"When you're young, you just believe that there will be many people with whom you'll connect with. Later in life, you realize it happens only a few times."
Last night I watched a movie which had these beautiful and heart touching lines and it imprinted on my mind. From the morning I had woken on these lines were swirling in my mind.
I stood in front of mirror and saw myself. I was wearing a crop top with pants and left my wavy hair loose which were reaching till my backbone. I had minimal soft make up which were complementing my look.
I grinned seeing myself looking so beautiful and pretty. My porcelain and pale skin was shining beautifully because I was ready according to my style.
I again remembered those lines and hugged myself. "These lines are for those who fall in love unlike me." I smiled and looked at time. It was 8 in the morning and I had to rush to see my cafe.
Yes, it's been two years yes TWO YEARS since I left my old life which was more like a cellar for me. I had no restraints here. I'm not having servile bands. Two years ago, I shifted in London by leaving modeling industry, those mean and self-centered people behind me.
I promised myself to be the one I always wanted. I decided not to live my life according to other people's rules. I was not born to fulfill the expectations of other people.
If we are driving the car, then why should we give the steering wheel of our car to someone else? Does it make sense at all?!
I didn't accept the property or money they were giving me. I owned few money and property which I kept with myself. From that money, I bought an apartment and opened a cafe of my own.
I know it sounds stupid. Former top ranked model left all her fame and money behind and shifted all together in London and she's owning a cafe!? I know it sounds super weird, unnatural and eerie. But here I found a new spirit. I met good people and made few friends who are genuine and sincere with me.
As it is said, "Quality over Quantity."
I smiled at the mirror because I saw the most happiest and content girl smiling at me. She had dreams and hopes in her eyes which were emitting sparks.
I left my home and smiled at all the people whom I meet daily be it guard who was in the age of my father. I ruffled the hair of the cute baby boy who daily played football at the park near the apartment. He grinned at me and gave me a thumbs up for the day. I chuckled at his cuteness.
I started walking because my cafe was few feets away from my apartment and I don't car as well. I was smiling at everything that I was seeing. That's how a human should be. We always neglect the smallest blessings of life. I always cursed my life but when i met an accident, my bones were broken, my brain was knocked out, then I understood how thankful we should be of God for blessing us.
He blesses all of us but in different ways..
I reached the my small cafe and saw that my employees were already there busy in working. I have few of them because it's small and we handle it so well that we don't need to hire more people.
The cafe's name was "Make a wish." Cute, isn't it? I think we all should make wishes anytime. Who knows when it is granted?
I entered the cafe and saw that were customers already. Some were sipping the coffee with the newspaper and few were enjoying the beautiful weather with pastries.
"Hello people!" I grinned at my employee. There were three people excluding me working at the cafe.
One was Anna who was younger than me, Adrian was of my age and he was so sweet, always ready to help type of person and he was boyfriend of Anna. Other was Ms. Sophia who was 30 years old lady, who is working with us because she have to complete the expenses of her daughter studies.
I love these people a lot. They are so loyal and honest unlike the people I met in USA. Although I grew up there but I never found kind hearted and real people there. I know these people for now about two years and they genuinely make me happy.
One more thing that even when I'm sad, they'll find a way to make me smile!!!! So it's justifying that I called them my family.
"Hello, Alice!" All of them replied happily.
I reached across the payment counter because that's what I handle along with making coffees. I make cookies as well because Sophia has taught me baking. Three of them handle orders and cooking stuff.
"So, my lovelies, what's the progress for today?" I chirped. I kept my bag there and tied my hair and got into the boss mode.
"Alice, everything is under control as it's a working day people are less but still they are many that we don't get free time." Anna replied. I dissolved all the information and start managing the counter.
We all got busy but I remember that I was missing one person. My heart filled with happiness thinking about him.
"What happen, Alice?" Sophia asked as she leaned across the counter and wriggled her eyebrows.
"I'm missing him. It's been a whole freaking week and he hasn't returned. He knows that I can't live without seeing him." I whined like a kid but that's how he always pampered me.
"Jeeezz! Alice, he'll be back and once he's back, I'm going to tell him how miserable and grumpy you were for whole week in his absence." She said while rolling her eyes.
"What will you tell me?" We heard a voice from the entrance of the cafe and my eyes widened when I recognized whom it belongs to. My heart filled with joy and my eyes had unshed tears.
I ran when I saw him on the door. I reached across the door and ran in his arms. The arms which are my home and support.
"Uncle Jo, you're back! Where have you been?" I yelled happily and hugged him tightly.
He chuckled and hugged me back. Oh how much I missed his laugh and warmth which he was giving me from his hug.
He broke the hug before kissing my head and smiled at me. His eyes had tears like me. He wiped my tears and I wiped his.
"How are you, my child?" He smiled and hugged me again.
"I'm good, uncle. How are you? I've been missing you a lot. You never went for a whole week in these two years and all of sudden you were gone. I panicked a lot." I complained but smiled through out.
"I'm sorry, but now that I'm back so only smiles." He said by wiping the tears off my cheeks and I smiled.
Uncle Jo, short for Joseph. He was the first person I met here in London. When I came here, I had no idea where to go. I struck with a thief who was snatching my luggage and purse which had all money and my important documents.
At that time, he came from nowhere and saved me. He guided me how to buy an apartment. He helped me in buying and settling in my new flat. He lived a near by apartment. He was all alone with no family and I had no family as well. He helped me in constructing cafe and he daily visits me.
He was officer in police but he retired and after retiring he didn't have a new job because his pension was enough for his survival. He never married so he had no family. He supported me in my every decision like my father and from them he was a father to me. He smelled like dad and I started considering him as my father.
Uncle Jo met Anna, Adrian and Sophia. All of them know that he's a father to me.
Adrian hugged him and leaned across his ear to whisper something. I know I should not have eavesdrop but I did and I heard him saying: "thank God you're back, she was so cranky and snappy."
"Adrian!" I said loudly and rolled my eyes. Adrian laughed along with all people.
"Nobody told you, it's bad to eavesdrop!" He fake scolded me and I huffed.
"Who's eavesdropping here?" We heard a voice coming from the door of the cafe and we all knew that to whom it belong.
Why everyone is making entry one by one? I rolled my eyes and got myself ready to welcome the intruder.