A chubby girl yet cute donned in a peral white formal shirt with black pencil skirt shoulder length hair spread open and parted in a middle. She was wearing white converse instead of a black pumps unlike the other waitress.Having a small formal lovely smile and minimal make up with a cheerful personality had kicked in dull and monotonous atmosphere of the Annmarie Cafe, a small famous cafe in the suburbs of Andheri, Navi Mumbai.

Before only old Bollywood romance songs of 40s-70s songs played in the parlour. but now it was replaced by the sweet voice of Soumya Maheswari. Making  happy and cheering up as dull dead soul was her hidden talent. The 23 years old girl was hired by Mrs D'Silva 6 months back was like a shooting star fulfilling a long wished dream. Her calculative  diplomatic mind had made the business of Mrs D'Silva  grown into a chain of small cafe stores in Andheri. 

Soumya may appear cheerful to the outerworld but inside she is dead soul who was trying to fix her broken heart for years.No one knows the lovely smile hides a tsunami of dreadful emotions. Mrs D'Silva knows about Soumya more than the staffs in the Annmarie Cafe.

6 months ago

Soumya:

I was sitting in a corner of the beutiful vintage interior of this small cafe with a creamy latte filled cup and my laptop and books. This is the only place of escape from the suffocating atmosphere of the college. Not so over crowded not so easy to find out but this place is best for soul relaxation. Looking at the latte, I smiled.

The latte is not over-priced as it was around the coffee stalls in the flamboyant malls where the rich snobs like to visit. Bade Bhaiyya's saira bano madness and her latte madness is something that they can't live without.

At first when I took a sip of it decades ago, I had found it bitter. It was poured prettily in a white china cup. It looklike a leaf pattern in delicate milky foam among the pale brown. Wrapping my fingers around it, enjoying the heat that spreads through my hands.Ah! The feeling is just nothing but bliss.

Pa! I chuckled at his memory.

Pa used to sip at this like it is a great luxury, his face is the same as when he takes a bite of his faourite dark Belgian chocolate, relaxed, savouring both the drink and the moment. Taking another sip, still bitter, but only crybabies like Rudra who DEMANDS for hot chocolate or syrupto Bade Bhaiya and Bade Baal Wale Bhaiya. I chuckled at the memory.

Now unknowingly I took a bigger sip and this time lets the warm liquid sit on my tongue for like eternity. There is a flavour there, once accustomed to the bitterness it steps forth shyly. It is this undertone that is so apparent in the aroma - you can't smell bitterness and so in the warm air of the bakery it is just as heady as the smell of baking bread.

Hmm just bliss..

Damn this cup of latte always reminds me of him.His eyes, the most playful eyes I've ever seen.

His eyes were the color of deep sienna, with a mischievous glint that seemed to reflect the corners of his mouth, which were fighting a smile. They were every shade of brown you could imagine, a raw umber and caramel mix, dotted with bits of dark chocolate. They glow with humor and playfulness that gives you shivers and wraps you in a warm embrace at the same time.

My memories of his youthful, deceitful, mahogany eyes will forever be remembered. His eyes always reminded me of seasons changing, a little bit of everything, but none the less beautiful.

"Soumya will you be happy to have a cup of latte with me?"A warm voice asked me.

Jerking my head up, I saw in of the voice which belongs to Mrs D'Silva.

"Sure Aunty!" I smiled.

To be continued..

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