Chapter 26: chapter 26

"Open it, Riya. It's a token of our friendship. don't be scared, I am not proposing to you, " Animesh had a broad grin.I smiled and unwrapped the box to find a delicate coffee bean Keyring.It was a simple yet beautiful piece of handcraft that captured the essence of our friendship."Animesh, it's lovely! Thank you so much, When did you buy this?" I said, genuinely touched by his gesture.He smiled warmly. "That’s immaterial to know, but what is most important is whenever you will use it, you will remember our coffee adventures and the laughter we've shared."As I clasped the key ring, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude, joy, and connection in my life. I dropped him to his hotel on the way and left for my quarters.I was not the normal Riya that day, this was a very emotional Riya, this person had been hiding all the while inside me, and I never knew it. When my mom passed away my father had become my single parent, but he was not only my mother and father but my best friend too. But when I lost him, this position was suddenly vacant and I never cried after that day just to tell myself that he was still around me and I shouldn’t forget him by losing tears. But that day after meeting Animesh and how he treated me, I couldn’t stop crying silently in my quarters. I didn’t know why I was crying and why these mixed emotions were filling me until the next day.The next day as per our plan, I had a holiday and Animesh was going to catch his train at night so we still had to cover a few more places.I had planned to take him to a nice restaurant near Gadisar Lake and didn’t pick him up but rather asked him to get there directly from his hotel just to give myself some time and hide my last night’s emotions. I was a little early and found a cozy spot overlooking the tranquil waters. The sun cast a warm, golden glow over the surroundings, creating a serene atmosphere. I couldn't think of a better place to share a cup of coffee and laughter with Animesh.Animesh arrived with his usual cheerful smile, and we exchanged warm greetings before heading to the nearby restaurant. The restaurant, named "Gadisar Brews," was nestled amidst lush greenery and had a charming outdoor seating area overlooking the lake. It was the perfect setting for our coffee date.We settled into our seats and were greeted by a friendly waiter who handed us the menu. Animesh, always ready for a coffee adventure, couldn't contain his excitement."Riya, I've heard great things about their signature brew. Let's give it a try!" Animesh suggested, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.I nodded in agreement, "Sure, let's go for it! One signature brew, please."As we waited for our coffee, our conversation naturally flowed to our recent coffee-tasting experiences and the humorous moments we had shared. Animesh recalled the hazelnut coffee we had enjoyed during our last outing and couldn't resist making a playful comment."Riya, do you think they have a coffee blend that can make me beat you in chess? Because I might need it for our next dare game!" he teased, a mischievous grin on his face.I laughed heartily, appreciating his sense of humour. "Oh, Animesh, you're in for another tough challenge. But who knows, maybe Lake Brews has a secret blend that unlocks hidden chess skills."Our coffees and savouries arrived, and we eagerly took our first sips of the signature brew. Animesh closed his eyes and enjoyed the flavour, clearly impressed."This is incredible, Riya! It's like a flavour explosion in my mouth," he exclaimed.I couldn't agree more. "You're right, Animesh. It's like a coffee symphony, each sip revealing a new note."We continued to enjoy our coffee, savouring every moment of our coffee-tasting adventure. The serene surroundings of Gadisar Lake and the people boating around the lake added to the charm of our outing, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for this newfound friendship.Animesh, always curious and eager to learn, leaned in and asked, "Riya, tell me more about your childhood. I have shared my stories, but I want to know more about the girl who grew up in almost all the states of our country"I smiled, touched by his interest. "Well, Animesh, growing up in various states may sound fun but was not really for me. My father was in the army, so we moved around quite a bit when I was young."Animesh nodded, absorbing every word. "It must have been quite an adventure."I nodded in agreement. "It was, indeed. I got to see different parts of India, experience diverse cultures, and try various cuisines. But no matter where we were, we always celebrated the local traditions and festivals, sometimes with cousins too, though I have some bad memories of those!""Animesh, is everything okay?" I asked, concerned by his pensive look.He looked up, his brown eyes meeting mine. "Riya, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. If it's too personal or if you don't want to talk about it, just let me know."I appreciated his consideration and curiosity. "Animesh, you can ask me anything. We're friends now."He nodded and took a deep breath. "Do these bad memories still haunt you, excuse me for asking but I have seen when we share something dark it relieves a huge burden, is there anything you'd like to share?"I hesitated for a moment, recalling a painful memory from my childhood which I had just grazed upon a little earlier and hoped to remain unheard was again ready to strike me.Animesh saw my uneasiness and his eyes were directed toward my trembling lips which didn’t know how to start.It was a story I hadn't shared with many people, but Animesh's kind eyes and the growing trust between us made me feel like it was the right time to open up and that's when the strange emotion I had the night before was clearing up for me.~~~~~