Ashmit Swaminathan, he just showed me my own bare face. 'Have I always been like this? Judging someone for their looks? I'm disappointed with myself!' He looked knowledgeable, gentle and what should I say, his eyes were filled with curiosity. He did his performance like a piece of cake, I could not even carry on a smooth conversation like he performed spoken poetry. When it hit the time for his performance, I found people started massing the place.
Swara had left a few minutes ago, after receiving a call from Angad. She had instructed me to get to Prakash's place before leaving. I was waiting there to apologize to Ashmit for what I did. 'I doubt whether I could have a chance to talk to him in this crowd or not.' I was worried.
In the meantime, I started to take a look at the atmosphere of the cafe, it was pretty cool. There were lots of plants here and there, the lights were adding elegance to the pictures that the customers clicked. The customers there were mostly couples or groups of friends and then there I was sitting unaccompanied. But in a strange way, it felt good to be alone once in a while. Usually, I used to go to cafes with my colleagues and I always felt unfit in that group of people. I also never had an opportunity to talk my mind there. Even though I was surrounded by many people, I had no close friends with whom I can pour out myself. I was jealous crouching at my seat looking at other people. But yeah, I too had a friend and when I was with her, I was happy too. 'Sita, you are only physically apart, your partner is always there for you.'
The show was already over while I was pondering over things. I scanned for Ashmit in the crowd, I walked through the mob and was looking here and there. Someone tapped my shoulder, I turned my head to find Ashmit behind me. At first, I was flustered and apologized multiple times.
"I'm so sorry. It was not intentional." My hands were trembling.
He smiled and said, "No problem!"
I was glad that he was friendly and took it easy. The crowd had already dispersed but he was still there standing in front of me. I thought we were already done with the conversation but it seemed like he was not on the same page as me.
"So, I'm Ashmit!"
"I'm Sita." I gave a smile and I knew it was weird.
"Is it your first time here?" There was a person I noticed out there, it was Prakash, walking by the cafe and he was also frowning at me.
"Yes, it is." Prakash was still standing there watching me talking with Ashmit, it would be better to leave "I think I gotta go now. My friend is waiting for me." I looked in the direction of Prakash so did Ashmit too. "It was nice meeting you here, Ashmit."
"Ah! Okay! I hope to see you again, maybe if you are free tomorrow evening around this time."
I couldn't process anything, so I blatantly said "Sure! Then see you tomorrow." and stepped out of the cafe.
"So it's really you, Sita!" Prakash exclaimed.
"So you stare at a girl even if you are not sure if she is known or unknown!" I copied his tone. He looked tired to argue with me, still, he sneered at me and walked towards his place. He did not ask me anything but I really wanted to end that long never-ending silence between us.
"You know what, Swara is so sweet." He looked indifferent.
"Why?"
"She lent me her dress, took me out and bought some new ones too. We chatted and ate a lot. I think we are friends now." I was grinning the whole time while babbling whatever came to my mind. Was I tiring him out, even more, doing that? He did not respond but he seemed to be listening to my non-stop chatter.
"Are you hungry?" was the question that came from his mouth after listening to my non-stop chatter.
"Is it already time for dinner? Haha!" Was I tiring out, even more, babbling? "Yeah, let's grab something to eat."
We arrived at a shop, ordered some food and waited for it.
"By the way, who is that guy from before?"
"That guy? Do you mean Ashmit?"
"Ashmit?"
"Yes, he performs spoken poetry in that cafe. We met earlier today at the cafe." His stare was demanding more of the story, so I proceeded with what had happened that evening.
"He has also wanted me to stop by tomorrow evening."
"Are you going there tomorrow?" By then the food we ordered arrived.
"Why would I?" I said and dug into the food.