Chapter 10: The Reopening
The day of the café's grand reopening arrived with a bright, cloudless sky. Shyam woke up earlier than usual, a mix of nerves and excitement buzzing in his chest. As he stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his apron, he couldn't help but think about how much had changed in the past week.
Raitha had texted him early that morning, teasing him about being late.
Don't make me carry the entire café on my back today, partner, she'd written, complete with a winking emoji.
Shyam smirked at the memory as he grabbed his bag and headed out.
---
The Buzz of Opening Day
The café was already alive with activity by the time Shyam arrived. His father, Patel, was stationed near the counter, greeting regulars with his signature warmth, while a small line of curious customers waited to step into the newly renovated space.
Raitha was already there, her black apron neatly tied and her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. She was chatting with a customer at one of the tables, her laughter blending seamlessly with the ambient hum of conversation.
"You're late," she said teasingly as Shyam walked in.
"Barely," he shot back, tying his apron. "You just like getting here early to show off."
Raitha grinned. "Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to make sure you didn't slack off on our first day back."
Shyam rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. Despite her teasing, he could see how much she cared about making this day a success.
---
Settling Into the Groove
As the hours passed, the café settled into a comfortable rhythm. Shyam manned the counter, taking orders and preparing drinks, while Raitha floated between tables, delivering plates and chatting with customers.
During a brief lull, Shyam leaned against the counter, wiping his hands on a towel. "Not bad for our first day back, huh?"
Raitha joined him, holding a tray of empty cups. "Not bad at all. Though I think Patel's the real MVP. Everyone keeps talking about how good the renovations are."
"True," Shyam admitted, glancing at his father, who was busy chatting with a group of regulars. "But I think we're doing pretty well too."
Raitha smiled. "We make a good team."
Shyam looked at her, something warm stirring in his chest. "Yeah, we do."
---
An Evening of Reflection
By the time the last customer left and the café was cleaned up, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. Shyam and Raitha sat together at one of the freshly polished tables, sipping the last two cups of coffee for the day.
"We did it," Raitha said, her voice soft but full of satisfaction.
"Yeah," Shyam replied, staring into his cup. "It feels...good."
Raitha tilted her head, studying him. "You've been quiet today. Everything okay?"
Shyam hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, it's just...being here, seeing all the changes—it made me think about how much has changed for us too."
Raitha raised an eyebrow. "For us?"
"I mean, in general," he clarified quickly, his cheeks warming. "Like, how we got here. The café, the trip to my grandparents' place, everything."
Raitha smiled, a faraway look in her eyes. "Yeah. It's kind of crazy when you think about it. I mean, it wasn't that long ago we were just two high schoolers trying to figure out what to do after graduation."
Shyam nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Those were simpler times."
Raitha chuckled. "Simpler, but not easier. Remember how nervous you were about your final exams?"
"Don't remind me," Shyam groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I still get nightmares about those math tests."
Raitha laughed, the sound light and genuine. "And look at you now, running a café like a pro. Who would've thought?"
Shyam dropped his hands, his smile softening. "What about you? Did you ever think you'd end up here?"
Raitha shook her head, her expression thoughtful. "Honestly? No. But I'm glad I did."
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the memories of their high school days swirling between them like unspoken words.
---
Setting the Stage
As they finished their coffee and began tidying up, Raitha glanced at Shyam, her voice curious. "Do you ever miss it?"
"Miss what?"
"High school. The people, the classes, the...routine of it all."
Shyam paused, considering her question. "Sometimes. But I think what I miss most is how...simple everything felt back then. No big responsibilities, no worrying about the future. Just...living in the moment."
Raitha nodded slowly. "Yeah. Me too."
Shyam glanced at her, his curiosity piqued. "What do you miss the most?"
Raitha hesitated, a small smile playing on her lips. "I think...the little things. Like sitting in the library during lunch breaks, or walking home after school. And...having someone to share those moments with."
Shyam's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression neutral. "Yeah. Those little things mattered more than we realized, didn't they?"
Raitha looked at him, her eyes soft. "They did."
As they locked up the café and stepped out into the cool night air, the conversation lingered in the back of Shyam's mind. The memories of their high school days felt closer than ever, like a door to the past waiting to be opened.
And as they parted ways for the night, Shyam couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to relive those moments, to see how far they'd come since those simpler times.