Book-Cafe

Preet walked into the cafeteria with his laptop bag hanging on his shoulder and went straight for the reception.

"How may I help you sir?" the girl standing behind the reception counter asked him politely.

"I would like to order a mocha," Preet replied, still perusing through the menu plastered on the wall behind her.

"Very well sir. Anything else you would like to order?"

"Actually yes, add one grilled sandwich also, please."

"One grilled sandwich," she repeated slowly as she fed his order items into the system.

"Is that all sir?"

"Yes, that's all. Thanks, Nicky." Preet thanked her with a courteous smile.

"You're welcome, sir. Meanwhile, you can have a seat there," she replied with a subtle smile and directed him to an empty table by the window.

After a short while, Nicky called out Preet's name to collect his order from the reception. Apparently, that was a self-service cafe.

"How long is it allowed to sit here in the cafe?" asked Preet inquisitively as he collected his order from the counter.

With a grimacing face, she replied - "As long as you're ordering, sir."

"Isn't it possible to sit here as long as I want, without ordering anything? I mean, I cannot keep eating or drinking the whole time, right?"

"No sir, you cannot sit here just like that. However, there's a workaround to that."

"What's that?" Preet was certainly interested to know about that.

"You can get a book issued for reading. Obviously, you'll be charged for that, per hour. But then you'll be able to sit here until the closing time of the cafeteria."

"That's great, can I also take that book away to my place with me?" "That is for members only, sir. You will have to take membership of the cafeteria."

"Okay, fair enough."

Preet stood there contemplating something. "Are you considering getting some book issued, sir?" asked Nicky, awaiting his confirmation.

"Yes Nicky, but I am confused as to what book should I get issued, can you suggest a good book? It will be a great help." "I am not sure if I'll be of much help, sir, as I am not much into reading stuff," she replied with a sheepish smile.

"But, this is the most issued book here, if you would consider reading this." she drew a book out of the shelf and slid that over to Preet.

"Alright, then I'll read this book itself. Thanks a lot, Nicky." he picked up the book along with his coffee and grilled sandwich and turned around to move back to his seat.

"No problem, sir." "You know what Nicky, I haven't yet been decorated with Knighthood," said Preet turning back to her.

She gave him a perplexed look, apparently, she was clueless about what Preet had just said to her.

"Drop that 'sir' thing, Nicky. You can simply call me Preet." he elucidated and left for his seat.

He spent the whole day in the cafeteria, working on his laptop and occasionally observing the people coming into the cafe. He had his lunch also there, and of course, he had his book issued already for the whole day so he didn't really look bothered about leaving the cafeteria anytime soon.

At about 7 pm in the evening, Nicky came to his table, he was completely immersed in his work so he missed noticing her standing by.

"We are closing now, Preet." Preet looked up at her, a little alerted. "Sorry, what Nicky?" he asked.

"It's time to close now," she repeated. "Oh, I didn't realize that it's evening already. I am sorry, I'll pack up right away," he said and immediately started packing his stuff in the bag. Nicky also went back to pack her stuff.

"Here you go." he handed her the book.

He cleared all his payments, hung his bag on the shoulder, and bid her goodbye before moving out of the door.

The next day also, Preet visited the same cafeteria. He was early so there were not many customers yet in the cafeteria.

"Hi, Preet. Good morning."

"Very good morning, Nicky."

"You're very early today?"

"Yes I am because it's important," Preet replied with a smile.

He ordered the same items as yesterday and got the same book issued again. He collected the book instantly and went to the same table he sat on yesterday, while his mocha and sandwich were being prepared. It didn't take long, though, as just after fifteen minutes Nicky called his name out, signaling him to collect his order. After having his breakfast, he opened his laptop and resumed his work. Intermittently, he would read the book also for some time and then again would get back to his work. He spent the whole day again there in a similar fashion as he spent the previous day.

He followed the same routine for another two weeks. Nicky, who was seeing him daily doing the same thing, grew curious about his routine.

"Why would someone visit a cafeteria daily to do his work instead of going to the office?" she wondered.

Consequently, the next day when Preet came in, she asked him curiously about his daily visits. Preet didn't look surprised or shocked, perhaps, he had already speculated this to happen at some point.

"Although this is a very personal question, but to clear your speculations I'll answer this for you," Preet said with a smile.

Nicky smiled back for him to be considerate of her concerns.

"Thanks, Preet," she said.

Nicky seemed even more intrigued after that, as she joined him at his table itself. Apparently, there were not many customers yet in the cafeteria.

"See Nicky, I am here to find someone, and visiting your cafe is just part of my plan." Preet started in a serious tone.

"But I see you daily, sitting here all alone, working all day. I haven't seen you meeting any girl or anybody, for that matter."

"Yes, you're right, because she hasn't come here yet."

"That's weird! does she not know that you're waiting here for her."

"No, I guess."

"Okay. Then why don't you call her and tell?"

"Because I don't have her contact number."

"Go to her home then."

"I don't know her address."

Jenny chuckled and said - "Then how do you expect to find her? You know nothing about her whereabouts, not even her contact number."

"Do you know her name at least?" Nicky asked grinning.

"Oh yes, it's Naina and she likes to read a lot of books. She is an avid reader." Preet told her with a tinge of excitement in his voice.

"Just a name. Are you sure that she lives in this city?" Nicky asked sighing deeply.

"Yes. At least, that's what I got to know from one of her friends back in Delhi."

"Wow, you came here on the basis of some vague information to find a girl, without even knowing her house or contact number," her every word was wrapped in sarcasm.

"Yes. I have faith, I strongly believe that she would come to this cafe someday."

"And why so?" she asked again, perplexed.

"Because she likes to have cold coffee. That's her favorite beverage."

"That doesn't make sense. There are many cafes in this city, and some are even better than this one, so there's very less possibility of her coming to this particular cafe. This might take her really long time to visit here just once."

"I am afraid Nicky, you might be underestimating your cafe's reputation. Yes, you're right that there are many cafes out there, however, none of them is a book-cafe. This is the only one."

"How does that change the equation?" she countered.

"I already told you that she's an avid reader and she likes to read books with her coffee. So, it is highly likely that she would come here someday, very soon." He elucidated.

Nicky was astonished to hear such a thorough contemplation behind his belief. Now, she seemed to be conforming to his idea.

"Now tell me, you have come this far, looking for a girl without having any concrete information about her contacts. Why would you make such an effort to just see a girl?" she asked curiously.

"I just want to meet her once to ask something."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"No. Not yet."

"Do you like her?"

"Yes, I do. Why else would I be here?"

"Does she like you too?"

"I don't know. That's exactly what I want to ask her."

"So, you've come all the way to Dehradun from Delhi, living here for so many days without any permanent residence, working remotely, just to ask her that?" she definitely couldn't fathom the reason Preet had given her for his visit.

"Yes, of course. What's so wrong about that?"

"Nothing wrong. It's just that you might be deemed a fool for doing all this because you don't even know if she likes you."

"Yes, you're right. But I am not really worried about that. What if she likes me? Then all my efforts would be worth it. I just need to confirm it from her."

"Right. But what if she doesn't like you? All your efforts would be in vain."

"I won't know it until I ask her this, so I had to make all these efforts. Moreover, that's fine with me if she doesn't like me, that's entirely her choice."

"Either you're a fool or you've already fallen in love with her."

"Perhaps, I am." Both of them burst into laughter as he said that.

Preet visited the cafe for one more week. But one fine day, out of the blue he told her that he was going back. He returned whatever books he had borrowed from the cafe and cleared all his payments. "Did you find her?" Nicky asked curiously.

"Not exactly."

"So, are you giving up on her?"

"I think she doesn't remember me anymore." he was disappointed.

"How do you know that? You haven't met her. Or have you?"

"Correct. I met her yesterday, in this very cafe. She came in with her friend."

"Did you talk to her?"

"I tried, but she didn't recognize me." he chuckled.

"But why would she do that? She must have been very special to you, for you traveled hundreds of miles and she didn't even recognize you? That's so cruel." Nicky mumbled.

"Because she doesn't like me the way I do. It's that simple."

"But, she should have at least acknowledged your efforts."

"Why? She didn't ask me to come here," he said defending her.

"Although, I am a little disappointed but, that's fine with me. We cannot force anyone to like us." he kept going.

"I am feeling really sorry for you." Her eyes were saying it all, "I really hope that she comes back to you." she said.

"I hope so too. Anyway, it's time to say goodbye now, Nicky," Preet said and rushed out of the cafe never to come back again.