Vibha OS Dare Contest - Page 3

She quietly tiptoed into the hall after hearing noises in the living room. She wondered if he was back yet. "Ahem..." he cleared his throat from the chair he was sitting. "Beta why are you sitting in the dark," she asked switching on the lights. He shot her an angry glare and she switched it off before hurrying to bed.

The next day morning, she slowly entered his room with two cups of coffee. "Vikram, get up. Was it so bad last night? I knew Sharda choice won't be right for you. But what to do we don't know what kind of girl you want to marry," she told her sleeping grandson. He immediately shot out of bed, "You all thought a good-looking socialite is whom I'll be compatible with?" Nani didn't understand what the problem was the girl, Neha was pretty, polite, from a good family. So what else does he want. She asked him directly for his preference.

Vikram took his cup from her and walked towards the window and said, "Nani, there was a time I wanted to marry a girl as radiant as the sun, whose smile lit up the entire room, a face I'll be glad to see the first the morning. But I tried that once. Such girls are just that, pretty faces nothing more. I want someone who is strong and fight for what she wants, someone who is persevering and works for our common happiness, yet someone who is sweet and cares about the people around her. You know Nani, she should be like a good cup of coffee. Strong enough to help me stand firm yet sweet enough to make me relax." Nani looked at him seriously and asked where he will find this coffee girl. He smiled back and walked out of the room, "Relax Nani, one fine day such might be standing right at the threshold of our home." Nani sighed as he walked towards the front door. Her grandson expected Love to walk in through the door. As if life is so kind.

He went to get the morning paper and was surprised with what he saw. It was just Shobha. But still it wasn't. She was smiling at him and held a bag in her hands. His mind registered that she was saying something. But his ears heard the words he spoke earlier to Nani. He realised that they fit Shobha. All the qualities he wanted in a woman were traits he admired the most about her. And she was just standing there at threshold of their home just like he joked. "How long will you take to get the paper?" Nani came looking for him. She saw the strange look in her grandson's eyes. It wasn't love, but it was interest. Interest in the woman standing before him. They had both been hurt through love but still believed in it. Maybe interest could blossom into something more.

Shobha realised that Vikram seemed a little lost. She waved her hand trying to get his attention, "Sir, Sir, are you alright?" He nodded, he was alright now. Everything about his life will be alright soon. She saw Nani and said, "Good morning Nani. It's Mom's birthday so I made Chole batura and phirni for breakfast. I brought some over for you both," she offered the bag to the smiling woman. Nani asked if they were not partying. Shobha replied Garima had made dinner reservations in Sharda's favorite restaurant and invited her and Vikram too. Nani agreed to come and nudged her grandson who was still tongue tied. Some coffee fell on his shirt.

"Coffee! Shobha coffee!" he shouted. The two women looked at him. He lowered his voice, "Would you like a cup of coffee?" She declined graciously saying she was heading to work early and work on her presentation. "My God, Shobha, it's seven in the morning. You're boss must be taskmaster to make you come so early," he commented with a twinkle in his eye. She decided that one cup wouldn't delay her that much. A few minutes later, he brought a piping hot cup of coffee. Nani teased saying he doesn't usually make coffee for anybody. "Of course, my coffee is special. Not everyone is lucky enough to start the day with Pinnacle's best brew."

Two years later, Vikram was making coffee for his lovely wife as she was hurrying to leave for work. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" he asked. She smiled at him before declining remembering the day they both decided to give love a second chance. "My God, Shobha, it's seven in the morning. You're boss must be taskmaster to make you come so early," he said his line. She laughed and asked if she should quit. He gave it a serious thought and replied, "Then you must have this cup. Pinnacle's coffee will never be the same without you." She took the cup nodding earnestly. As she turned to leave, he pulled her back gently and kissed her forehead, "Shobha, without you neither will I." She hugged him and admitted, "Nor I without you".