The brisking aroma of coffee hitting all over the cafe, creating an enchanting and pleasant atmosphere for the people present over there. The grinding of coffee beans, brewing them into hot water and wielding the entire process of making a coffee delicately was the favourite part of Thameem's day.

He feels the most delightful and peaceful person during the time when he makes coffee.

The Drip Cafe, one of the most famous and fussiest cafes located in the S.M Trading Mall, Dubai. The largest shopping centre across the Arab countries.

Even though the cafe is located inside a mall, it's no less than an actual cafe where people primarily visits just to have a snack or drink and to experience the ambience of watching the entire Dubai from the fifth floor of the mall.

"Thameem, one Chocolate mocha with whipping cream and choco chips!" The waitress screamed from the other end.

"Okay, five minutes!" He responded, handing over the cappuccino he just brewed.

He was a barista and the main accountant at the same time as he enjoys doing both. He works as a manager at S.F.S Enterprise and works at the cafe during the weekends.

The job here confer him peace, serenity and happiness but this weekend was different as his twin sisters were coming from India to visit him for the first time. So, he aspired to finish his work hastily to get off early and to pick up his sisters from the airport.

Being excited, thrilled and overjoyed, he slipped some whipping cream while frosting the coffee on the table. Oops, this was the first time he made a mistake while working. Not to ponder anymore on his anxiety, he whipped it off immediately.

In a flash, he prepared the order and went towards the cashier to handle the accounts. There were three cashier's, two girls and one boy. But he was the main accountant who regulates the cash and closes the accounts of the day as his Boss trusted and admired him the most.

It was nearly evening, all the cash till now was managed and he called his boss to ask about taking a half-day leave.

"If there are only a few customers, you can leave." His boss declared saying.

Thameem looked at his surroundings, which was crowed with rushing customers coming in every five minutes. Tables were full, cash counter and the counter taking orders, everything was too huddled and busy.

Guess I can't leave now, he gloomily pondered.

All of a sudden, an idea popped on his mind and rushed towards the manager of the cafe, who was around his mid-forties.

"Mr Abraham, can you please handle the accounts for the night shift? I had to urgently go somewhere." He pleaded.

"I'm sorry Thameem, I have no role in that area. Maybe try asking any other cashier's?" He suggested.

"Will the boss agree?" Thameem asked as their boss was always unpredictable and hated his employees taking decisions without his permission.

"Wait, he didn't grant you half-day off?" Mr Abraham inquired.

"Sadly no. But, my sisters are coming from India for the first time and I need to go pick them up. So, I need to go and please don't say this to the boss." He informed the manager to which he nodded and suggested him to replace his night swift with another employee.

He analysed all three cashier's, pondering on to whom he should handover the accountant post for the night shift. The only boy cashier was new to their cafe and was young so he thought to not give him. Then there were two girls remaining and among them, one seemed talented and expert in dealing with accounts as he had analysed their accounting skills while they were dealing with customers and money.

Thameem paced towards her, who was typing the orders on the computer screen in front of her. He never liked initiating conversations with girls unnecessarily. But here, it was his need to ask a favour from her.

Despite being his colleague at work, he didn't know her name. He slightly glanced at her pastel pink veil which was wrapped around her shoulders and searched the name tag which was attached on her veil. He had a pretty bad habit of forgetting people's names and especially girls names.

"T-Thanaz?" He called out.

"Yes?" She lifted her gaze from the computer and glanced at his figure.

"I wanted to ask you a favour. I'm going out so, can you please take care of today's accounts?" He asked without looking directly to her face as it was making him feel awkward, asking a favour.

"Yeah, sure. Want should I do?" She inquired cheerfully.

"Well, combine all the remaining accounts of the day in our companies account, all the payments with cash and cards. Then, handover the liquid cash to Mr Abraham before closing the cafe." He explained.

"Okay."

He gleefully removed his apron, rushed outside the mall, and paced towards the metro station.

"Street 21." He said to the person on the ticket counter.

•••

Thameem entered inside S.F.S Enterprise and was greeted by his employees, some were shocked to see him at this time and some were happy to see him. As he didn't have time to greet them and have a conversation, he bustled towards the CEO's cabin without wasting a second.

"Shaaaziil, I need a favour!" He said, holding his breath.

"Wa Alaikumusalaam. I'm fine." Shazil replied sarcastically. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the cafe?"

"Did you forget? My sisters are coming so I took half-day leave. I need one of your cars to borrow." He informed, ignoring Shazil's sarcastic reply.

"How many times do I have to advise you on buying a ca-"

"Later Shazil, later. Now I don't have time." Thameem replied, grabbing a car key from the key stand.

"This is why we shouldn't be appointing our best friend as a manager," Shazil muttered.

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing! Grab your keys and go!" Shazil faked annoyance and acted like he was busy. "Also, you don't need to return the car tomorrow. Have fun with your sisters and use it until they leave." He further added.

"Thanks, Bossy Shazil!" He winked and walked away.

Thameem has worked hard and earned enough money to buy a car on his own. But according to him, it was a waste of money and preferred taking metros and bus for his travelling purpose. Shazil being his best friend was always there to support on all his decisions including working on a cafe at weekends except this. Cause, as per his perception, a boy must own a car. But Thameem begs to differ and didn't care about materialistic things like this.

•••

The sky was dusk, roads crowded than usual as it was weekend and people from different parts of the world, waiting for the arrival of their loved ones at the airport. He too stood near the mob, waiting for his sisters anxiously.

He grabbed the phone from his pockets to call them but was abrupted when he heard, "THAMEEEM BROO!"

His head shot up instantly and glanced at his two mischievous twin sisters who were strolling towards him, along with the trolly with their luggage.

"SABAAH! SHEHAA!" He rejoined in excitement as they were seeing each other after one year.

The siblings embraced each other in a tight hug and started their non-stop chats, forgetting about calling their mother who was waiting for their call to know whether they reached or not.

"Bhai, let's go somewhere out. I want to see DUBAAII," Sheha suggested as soon as they got on the car.

"No, you both would be tired. Let's go sightseeing tomorrow." He plainly declined their suggestion.

"You are a bad Bro," Sabah spoke with a frown.

They were twenty-two years old grown-up girls but still acts like small kids around him. Even he enjoyed being immature with them and gave them the freedom to call him Bhai, Bro and sometimes his name even when they had an age gap of three years.

Sabah and Sheha hastily freshened up as soon as they reached the flat and planned to have a siblings movie night like old times, fighting over a character, teasing and annoying each other for no particular reason.

Three of them were having a small fight on which cartoon to watch but Thameem abruptly got up when his phone rang. And the sound of phone call reminded the twins that they had to call their mother to inform about their safe arrival.

"So, did they reach safely?" It was Shazil.

"Yes, Alhamdulilah."

"Why do you work at the cafe man! Weekends at the office is so boring without you." Shazil whined.

"Oh, you sound like a clingy girlfriend." He chuckled saying.

"I'm serious Thameem. Also, I was going to promote you to the post of companies CFO. So, can you quit the work at the cafe pleaseee?" Shazil started his dramatic pleads.

"Shazil y-" He stopped his reply when he saw the phone vibrating, indicating an incoming call.

It was Mr Abraham and the time was nearly 11 PM. It was so unusual to get a call from Abraham at this time.

"Shazil, I'll call you back soon." Saying this he cut the call and attended his manager's call.

"Hell-"

"Thameem, we are in trouble!" He sounded serious and distressed.

"What happened Mr Abraham?"

"O-our cafe..."

"Please calm down and say it, Mr Abraham."

"You know right, it was a weekend so we had more customers than usual and our sales today was higher, cash earned today was a large sum a-and and-"

"And what?"

"It got stolen!"

"WHAT! HOW? WHO!" Thameem was now nervous.

"T-that girl, Thanaz. She was the one."

•••

ASSALAMU ALAIKUM/HEY

How was the first chapter of MY DEAR THEMI?