25-07-2025, 02:06 AM
Tuesday Afternoon – Coffee Shop, Part Two
The coffee shop was quiet for a weekday.
Outside, a few students loitered near the parking lot
But inside, it felt like the world had slowed down just for them.
Varnika sat across from Abhi, her cup between her hands.
The teasing smile on her face softened, as if she realized something mid-sip.
“You know,” she said slowly,
Stirring the coffee with the tip of her spoon,
“this is nice. Just us. No noise. No one asking where I’m going or when I’m coming back.”
Abhi tilted his head, watching her.
“You could have just asked me for coffee earlier, you know.”
She smiled faintly. “I could have. But I wanted to be sure I’d enjoy it.”
“And?”
She leaned back, gaze steady on him. “I do. More than I thought I would.”
There was no sarcasm in her voice now. No shield.
Abhi felt it
That subtle drop in the tone
The shift from playful to something real.
The coffee shop was quiet for a weekday.
Outside, a few students loitered near the parking lot
But inside, it felt like the world had slowed down just for them.
Varnika sat across from Abhi, her cup between her hands.
The teasing smile on her face softened, as if she realized something mid-sip.
“You know,” she said slowly,
Stirring the coffee with the tip of her spoon,
“this is nice. Just us. No noise. No one asking where I’m going or when I’m coming back.”
Abhi tilted his head, watching her.
“You could have just asked me for coffee earlier, you know.”
She smiled faintly. “I could have. But I wanted to be sure I’d enjoy it.”
“And?”
She leaned back, gaze steady on him. “I do. More than I thought I would.”
There was no sarcasm in her voice now. No shield.
Abhi felt it
That subtle drop in the tone
The shift from playful to something real.
-- oOo --
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