"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Onwards!!!

Chapter 2 - First Encounter, A Disaster?

#Mermaid Cafe, 5:30 pm#

"Finally, the last of the customers are about to leave. I'm bone-tired!" exclaimed Ragini.

"Agreed whole-heartedly" Swara said, as she flopped onto the chair near the counter.

Pragya and Tanuja just smiled at their antics.

*jingle*

The doorbell jingled as someone entered the cafe.

"Who's coming now? We're about to close. I think I'll go tell them that we are closing."

"Wait, Tanu di don't!"

"Eh? Why not? Didn't you say you were tired Ragu?"

"I did! But not anymore! Look who is among them. Abhishek Mehra! The Rockstar!!!!"

Pragya looked up from what she was doing. 'NO way! Abhi! He's here!!! Oh my God! Oh my God! I hope I look okay!'

"Me and Pragya are the biggest fans of his! Lets go meet them Pragya di!" said Ragini excitedly.

"What? Just like this? They will probably get irritated if we go and act like fangirls in front of them." Pragya pointed out.

"Take water for them then. One of you give them water, while the other can take the orders" Swara said, handing them a tray with 5 glasses of water.

"Good idea! I'll take the orders. Pragya di, you take the glasses. Lets go!" exclaimed Ragini

#With the boys#

The boys sat at a table. Arjun looked around and saw that there were only three other customers left, and they were about to leave.

"Rishi, this cafe is about to close. I think we won't be served now."

"Don't worry, we'll be served. And Rishi chose this time on purpose. Less customers means he could talk with Tanuja more." Abhi said

"Tanuja?"

"Yep. The owner of this cafe. Look there, the one in white salwar at the counter. That's her."

They all turned to look at Tanuja.

"Nice choice Rishi. She's a pretty one" teased Laksh.

"Thanks" said Rishi, too busy looking at Tanuja. His eyes widened as he realized what he said "....I-I-I mean, I don't know what you are taking about!"

The rest just laughed.

"Welcome to Mermaid cafe! What would you like!" asked Ragini, as she and Pragya reached their table.

Arjun, being the shameless flirt he is, started flirting at once.

"Well, I think it would take sometime. I forgot what I want seeing such beautiful ladies."

Pragya blushed, but Ragini just rolled her eyes.

"Okayyyy. Abhi! Can i have your autograph!?" Ragini asked excitedly.

"Eh? Won't you ask me for food?"

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist. Pragya di and me are the biggest fans of yours!"

"Haha..its okay, I was kidding. And so she is Pragya. Who are you by the way?"

"I'm Ragini"

"Hey... I think I have seen you somewhere Pragya." remarked Laksh.

Pragya looked at him and realized that he works in the same college as her.

"Aha! I remember now. You're the Biology Professor at St.Peter's College. I coach the football players there. Recognize me?" said Laksh

Pragya nodded.

"I've seen you too! You lost to a student at a match. Hahaha" laughed Ragini

"Eh? You were there?" Laksh flushed in embarrassment.

"Yep! I wanted to see Pragya di's college. So I went there one day. Coincidentally, it was the day you lost. And don't worry, everyone loses sometimes." 😝

"Hahaha... There goes your pride as a player Lucky" 😂 teased Abhi.

"Whatever!" 😔 Laksh huffed. He turned to look at Pragya "But what are you doing here working at a cafe?"

Pragya was of a shy nature. So she didn't speak at once. Ragini, on the other hand, being the most talkative among the sisters, started her rant.

"This cafe is our sister's. The college is closed today no? So di decided to help Tanu di in work. I took a break for today too. See that girl in yellow top? That's Swara. Swara had work, but she decided to help us and stay back. We thought it would be good to spend sometime together. We sisters are so busy during the day that we rarely get time to have fun. We asked our other sister too, but she is very serious about work and- Ow!" Ragini shouted as Pragya pinched her.

"Ragini, quit talking so much!" Pragya whispered in her ears.

"My my... You sure can talk a lot"  Sanskar said, with a smirk. 😏

"Ragu! Come here and help me with this please!" shouted Swara from the kitchen.

"Coming Swara!"

Ragini left, leaving Pragya alone with the boys.

'Ragu, you idiot! How could you leave me in such a situation! 😱 You know I get nervous! Aaaaa...!! they're staring at me! Why are they staring at me!? Maybe they like me? Maybe...maybe it will be like that series where seven princes fall for one princess. Wow, so cool. They would make roses rain for me, give me expensive dresses and----' Pragya mentally smacked herself 'Dhat! There I go day-dreaming again! Uffff. Of course they will be staring! I'm supposed to take their orders! But...but where's the notebook? Ragu! You, idiot, at least you could have left it here before leaving!'

"So...are you going to take our orders, or will we have to leave with an empty stomach?" asked Sanskar irritated. 😒

Pragya's voice wouldn't come out. She was too nervous. 😧

"Relax Sanskar. Besides, my appetite is full just by seeing such a beauty." Said Arjun with a smirk. Laksh looked at him irritated.

"Bhai, that's enough. Stop teasing her. She's getting nervous" 😣

"I think she's cute!" Abhi said, smiling goofily at Pragya. 'Awww..she's really cute. I bet she will look more cute without the glasses.'

Pragya didn't now what to do. Sanskar was looking at her irritated, Abhi was smiling at her, Arjun was smirking at her and Laksh was looking at his brother in anger.

"Hey ... Hey, its ok. I see that your sister forgot to write it and left with the notebook. I'll go order at the counter for us" said Rishi 'And also get to chat with Tanuja!'

They all watched as Rishi strolled out to the counter.

"Excuse me. I'm here to place my orders"

Tanuja looked at him confused. "But didn't my sister take your orders?"

"Well, someone called her from the kitchen, so she had to go help."

"Okay. Tell me what would you like."

'I like You' Rishi thought " Yes. We would like....." Rishi told her what each of his friends wanted and Tanuja noted them down.

"Okay. You can go sit down" Tanuja headed for the kitchen.

"W-wait!"

"Hmm? You want to order something else?"

"Um...yes ....I mean no...I-I-" Rishi stuttered. Suddenly, his eyes fell on some boxes on the side. "What are those boxes for?"

"Those? Oh I almost forgot. I need to move them to the store room. Me and my sisters will do it later."

"O..But wouldn't it be better if I helped? I mean, your sisters are tired and a guy could carry them more easily then girls." Rishi spoke 'And I would get to spend some time with you.' he thought happily.

Tanuja felt that Rishi was right and agreed. Ragini and Swara can take the food for the guys.

"Okay. There are two here. Lets put these in the store room first. The rest of the boxes are outside, near the back door. We'll come for them next."

Rishi grabbed the two boxes and they both headed for the store room.

#At the table#

'I'll just put the glasses here and leave . Or else, I might embarrass myself further!' thought Pragya.

She put the tray with the glasses on the table. Unfortunately, as she hastily put the glasses, one glass slipped over the side of the tray. It was about to fall, but Arjun caught it. However, it spilled water all over his shirt and some splashed on his hair.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Its ok. Its ok." Arjun took out his hankie and scrubbed his shirt.

"Can't you even put the glasses right?" Sanskar said, scathingly.

Pragya was too embarrassed and scared to do anything.

"Hey! Its not her fault ok. Accident's happen" said Abhi.

"Yea. It ok. Its only water, it'll dry up. But my hair needs some care. Please pat it dry for me?" Arjun asked Pragya. He couldn't resist flirting.

'Bhai, you're going too far. Can't you see she is really nervous! Not every girl is a bimbo and flirt! Pragya is an innocent girl.' thought Laksh.

"Why should she! There's the washroom. Go and clean up if you want." said Ragini, pointing towards the washroom. She and Swara had come to give them their food, when they heard him tease Pragya.

"Awww....But I want her to do it for me. Or you can dry my hair if she won't" Arjun told Ragini and gave her the most innocent smile he could. 'No girl can resist this smile of mine.' thought he. He happily reached for a glass of water on the table, thinking that Ragini would start drying his hair.

"Unbelievable! You shameless ape!"

Arjun choked on the water he was drinking. 'Did she just call me an ape? Me? Arjun sharma? My goodness! This girl is surely something'

None of them heard the doorbell jingle as someone entered. That someone was Maya. They were too busy with the argument.

"Hey! watch it! It was your sister who dropped water on him" Sanskar accused.

"She apologized for it didn't she!"

"Hey! Hey! Lets not fight okay." said Swara, playing peacemaker. While Ragini was short-tempered, Swara didn't like people fighting.
'Tanuja di! Come back fast. Ragini is speaking without thinking about the consequences again!' thought Swara.

"But Swara he should apologize!"

"Ragini....Pragya is sorry for the accident, and I'm sure his friend is also sorry for teasing Pragya di too much."

"Why should Arjun be sorry! He did nothing wrong." Sanskar pointed out

"Unbelievable. Your friend was making my di uncomfortable! How culd you not see that?!" Ragini shouted.

"Who told her to be such a nervous wreck? Its not like we were harming her. Arjun was just playing a harmless joke." Sanskar said flippantly.

"Harmless!? Are those your eyes or buttons!" Ragini fumed.

"Watch your mouth!" Sanskar stood up.

Ragini and Sanskar looked ready to rip each other's throat.

"You're the eldest here. Won't you say anything!" Laksh whispered to Abhi.

"I'm kind of enjoying the show" Abhi replied. Laksh just looked towards the heaven 'What am I supposed to do with this guy!?'

No one noticed Maya moving to the counter and picking a knife, and approaching them.

"Okay! Guys Guys!!! I'm sorry alright!" Arjun said, trying to pacify Sanskar and Ragini. He didn't think his joke would escalate this far.

"Arjun, why are you-"

"Sanky, Ragini is right. I should apologize. Its alright bro. Calm down"

Sanskar sat down with a huff.

Swara pulled Ragini aside towards the kitchen.

Pragya collected the glasses and was about to take them back when Arjun spoke.

"So... dry my hair?" Arjun asked jokingly. He thought that it would make Pragya smile. And indeed, Pragya let out a little smile.

Ragini heard it and was about to come and lecture Arjun. However, someone came from behind Pragya and grabbed Arjun's chin. It was Maya. Maya had heard everything.

Maya took the knife that she took from the counter and held it in front of his face. Everyone looked on in shock.

'I think I've seen her somewhere' thought Sanskar.

"W-w-what are you doing!?" Arjun squeaked out.

"Well, since no one is drying your hair, I thought it would be best to cut that portion of your hair. Don't mind if it hurts your scalp please."

"NO! no! Its alright. No need of any cutting!" Arjun said in panic.

"But you seemed so worried about you hair" Maya said with a sinister smile.

"No! Its fine. I'm not worried about my hair. In fact, I don't even care about it! I would even be happy to go bald!"

"You're sure you don't want me to help?" asked Maya

"YES!" Arjun said hurriedly.

Maya put the knife down and brought her face close to Arjun. Their noses were almost touched and she looked in his eyes, dead serious.

"Learn to stay in your limits, or I'll have to cross mine." with that, she moved back and stood straight. "Pragya, I'm tired. Can you get me my coffee?"

"S-su-rre"

"Thanks. I'll go home. Bring it to me please?" (Their home was right across the street, in front of the cafe, in case anyone forgot :-P )

Pragya nodded.

Maya walked out of the cafe calmly, like nothing happened.

Pragya quickly collected the glasses and left for the kitchen. Ragini and Swara followed.

The boys were too shocked to move.

"Hey! The orders arrived? Nice!" exclaimed Rishi as he returned. He had an amazing time with Tanuja, even if it was not long. "Why do you guys look like you've seen a ghost?"

Laksh was the first one to snap out of his shock.

"Rishi bhai, you missed all the action!"

"Eh? What happened?"

"Arjun got whipped. Thats what" said Sanskar as the others laughed.

"Oooo. I've got to hear this. Tell me!"

"Okay Rishi. So you see..."

Abhi proceeded to tell Rishi all that happened while Arjun was busy thinking about Maya.

'Who is she? Never have I been so shocked by a girl! I wasn't afraid, no way! I'm Arjun Sharma! Was I afraid? Nevermind that. Whatever may it be, she was sure different. Call me crazy, but i wouldn't mind meeting her again.' thought he. Arjun looked at the table and noticed the knife.

He gulped 'But without a knife this time.'

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To be continued...