8 months ago....
9. 30 p. m. Cafe Classico -
"You don't have to be so rude all the time Raina. He
was just looking at you, why did you lash out at him like that?" Raghav is
still in shock at how she reacted to the guy who was sitting next to them in
that cafe where they usually hangout at night after work. She doesn't say
anything just walking along with Raghav, with his hand in hers. "I am not
sure if that was really necessary. There were other people in the cafe, some of
them were from my office and I could guarantee you that there were few from yours
too!", he shrugs his hand off. "Are you even listening? What's going
on with you? You were not like this before, what changed?" Raina just
walks without saying anything. Blank, without expressions.
Raghav gives up. He just looks at her with concern and then
decides it’s better to not say anything anymore. He takes a deep sigh and start
walking along with her. Silently. They both reach the parking lot; he starts
his bike and drives away. She holds him tightly from behind. Raghav could feel
her breathes on his neck. The weather is nice out there. But not so nice that
he could just forget what happened at the cafe. "You know what, we should
go to movies this weekend. It would be so much fun! I will book the tickets
once we get home, what do you say, Raghu?" Raina pinches his waist and
laugh loudly at his reaction. Raghav keeps a straight face and smiles and even
laughs a little. But deep down he is concerned and scared at what happened at
the cafe two hours ago.
7. 45 p. m. Cafe Classico
"One Classico Veg Burger, one Chicken Cheese Grilled
burger and two cold coffees please, thank you!" Raghav places the order
and both head toward the table. "I am telling you Raghav; you should take
that opportunity. The pay is good, you will get a lot to learn. And if it’s about
the city, you will adjust in just fine." Raina tries to convince him to
take the job offer at a Bangalore startup. She looks at him with concern and
comfort. Raghav is 32 years old guy. He is just shy of 6 ft, Raina always
admired how tall he is. She always looks at him with fascination when he stands
up and stretches his arms. He does not have a very strong build neither he's
very athletic, but he has a different aura about him which is very attractive.
His eyes are deep, his voice very husky and he speaks with so much calm. 'Not
just another IT guy from the crowd' as Raina would put it. He speaks very
confidently and has a certain charm in it. She always found him curious and yet
vulnerable, making hasty decisions or that’s just her being overly cautious and
caring or maybe she's just in love with him. They have been dating for almost 4
years now.
"I know, it’s just that I have spent a very good part of my life here in this city that I feel uncertain about this change. The comfort zone has made me way too comfortable here" he chuckles. "Order no. 232! Order no. 232 please!" the guy at the counter calls. Raghav goes to collect it.
Raina is sitting and looking outside the window, fidgeting
with her wallet, and looking for Raghav. When she hears couple of men laughing
and giggling. She looks towards her left and see two men, in their late 30s
looking and laughing at her. Another one was sitting along with them and just
ogling at her without blinking, it made her uncomfortable. Soon Raghav came and
they started enjoying their meal. But now she was not at ease. Those men were continuously
looking at them. Raghav notices that "Don't pay attention to them, just
enjoy your meal" and holds her hand. She takes a bite of the burger. And suddenly,
she hears a loud laughter and hooting. And she loses it all, that was it for
her. She gets up and rushes to them and just stands there. Looking at them all.
All of them are silent. There is a pin drop silence in the cafe, only the light
piano music playing on the sound bars. "Kya problem hai??" She
enquires with a stern look. One of them gets up, "Nothing madam. We were
laughing at our jokes! Apko kya problem hai?" He replies. "Keep it
down then! She takes a step ahead towards him and warns him by looking in his
eyes. The other guy is still staring at the two. The guy who was just ogling at
her, is not even bothered and keeps eating chips. The whole cafe is silent, the
music has turned off. All that could be heard is the sound of crispy chips
being eaten by the third guy.
Raghav rushes to her, holds her hand and drags her to their
table. While taking her, he apologizes to them with his hand gesture. They
finish their meal, somehow. "What was all that about?" Raghav asks
her. She does not reply and soon they leave after finishing their meal. While
going out she looks at them, but her eyes are locked on the third guy, who is
again looking at her and then at Raghav.
