One rainy night, two strangers and coffee ... Part 1

One rainy night, two strangers and coffee ...

Part 1

There are so many places we visit on a daily basis, these places become a part of our routine without us ever realising how significant their role becomes in our destinies. Something as ordinary as a bookshop or a coffee house could be the beginning to an extraordinary lifelong relationship for some fortunate few but for others it could be the beginning to a life condemned to yearning and a search for one face we may never see again. It was a year ago in the sweltering and heavy rains of the monsoon that he saw her for the first and the last time.

1 year ago

Asad Ahmed Khan was one of those unfortunate few, and he had no clue of that, a storm was in the process of brewing fervently in his mundane and monotonous life.

It was a year ago in the peak of the monsoon that Asad started using the new coffee house called the Daily Grind Coffee House that opened on the corner of Covent Road. It opened a couple of months just before the monsoon was in full swing and back then Asad was never tempted to try out the coffee from their up until last month, the first week of the monsoon on one fateful rainy night home ... late from the office. 

He was on his way home, he did not want to go home for he had sworn he wouldn't be home for the next three days because he didn't want to be pressurised into meeting the girl his mother had chosen for him. Yet out of concern for his mother he decided that he would go home, some what reluctantly of course, but he was adamant that he would not meet the girl tomorrow. Marriage and love were just mere words for him, words he did not want to give a meaning to for he felt those emotions were a waste of time, emotions that only diminished personalities and thwarted the mind and all rationality.

But destiny was a twisted thing. That rainy night his car broke down, it was like the torrid rains were sent by the gloomy skies as a test to his patience or possibly nature knew well how troubled his mind and heart were for not heeding to his mother's advice, but whatever it was, one thing was clear, Asad did not love the rain. In fact he did not like any season that could be used and were found in the romantic stories of Shakespeare or poems of love. What was rain but mere water that nourished the land but created havoc for man. And with that thought he decided while he waited for the repair service to come and repair his car he would keep warm and in particular dry with a hot and steaming black coffee in the warm confines of the coffee house. 

Alas his regular coffee house was closed and the only coffee house in a 2 mile radius was the new coffee house he had yet to try. It was like fate, his feet began to take tender steps towards the Daily Grind and so he decided it would not hurt to try it out. For some unfathomable reason the Daily Grind was oddly inviting with its large windows, illuminated by the fluorescent lights from inside, his instincts echoed in the molecules of his being as a forewarning to him that this moment was about to change everything. As usual Asad ignored his gut feelings, his rationality was in overdrive, he didn't believe in instincts, signs and chance encounters or serendipity. He dismissed those feelings.

As he entered the Daily Grind, he acknowledged the architectural magnanimity and the intricate interiors, it was an understatement to say he was impressed.  It was unlike any of the usual coffee houses he had been too, those ordinary coffee houses that were usually located next to a stretch of high street stores which were often far too packed with customers, squashed in compact spaces and no room for privacy. 

This was different. The Daily Grind Coffee House was hidden in a neat suburban area, it was a quiet but ultra-fashionable coffee house, where coffee geeks and upper class individuals' right through to families and friends and students hung out enjoying the finest coffee, in a quirky, warm yet bespoke surroundings. The bespoke interiors reflected the fine artisan like coffee that was served there and considering it was almost late night, and the rain was relentless outside with no sign of stopping any time soon, and the day just seem like a long drag, to Asad it seemed like a great idea to venture indoors and check the place out.  

Asad decided to place an order for a black coffee while he waited for the repair guys to show; the place was relaxing and gave him time to reflect on his days' work, collect his thoughts and to dry off from the rain. 

It was approaching 11.30pm and the rain picked up intensity. The repair guys had arrived but luck was not on their side too, so they too decided to stay inside the coffee house and wait till the rain subsided. The place was beginning to get packed as people started pouring through the doors in dozens to keep dry from the torrid rain of the monsoon until eventually there was only one seat empty. That seat was on Asad's table. Now that ... from his point of view was most unfortunate, he was a reserved sort of guy and he did not want any company tonight. Company was unwelcoming in any instance, he thought.

At that very moment a motorbike roared to a stop outside the coffee house and the croaking of the engine clashed with the resonating sound of the heavy rain and the thunder that broke across the angry sky. The coffee house's door opened and a flash of lightning temporarily blinded those on the inside. Simultaneously a young woman who was completely drenched from the rain emerged from the flash of lightning that graced the entrance with its glow and walked into the Daily Grind searching for some place to sit. She appeared extremely tired once she removed the small open faced helmet which really did not stop the rain drops from caressing and soaking her face and hair with rain water.  

On seeing this vision, a sight so rare in beauty, Asad stopped typing on his laptop some where midway between his project work and emails, for she had captivated his mind and much to his reluctance his heart too. An orchestra began playing in Asad's head, a melody so sweet and haunting that drew his attention towards the young woman who walked into the coffee house.

Walking through the busy coffee house she stood out from the crowd, there was something enchanting about her, her eyes were voluminous and doe-like, innocent and searching but full of sorrow ... but she smiled nonetheless, her lips quivered and showed signs of nervousness and uncertainty as she walked in, and yet her smile was so sweet and genuine that Asad's lifeless and numb heart kick started in his chest, beating ruthlessly, pounding at his rib cage with raw desire and a hunger to know her.

She casted her eyes across the vast depth of the coffee house in search of a suitable seat and in the process she began flicking her long silky hair over her shoulders repetitively struggling to wring the droplets of rain from her hair. In her attempts to dry her hair, droplets of rain fell and coursed their way to Asad's face, causing him to quiver further in anticipation, anxious to know who she was.

Asad's breathing hastened on seeing her the moment she entered the Daily Grind, his intense and inquisitive eyes traced her steps as she walked in until her steps came to a stop at the empty seat on his table. His heart became erratic at the sight in front of him. She looked ethereal, as though Asad was in a lucid dream; everything had a dream like quality to it, she was absolutely beautiful albeit being completely drenched and wet from the rain and these were all new feelings he had never felt for the fairer sex before this.  

She wore a fitted black blazer, a flowing white silky top, dark blue skinny jeans and leather knee high boots and her carry on accessories were a small scarf wrapped around her neck to keep her warm, and a small shoulder bag cuddled against her petite body.

Asad didn't know why but he had a burning urge to know her name, and learn everything he could about her. She was different, somewhat shy as she walked towards his table, reserved and pure. She was beautiful like the delicate colours of the rainbow and he never wanted anything as badly as he desired her in that instant.

She sauntered with her silent feet towards his table, her eyes big and innocent questioning him if she could take a seat but her face still emanated a reserved and guarded expression as though she questioned him if she could trust him. He looked on at her in awe, and in that moment the door to the coffee house opened once more as a couple charged in shielding themselves from the rain and a ghastly chilly breeze followed them which flowed intensely against the girl at the footing of Asad's table, -the breeze blustering and causing her long and luscious hair to fly rhythmically across her face, veiling her beauty temporarily from his yearning eyes. The mere movement of her hair caressing and hiding her face momentarily made Asad's breathing more erratic, it was as though her hair guarded her akin to a bride's veil.

She composed herself and cautiously pulled the chair out and took a seat on his table, placing her helmet on the table, and her eyes darted across the table, watching over the stranger (Asad) through her thick and full wet lashes, slowly blinking away the rain droplets that pooled and resided on her eyes.  His eyes caught her attention as his eyes lingered over hers. There was intensity in his eyes she did not quite understand but for some unfathomable reason she wanted to dive into the depths of his smoky brown eyes. Asad on the other hand found her eyes captivating, her eyes were saturated with mystery and he wanted to solve the puzzle that resided within them.

He didn't have the courage to ask her for her name, he found it awkward to communicate with females in general and to complete strangers too. So in the deepest reservoir of his mind he decided to coin her a name - "the Lonely Girl," because he saw sadness and uncertainty reflected in her eyes.

"Here's your black coffee Sir, is there anything else I can get you Sir," a smartly dressed waitress questioned Asad as she placed his coffee on the table; her sudden arrival at the table with the coffee broke Asad's reverie.

"Thank you, and no I don't need anything for now. But you might want to ask this young lady if she needs anything," Asad replied concerned about the Lonely Girl who sat opposite him, her eyes fixed on the table.

The Lonely Girl raised her sorrowful eyes tentatively to meet the strange man's gaze (Asad), his eyes were curious and a hint of concern ran through the embers of his brown eyes. She didn't know why his concern for her touched her heart, she felt mellow as she delved further into his intoxicating eyes. She certainly didn't need another complication, not tonight, she thought. 

Maintaining her gaze on this handsome stranger she asked the waitress to bring her a hot coffee, she needed to drown her woes into a warm cup of coffee, "One hazelnut cafe latte with an extra shot of espresso, that is all," she replied in a gentle and sweet voice. The extra shot of espresso she thought might just hail her back to the real world and deliver her a massive dose of reality which she was in dire need of as things were not rosy as she hoped they could have been.

Breaking away from her thoughts she looked at the stranger in front of her once more, as she decided to express her gratitude for the stranger's politeness, "Thanks for your sincerity, thank you for ensuring the waitress took my order but I can manage all on my own," she replied, her eyes firm on keeping the formality between them, her tone business like. She wanted him to realise that the seat she was now sat on, was the only free seat in the entire coffee house and it was either she stood outside in the rain or sat on his table facing him. She didn't want to get personal with him nor did she feel the need for help, she hated feeling vulnerable.

The waitress returned with the Lonely Girl's hazelnut cafe latte and left after asking if any further assistance was needed to which the Lonely Girl sincerely said no.

The Lonely Girl took a long and lingering sip of her hazelnut cafe latte; her eyes closed savouring the taste as though it provided her some incomprehensible comfort. She lowered her mug back on the table and opened her eyes to find the strange man (Asad) opposite her staring at her in awe. For some reason she felt calm in his presence. This was unusual even for her; to feel calm in the presence of a complete stranger but there was something about him that drew her in. His eyes were compellingly brown, and smoky enough to melt even the coldness that now resided in her heart. 

She decided to name him the Coffee Man because of the way he sipped his coffee, he came across as intelligent, a businessman possibly, he was dressed smart in a black formal suit with a matching tie and waistcoat, his jawline was dotted with a sexy stubble, his hair dishevelled and wet from the rain and he looked as though he had a rough day yet he looked like a model from a magazine, his build was akin to that of the Greek God Adonis in fact he was Adonis personified.  

She looked away from his chiselled face for fear that her lingering gaze might provoke the total stranger to start a conversation with her, she was too afraid to communicate with him, because tonight for her was not the night to make new relationships but for her to obtain closure from another-man-another-relationship, one that she became attached to even before she met the guy in person, even before it had the opportunity to start, it already ended.

End of part 1

© Fatima B Lunat 2013

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