Riya

A week. A week since Dhruv and my fight and a week since I had started working at the cafe. And it was a whole week since I talked to Dhruv.

"One cappuccino please." I nodded and typed away at the counter in my oversized coffee-colored t-shirt that they had given us to wear.

The walls of the cafe were filled with scribbles that the students left on the wall. When it opened, the walls were bare. Now, no one could guess the color of the wall on the first try.

"Riya, can you help me out a bit." Angie, my manager called out. She too had the same t-shirt on but she would tie it at the front and make it a crop top. I loved her fashion sense with all her piercings and short hair.

"Can you bake some treats for today? We're out of the pastries."

"Already?" Usually, there were a lot of leftovers.

"Yeah, the drama club had a birthday celebration." Usually, they had celebrations in the evenings.

"They wanted to celebrate it early, so they could watch the football match today."

"Ohh! I'll make some. Can you handle the counter till then?"

"Okay."

I did a lot of thinking throughout the weekend and asked the girls what they thought. Apart from a lot of 'I told you so', I got the shoulder I needed to cry and vent. They did have another fight last week, probably, in retaliation for the arson that they did. But I didn't do the stupidity of talking to Dhruv again.

I opened the oven and put in the cupcakes. The smell in this cafe was divine. One of the reasons I decided to work here was the smell of the baked goods. Along with that, the other wall was lined with beautiful artwork. A place that matched my vibe. I straightened my back and stretched.

"I've kept the cupcakes in the oven," I said coming out of the kitchen and finding the cafe almost empty.

Looking at my gaze, Angie replied, "Football match."

"Guessed." After the match, the place will be jam-packed.

"We can rest for a while." She said sitting down on a table closer to the counter. "So, is your brother single?" I rolled my eyes.

This was the constant for a week. She liked my brother enough to bother me continuously. "As I told you earlier, you can ask him that yourself." I sat down on a chair closer to the paintings.

I pulled out my phone, hoping she would take a hint. "Oh c'mon. You can at least tell if he's not."

I wasn't sure. I thought it would be something that he would share with me but now I wasn't sure. Did he have a crush on someone? Was he dating someone?

"I don't know. We don't share our dating lives with each other." A safer answer.

"Are you dating someone?" she asked her eyes on the paintings behind my back.

"No. I don't date. The guys make it seem they're doing me a favor."

"What?"

"Because of my dusky color," I said remembering the scene from last week when I went home crushed to come face to face with distant relatives who couldn't stay distant enough.

My skin color was somehow always the topic one way or another no matter how hard my parents tried to change it. "Your son has such a bright color." then for me, "Oh she has her father's color." with a sad smile as if it was a curse or something.

"Guys are shit." Agreed. "So, you're going to be single forever?"

"Yes."

It was six and the cafe started piling up with students. I understood the match was over. From the chatter and the excitement, I figured, our team won.

Apart from Angie and I, two more students worked here, who were busy balancing coffee cups in the ruckus. I was the in-charge of the payment and sometimes baking. Baking wasn't something I thought I would get into but I remembered Ruhi's enthusiasm when she tried my cookies. I decided to continue it.

I gave the change to the guy and looked around for Angie. But my eyes fell on Abhay. The root of all evils in my life. I believed in the fact that there was some good in everyone. But there wasn't one I could find in him.

He was sitting with some of his football buddies, in his blue jeans and white t-shirt. His clothes always had some dried mud. Maybe because of football. My mind went to Dhruv as they usually hung out together. But I couldn't find him.

"Since when did you start working here?" I jumped at Dhruv's voice. This devil would live for a hundred years. He stood in front of me with his hands in his jeans pockets. Where did he come from?

He raised his one eyebrow, waiting for me to answer. "Last week."

I looked at the person beside him, smiling at her and thanking her after she paid. Dhruv stepped aside for a while, waiting for me to be done with the work. I pulled my phone out from my pocket, not willing to start the conversation.

"When do you get free from work?" he asked looking uncomfortable. I should've felt good about his condition but I was too sad from this whole situation to feel any triumph.

"After 8."

"We can go home together." I blinked at his words.

"No thanks. I don't really want to talk to you or see your face for a while."

We used to fight, then we would not talk for a while. Then we would start talking again as if nothing happened. But these days, it was tough to move on from a fight or disagreement. Is this what we call growing up? I had no idea how I would navigate this phase with Aarush. I wasn't mentally ready to handle that with maturity. I would break down.

He sighed. "I.....I'm sorry for the things I said." I looked at him.

"I forgive you." His eyes shone at my words. "But I agree, I need to stop butting in your business."

His brows furrowed at my tone. I forgave him, he was my brother, after all. But he was right too. I needed to step back and focus on my things. He was an adult and could face the consequences of his actions.

He was quiet for a while, maybe thinking what to say. The disagreements were tough to navigate but maybe, sometimes it was for the best.

"Ohhh heyyyyyy." Angie's voice came from behind. She came forward and I was grateful for the rest. I handed over the counter for her as she continued her talk with Dhruv.