Grandpa Fain's shop was one of the older shops in east market. Might not mean much anywhere else, but in the east market it was a big deal. That was one of the reasons Sashi loved grandpa Fain's shop.
The sun was setting when they started from home. Sashi was still angry. She made sure to show it. As apologetic as Anad felt, he couldn't keep from laughing. That incensed her as much as it amused. As they entered the east market, she couldn't keep from expressing her joy.
"I'm so pathetic," he groaned in complaint. "I can't even compare to a market."
"Huh?" She was confused.
"I can't make you smile. The market has you forget everything and laugh heartily."
She burst out laughing. She grabbed his hand, and pulled him along toward grandpa Fain's shop. They were both laughing as warm grandpa Fain welcomed them.
"Well, hello. This is a surprise."
The old man was warm to all customers which was why he inspired great loyalty. He was especially fond of the young couple.
"Hi grandpa," Sashi greeted loudly. "We're here for coffee."
"Not for me?" The old man teased.
Sashi was embarrassed. Anad laughed out.
"Of course coffee," Anad answered. "You can't really expect her to come over for you, grandpa."
The old man sighed sadly.
"Girls today are so heartless," he said in an old voice. "In my time, girls never bothered about material things. People mattered."
"How many girls came for you?"
The old man grinned at Anad before answering.
"Not many."
"Exactly how many?"
"Two."
"Two? Really? I heard this funny thing a while back. The number of girls a boy says he's been with is three times that of the actual number. So, point six girls came for you. Less than even one."
"Who told you that? A girl?"
"Yeah."
"Obviously."
"But how many is it, truly?"
"Two."
"Heh."
"One."
"That's more like it. Your wife."
"Yeah."
The two were laughing to hide their embarrassment. And only then saw that Sashi had left. She was inside, glued to the coffees on the shelves.
"Materialistic," they said together, laughed, and then walked over.
Sashi was staring at a blend of coffee and nutmeg. The old man heard the unasked question. Smiling fondly, he explained.
"In the central regions, nutmeg coffee is quite popular. Even goes far back in history. I'm surprised you've never had nutmeg coffee. This is the more popular and contemporary blend. Plain nutmeg and coffee. There's also a more traditional blend, of the Treyes' tribe of the central region. Coffee, nutmeg and a pinch of powdered bark of the Breyn tree. It is drunk without milk, mind you. And with a spoon or two of black sugar. I know how you hate black sugar. You can substitute it with white sugar, the kind you love. I just told you the traditional recipe. Most of all, I received a new batch just yesterday."
"Can we have a taste?"
It was a special service offered to the most special of customers. The old man would prepare coffee which they would have a drink of, before buying. Anad and Sashi were unquestionably special, so he never could say no.
"Sure. But with black sugar. The traditional way."
"I'm okay," Anad said without hesitation.
Sashi was slower to agree. But everyone knew she would. She loved coffee too much to say no.
The shop did sell coffee makers, but the old man wasn't a fan. He preferred boiling his coffee. Anad sat by the old man, watching him work. Sashi continued searching through the shelves. She loved coffee. The process of making, not as much. She couldn't understand why bother with the more difficult methods when coffee makers made it so easy. She finally stopped at the shelves displaying coffee makers. She liked drip machines best. There were two in Anad's kitchen. She was thinking of buying a third.
"No," Anad said, reading her mind.
She hadn't noticed when he arrived by her side. And so, he startled her. She quickly returned to the coffee maker she couldn't take her eyes off of.
"But it's so pretty," she said, pointing to the deep red coffee maker. "So cute. Tiny. Deceptively so. It can make 900 ml at a time. And the colour. So yummy. Like a special blend of coffee. Most importantly, it's the next generation of the model we have at home."
He couldn't say he wasn't moved.
"Coffee is ready," he said, turning away.
"Oh, yes," she said, reluctantly turning away.
But as she saw the old man pouring the coffee into three small cups, she was grinning again.
"Coffee," she screamed softly, and ran over.
The three sipped the traditional Treyes' blend together. And the three had very different expressions on their faces. The old man was drowning in ecstasy. Sashi was studying the strange new flavour deeply and also trying to enjoy it. Anad was struggling to hold back the burst of irritation. He couldn't understand why anyone would like spicy coffee.
"What's with him?"
Sashi looked at the old man who asked the question and at Anad who the question was about, took a minute to think, and answered.
"Woke up wrong?"
Wasn't an answer. And that told the old man a lot. He never judged, which was why Sashi was so open with him. Maybe, that was why they really were like family.
"Maybe it's just the coffee," the old man suggested. "He really dislikes spicy coffee."
"That he does," Sashi agreed. "But it's more than just that. He's got something on his mind. But won't share."
"That's not very nice."
"I'm right here," Anad said, his harsh tone not escaping his notice. "Sorry."
Sashi and the old man shrugged away the apology. They also steered away from the conversation.
"So, a no for this coffee," the old man said.
"Yeah," Sashi agreed. "I don't think I like nutmeg in coffee. What else is new? Oh, and we need a box of Nirigiri. We're empty back at home."
"Nirigiri? Are you sure?"
Sashi understood what the old man meant.
"Yeah," she answered without doubt. "He hates it. I love it. Truce, we have it occasionally."
"I'm sure it's more than just occasionally."
Anad snorted the confirmation.
The old man nodded. He then walked them through the coffees in the shop. Sashi picked a few, including Nirigiri coffee. As they were paying, she added.
"Also, grandpa, we want to come over for making our own blend. This weekend?"
"Sure," the old man agreed readily. "I'll keep everything ready. This weekend we won't have many customers, not counting surprises like tonight. It'll be good blending."
Sashi was excited. She hugged the old man lightly. The old man wasn't surprised. That was just how she was. Anad and the old man nodded at each other, like customs of the old dictated. That was how they were.
"I want cake," Sashi announced as they were back out in the east market.
The east market was famed for pearls and stones and ornaments, as well as traditional foods and drinks. Traditional northern style cakes were very famous. Anad knew Sashi was fond of the traditional cakes, and it was just that. But he couldn't keep Raul's invitation out of his head. He felt the burst of irritation, but he couldn't stop himself.
"Come on," he scolded. "We went to grandpa Fain's. Bought coffee. Isn't that enough? You still can't keep cake out of your head?"
Sashi had completely forgotten about Raul's birthday. And so, she had no idea why Anad reacted so harshly.
"What is wrong with you?" She screamed back.
The loudness startled Anad.
"What," he said dumbly.
"Yeah, what," she repeated, angrily. "Why are you behaving so stupid? What's wrong with wanting cake?"
He was apologetic, until she mentioned cake. Then, he was overwhelmed by another burst of irritation.
"Is that all you care for? Cake? Fine we'll have your damn cake."
"Screw you," she scolded. "I don't need any cake."
She walked away, while he remained rooted. They returned home separately.
Back home, she locked herself in the room next to his. Her room.
He bought cake before returning, a while after her. He stood outside her room, unable to knock at the closed door. He wanted to apologise. Wanted to give her the cake he bought from the east market. But every time he looked at the cake, he felt another burst of irritation. In the end, he left the cake outside the door, and walked away.