He.

The train just pulled into the platform. The next halt may take three hours or even more and that kicked the anxiety in me. I could never afford to miss that evening shot of tea, if I do, then the consequence would be an imaginary headache that can’t be fathomed. We tea lovers make up that, nonsensical diagnosis for our justification for not to miss the cup of nectar.

Then I realised that I don’t have the exact change for the drink. The thought of not having tea for the rest of the day was spreading disturbances into my otherwise calm state of mind. I ignored the urge to drink the tea and stared into my kindle. One paperback copy was having a tiny conversation with my backpack. I couldn’t focus, her dimple was flashing, her red bindi was killing too!

Those green bangles were penetrating my eardrums, I couldn’t resist, my eyes stole a look at her, the way thieves steal in. She was busy searching for coins inside her handbag, I assumed. The rain, those silver drops, they poured down to elevate my desire further. 

She.

While I was searching for the coins to get my dose of chai, I noticed him, was he looking at me? The backpack beside him carries a sticker ‘Chai & Biscuits’ confirms it, Wah, even the jacket of the kindle got a beautifully handwritten ‘Chai Love’. Since it is going to be more than a day’s journey on wheels, it would be better to keep company of a Chai Lover + Reader combo, Well how to initiate a conversation. Books are the common ground to connect, aren’t they? 

He. She picked her mobile, should I smile at her? Um..

She. Okay, if he looks at me, I am going to smile. There he goes, good he smiled back. Should I ask for the spare book lying beside his backpack? Wouldn’t it be foolish to ask for a book, when a copy of ‘The New Penguin History of the World’ is kept beside me?

He. I handed over the copy to her, the dimple flashed again, I have no description for the feelings, maybe the sensation of a needle from a syringe, or the after effect of rubbing the spirit on to that very spot. The train was picking up the speed, while she handed over a cup of chai to me, I accepted it without any shame! That’s how some love stories begin, with two cups of tea.

Josh

Publishing Director