A very old café which was located outside the city, in a calm and quiet area. The café was run by an old lady who filled the place with the aroma of coffee. The café had very old aesthetics, with aged photo frames hanging on the walls. The wooden tables and chairs were neatly arranged. The café smelled of freshly brewed coffee.

It was not a very famous café, so the crowd was minimal. Only a few people were sitting here and there. People were having slow conversations, sipping their coffee. But there she sat, in the far corner of the café, next to the window, with a book in her hand. She was not reading it, but carefully looking at a photograph. Her softened eyes held a lot of pain to share, and she was completely zoned out.

A teardrop was about to fall when she suddenly swiped it away. Just then, she heard her name being called and went to the café counter to grab her coffee, carrying the book in her hand.

Old lady: “How many times, Eira???? How many times should I keep yelling your name?? Every time you order your coffee and sit blank in the corner.”

Eira offered an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, sorry… I was just lost in my thoughts. Aage se dhyaan rakhungi.”

( Ill be more carefulful next time)

The old lady mimicked her.

“Lost in thoughts,” she murmured, then added, “This girl is so strange. Hazaar baar naam pukaro, aise baithi rehti hai jaise ki yeh naam iska hai hi nahi.”

( this girl is so strange. No matter call out her name for thousand times acts as if its not her name)

Eira didn’t hear—or she was least bothered to hear. She headed back to her seat, dragging the chair very slowly, making almost no noise. She sat down and started taking small sips of her coffee, reading the book with obvious focus this time.

Eira visits only one café in the entire city, and this is the one. She hates crowds, and to avoid people, this is the only café where she gets good coffee and a sense of comfort. She chooses calmness and peace, as she easily gets disturbed by noises.

And in the same moment—

A car stopped straight in front of the café.

“Why did you bring me to this boring café, Rishi?” a voice complained.

“Arey, Ishaan, let us explore every part of our city. Now we’ve reached, and you come out. You have no other option left,” Rishi said authoritatively.

The car doors opened. Two boys stepped out—clear curiosity on one face and least interest on the other. Rishi pushed the door open and entered the café.

Ishaan said, “Seriously?” while glancing around the café. “Tera dost na hota, toh aise aaltu-faltu jagah pe kabhi na aata.”

“Ha ha, maine sab sun liya, Ishaan ji. Ab aa hi gaye ho, toh viraajmaan bhi ho jao.”

“This café has no aesthetics,” Ishaan whispered into Rishi’s ear, looking at the people sitting there. “I wonder if the coffee is good here.”

Rishi ignored him and walked toward a nearby table to sit.

Meanwhile, Ishaan was still standing near the entrance, completely analyzing the café—each and every corner. And then his eyes fell on her, quietly sitting, distinctly far away from everyone.

Seems like the café is not going to be boring anymore.

And he noticed her.

She was sitting far away from the centre. She ws not wearing any bright colours. She was present there as if she is not on cafe date but as she wanted some peace and she didnt wanted to come in notice. Not really she was hidden but sat distant. He saw the seriousness in her eyes. Even though she was looking at the books but he was sure she wasnt reading it . Her eyes were still as if she is seriously gazing something in the book.

Ishaan is curious boy. He has a curious personality -to know everything about places people around him and what’s happening.He has so energetic personality that silences always used to make him restless.

And cafes like this are never his type. He is used to loud noises, he enjoy being in crowd. Finds himself more relaxed surrounded by people. He is so joyful that he thinks a day without laughter is a day wasted and he choose chaos, drama, fun over silence. He loves hanging out, exploring places but since silence is not his type he avoids being in such places.

But today his curiosity was fixed on her. He became so much involved to into her silence.

He noticed that how she flinched back to reality and closed the book and hugged the book tightly within her arms. He noticed everything how she apologised how she came back and pulled the chair slowly and sat there.Every silent action of her was noticed How she was taking slow sips of coffee.

Sudden breeze of air from the window blows and her hair strands to flow on her face , she rests the book on her lap and tug her hair behind the ear with one hand and holding the coffee mug in other hand.

Ishaan curiosity didnt make him realise only that he was constantly staring at her.

Meanwhile Rishi who has already grabbed the seat and looking at the menu with very disappointment has nothing much variants were available. He then lifts his head from the menu and fir his amaze he saw ishaan still standing at entrance. He raise his hand and signals ishaan, said

“Bhai, are you planning to stand there all day?”

Ishaan blinked, broke his gaze, and finally moved toward the table. But even while sitting, his attention always went back to her corner.

Ishaan was not attracted it wass just his curiosity personality which always wants to know everything around made him drift back to her.

Ishaan leaned back slightly.

“ Bhai, yaha pe kuch jyada khane main options hi nahi hai”

“Haa tho main thodi leke aaya tha.”

“ Fine let me order coffee only for both of us”

Rishi went to the counter to order coffee for them.

There was something about the way she sitting all alone in that space. Like she was present physically, but mentally elsewhere.

Strange, he thought.

And strangely she was impossible to ignore.

He didn’t speak to her.

Didn’t even mean to keep watching.

Yet, without realizing it, his eyes kept returning to that corner.

Unseen. Unnoticed.

For now.