forever loved [ a short love story ]

Chapter 3: A Day Off

The café was unusually quiet. Without the usual hum of conversation and clinking of cups, The Cozy Cup felt like a different place. The chairs were stacked neatly on the tables, the counters were spotless, and the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee was absent. It was Shyam's one true day of rest, a rare occasion when the café doors remained closed to the world.

He sat at one of the tables with his notebook, sketching out new designs for the café's menu. His father often teased him for being overly meticulous, but Shyam found comfort in the quiet focus of these moments. The pencil in his hand moved rhythmically as he shaded the edge of a steaming coffee cup on the page.

A soft knock at the front door startled him. Shyam looked up, his brows furrowing in confusion. It was their day off. Who could it be?

He walked to the door and pulled back the curtain. Standing there, dressed casually in jeans and a black T-shirt, was Raitha.

---

An Unexpected Visit

Shyam unlocked the door and opened it, a question already forming on his lips.

"Raitha? What are you doing here?"

Raitha smiled, her braid swinging slightly as she tilted her head. "What? I can't visit my favorite café on my day off?"

"It's closed," Shyam said flatly, though he stepped aside to let her in.

"I know," she replied, slipping inside with an easy grace. "That's why I came. No customers to interrupt us."

Shyam blinked, unsure how to interpret her words. "Interrupt us doing what?"

She glanced around the empty café, her gaze lingering on the cozy details she had come to love over the past few weeks. "I just thought… maybe you'd want some company today. You're always here, even when it's closed. Do you ever take a break, Shyam?"

"I'm taking one now," he said, gesturing to his sketchpad.

"That doesn't count," Raitha replied, walking over to inspect his work. "What's this?"

Shyam hesitated. He wasn't used to sharing his sketches with anyone. "Just some ideas for a new menu design."

Raitha leaned closer, her eyes lighting up as she studied the page. "Wow, you're really good at this! I had no idea you could draw."

He shrugged, suddenly self-conscious. "It's just a hobby."

"Hobby or not, this is impressive," she said, her admiration genuine.

---

A Simple Plan

Raitha straightened and clapped her hands together. "Alright, enough work. Let's do something fun."

"Like what?" Shyam asked, wary.

"I don't know… play a game? Watch a movie? Something that doesn't involve coffee beans or pastries."

Shyam crossed his arms. "I'm not really a 'fun' kind of person."

"Don't be so sure," Raitha said with a grin. "Come on, what's something you've always wanted to do but never tried?"

He thought for a moment, caught off guard by the question. "I don't know. I've never really thought about it."

"Okay, new plan," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the back door.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," she replied mysteriously.

---

A Breath of Fresh Air

The two of them stepped out into the small garden behind the café. It was a modest space, with a few flowerbeds and a sturdy wooden bench. Raitha let go of his hand and wandered over to a patch of marigolds, their bright orange petals standing out against the green.

"This place is so peaceful," she said, crouching to examine a bloom. "You should spend more time out here."

"I guess," Shyam said, still unsure what she had in mind.

Raitha stood and turned to face him. "Let's make a deal. For the next hour, no talking about work. Deal?"

Shyam hesitated. "What are we supposed to talk about, then?"

"Anything else," she said, rolling her eyes playfully. "For example… what's your favorite color?"

"Blue," he answered automatically.

"Mine's green," she said, sitting down on the bench and patting the spot beside her. "Now, your turn. Ask me something."

Shyam sat down, his mind racing. Small talk wasn't his strength, but Raitha's expectant expression made it clear she wasn't going to let him off the hook.

"What's your favorite food?" he asked finally.

"Easy—chicken biryani," she said with a grin. "What about you?"

"Anything my mom cooks," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

---

Breaking the Ice

As the hour stretched on, their conversation grew more relaxed. Raitha told him about her childhood, sharing stories of climbing mango trees and getting into trouble for sneaking sweets from the kitchen. Shyam found himself laughing more than he had in weeks.

"You're not as boring as you think, you know," Raitha said, nudging his shoulder playfully.

"And you're not as… loud as I thought," he countered, earning a mock gasp of indignation from her.

They fell into a comfortable silence, the soft rustle of leaves and distant chirping of birds filling the air.

"Thanks for letting me hang out here," Raitha said after a while, her tone softer now. "I know I kind of barged in."

Shyam shook his head. "It's fine. It was… nice."

Raitha smiled, and for a moment, Shyam thought she might say something more. But instead, she stood and stretched.

"Well, I should probably let you get back to your sketching," she said, brushing off her jeans.

"Okay," he said, standing as well.

As she headed toward the gate, Raitha paused and turned back. "Shyam?"

"Yeah?"

"I think you're a lot more fun than you give yourself credit for."

With that, she waved and disappeared down the street, leaving Shyam alone in the garden. He looked around, the space suddenly feeling a little emptier without her.

For the first time, he realized that maybe, just maybe, he didn't mind having someone interrupt his quiet routine.