looked at her expression smirking deridingly.

'Geez! These people are robbing us from money, hundred for two cookies! I can produce a whole batch of choco-chip butter cookies in this much amount!', Aarushi cried out annoyed, as she glanced at the menu on Juhi's phone.

'Just order a glass of mint cocktail for me; I am not paying these money grabbers!', Aarushi told Juhi as she threw a disgusted look in the direction of reception.

'Consider this my treat, just order whatever you want', Juhi rolled her eyes at her friend.

'Nope! Not happening, we are splitting; besides you still owe me thirty three rupees from that time, so deduct the amount from my share and you will be free from your debt, that's a word from creditor!', Aarushi told her, smiling magnanimously.

'I can't believe you still remember that! That's like seven or eight years ago maybe!', Juhi shook her head in devastation. Aarushi and Juhi had worked with physics department during their school time for some exhibition, Aarushi had helped them buy some stuff and amount had been equally divided among everyone, others had paid off their share except Juhi and Aarushi could not help teasing her about it every time she got a chance.

'You are forgetting I am a medico, impregnable memory is the key to medical!', Aarushi smiled at her menacingly. Juhi rolled her eyes as she placed the order for an iced vanilla shake and mint mock tail. Juhi filled her with the latest news about their school and friends as their order arrived.

'So tell me which devil got your tongue today?', Juhi enquired as she took a sip of her vanilla shake.

'What do you think?', Aarushi said, batting her eyelashes with an innocent smile pasted upon her face. Juhi looked at her doubtfully, she knew what that look meant. She could hear the ticking of a forthcoming bomb which was going to be dropped upon her.

'Don't tell me it's something related to him, you both are not even in same college, there's no chance you could've ran into each other!', Juhi stated as she nervously sipped on her drink. Aarushi took in a sharp breathe before answering.

'I... met him', she finally managed to say. Juhi nearly spluttered her shake as she turned to stare at her friend with obvious shock and confusion.

'WHAT?!', her voice was just a bit softer than actual scream. It was great that café was nearly empty or else they would've invited quite a few revolting looks from fellow customers. Aarushi was playing with her straw, staring down at the wooden table.

Aarushi knew Juhi would be flabbergasted after hearing her words. She wasn't unaware of her best friend's anomalous relationship with Ajay in past. Juhi didn't hate him, but she didn't approve of him as Aarushi's love interest either. She reckoned that guy was excruciatingly fake and impudent for her ethical and impeccable friend.

Aarushi hadn't informed her about her meetings with Ajay, her mind had been in a complete turmoil. She had decided to finally confide her with everything today after getting her text. She knew only she could help her sort out her jumbled feelings and thoughts, she knew that she could answer the questions she herself wasn't able to solve. 

A/N:

This might be somewhat tedious update. Upcoming chapter comes with a surprise element, so stay tuned for more!

Also please comment if you would be interested in aesthetics for protagonists. Don't forget to vote and share your views, I am looking forward to them!