Chapter 17: Unexpected Reunions (pt.1)
The café was buzzing with its usual morning crowd, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee blending with the sound of light chatter. Shyam was at his usual station, carefully preparing an order while Raitha handled the customers with her signature warm smile. Today felt ordinary—until it wasn't.
The bell over the café door chimed, and three familiar figures walked in. Shyam paused, his eyes widening in disbelief as his high school friends stepped inside, looking around as if inspecting a hidden treasure.
"Yo, Shyam!" one of them called out, grinning ear to ear. It was Rohan, the loudest and most mischievous of the trio. Behind him stood Varun, the calm and composed one, and Aditya, whose sharp eyes still carried the knack for reading people like open books.
Shyam's lips curled into a rare smile, and he stepped out from behind the counter. "What are you guys doing here?"
Rohan spread his arms dramatically. "Is that how you greet your brothers after all these years?"
Aditya smirked. "We heard rumors about a cozy café and thought, 'Why not drop by?' Imagine our surprise when we found out it's your dad's place."
Raitha, curious about the sudden excitement, walked over to join the conversation. She recognized the trio from high school and felt a twinge of nervousness. They'd been the only ones who seemed to see through her facade back then.
"Long time no see," Varun said, his voice as steady as ever. He glanced at Raitha, then back at Shyam. "Still working hard, huh?"
Shyam nodded. "Yeah. It's been... busy."
Rohan leaned on the counter, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, Raitha works here too? How convenient."
Raitha crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure. "Is there a point to your visit, or are you just here to annoy us?"
Aditya chuckled. "Some things never change."
Shyam gestured toward a corner booth. "Why don't you guys grab a seat? I'll get you something to drink."
The trio settled in, exchanging glances that spoke of unspoken plans. Raitha followed Shyam back to the counter, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Did you know they were coming?" she asked.
Shyam shook his head. "Not a clue. But it's nice to see them again."
As Shyam prepared their drinks, Raitha couldn't help but notice how his usual reserved demeanor softened around his friends. It was a side of him she rarely saw, and it intrigued her.
When Shyam brought the drinks to their table, the trio wasted no time diving into stories from their high school days. Rohan's dramatic retellings, punctuated by Varun's occasional corrections and Aditya's dry humor, had Shyam laughing in a way Raitha hadn't seen before.
"Remember the time Shyam aced that math test and left the whole class stunned?" Rohan said, slapping the table.
Varun nodded. "Yeah, and he acted like it was no big deal."
Aditya leaned back, his gaze drifting toward Raitha. "And what about you, Raitha? You seem to have adapted well here."
Raitha blinked, caught off guard by the sudden attention. "It's a good place to work," she said simply, avoiding his piercing gaze.
Aditya's lips curled into a knowing smile, but he said nothing more.
As the afternoon wore on, the café began to quiet down, giving the group more time to reminisce. Shyam found himself relaxing, the weight of his usual responsibilities momentarily lifted.
But as the conversation turned to the present, Rohan's playful tone shifted slightly. "So, Shyam, any special someone in your life these days?"
Shyam froze, his gaze flickering toward Raitha for the briefest moment. "No, not really."
Rohan raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought—"
Varun nudged him, cutting him off. "Let's not get too nosy."
Raitha, meanwhile, felt her cheeks heat up. She busied herself with cleaning a nearby table, pretending not to hear.
Aditya, ever observant, exchanged a glance with Varun. There was more to the story than either Shyam or Raitha was letting on, but he decided to let it unfold naturally.
By the time the trio left, promising to visit again soon, the sun was beginning to set. Shyam watched them go, a faint smile lingering on his face.
Raitha approached him cautiously. "They're... interesting."
Shyam chuckled. "That's one way to put it."
There was a brief silence before Raitha spoke again. "You seemed happy. Seeing them, I mean."
"I was," Shyam admitted. "It's been a while since I've felt that connected to the past."
Raitha hesitated, then smiled. "I'm glad."
Though the day had been full of surprises, Shyam couldn't shake the feeling that his friends' visit had stirred something deep within him—memories of a simpler time, and perhaps, a nudge toward a future he hadn't yet dared to envision.
The café returned to its usual rhythm after Shyam's friends departed, but the energy they'd brought lingered like the scent of freshly brewed coffee. Shyam found himself lost in thought as he cleaned up for the evening, their laughter and teasing replaying in his mind.
Raitha, too, seemed unusually quiet. She worked alongside Shyam, stealing glances at him now and then. Finally, she broke the silence.
"Shyam," she said softly.
He looked up from wiping the counter. "Yeah?"
"Do you miss those days? High school, I mean."
Shyam paused, his hand stilling. "Sometimes. Things were simpler back then. No big responsibilities, just... living in the moment."
Raitha nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's funny, isn't it? How we don't realize how good things are until they're gone."
"Yeah," Shyam said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The atmosphere grew heavy, the unspoken tension between them more palpable than ever. Before either could say more, the door to the café opened, and Shyam's father walked in.
"Busy day?" Mr. Patel asked, his tone warm but tired.
Shyam straightened up. "Pretty busy. Rohan and the guys stopped by."
Mr. Patel chuckled. "Those troublemakers? I'm surprised they didn't turn the place upside down."
"They behaved," Shyam said with a small smile.
Raitha greeted Mr. Patel politely, then excused herself to start closing up the café. As she worked, she couldn't help but reflect on the day's events. Shyam's friends had brought out a side of him she rarely saw—a lighter, more carefree version of the man she admired. It made her wonder if she'd ever get to see that side of him more often.
Meanwhile, Shyam helped his father with some paperwork, but his mind kept drifting. His friends' visit had been a welcome distraction, but it had also left him feeling unsettled. They'd reminded him of who he used to be—a boy who didn't overthink every interaction, who laughed freely and dreamed without restraint.
Later that evening, as the café lights dimmed and the doors were locked, Shyam and Raitha stepped out into the cool night air. They walked in silence for a while, the quiet streets a stark contrast to the bustling café.
"Thanks for today," Shyam said suddenly.
Raitha blinked, surprised. "What for?"
"For putting up with them," he said with a faint smile. "I know they can be a handful."
Raitha laughed softly. "They weren't so bad. Besides, it was nice to see you so relaxed."
Shyam glanced at her, a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "I guess they bring out a part of me I don't show often."
Raitha hesitated, then asked, "Why not?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I just... forgot how."
They stopped at a crosswalk, the faint hum of a distant car the only sound. Raitha looked at him, her expression gentle but firm.
"You shouldn't forget," she said. "That part of you—it's still there. And it's worth showing."
Shyam didn't respond immediately, but her words stayed with him as they parted ways for the night.
Back in his apartment, Shyam lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His friends' visit had stirred up a lot—memories, emotions, and questions he wasn't sure he wanted to answer. But one thing was clear: something in him was shifting.
And as he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held—not just for him, but for the people who'd slowly become a part of his world.