Chapter One
As soon as Akshara opened the door to step outside, she felt the cold wind hit her face. It felt like walking straight into a brick wall. She put her AirPods in her ears and pulled the hoodie of her jacket on her head and tried to rush to the subway as fast as she could. It has been years since she moved to this city but she still was not used to the brutal winters.
The subway was as busy as always with people pushing and shoving each other but Akshara managed to find a corner to stand on holding the pole. Her destination was only two stops away and when the weather was nice, she preferred to leave early and just walk there but on days like these, she had no choice but to take the subway.
As soon as her stop came, she rushed out of the train and out of the subway station and ran to the campus of NYU Steinhardt. Her clinical rotation was almost done and she just had to meet two of her professors to turn in her reports. She would be graduating in two weeks and the thought made her anxious. Akshara decided to not think about that and just tried to focus on the day ahead of her.
2 hours later, when Akshara left the NYU campus, little flurries were falling off the sky. Akshara sighed. As much as snow looked beautiful in pictures and in movies, living in New York City, Akshara knew it would all turn into messy grey slush in no time. She walked the two blocks to a local coffee shop and as soon as she opened the door, the barista behind the door waved at her.
“Hi Alex!” Akshara waved back.
“You are here early. You must really love working here!” Alex laughed.
“No other place I can be.” Akshara sadly smiled.
“Well since you still have an hour to your shift, why don’t you try this new hot chocolate I came up with today and tell me what you think.” Alex was always coming up with new recipes in hope of one day he can open his own coffee shop and Akshara was his tester. Akshara didn’t mind. Alex was one of the very few people she had in her life.
Akshara took the hot chocolate and sat in a stool facing the glass window. People as usual were rushing around on the street. Akshara laughed to herself. No matter what the weather was, nobody could stop the people of this city to live their lives. Akshara watched as families with parents and two small girls walked by the shop and she felt a pang of pain in her. In a city so big, in a world with billions of people, why am I so alone? Apart from Alex, Akshara only had one other person in her life. Sophie, her best friend and roommate. Technically she had a family too but a family she hasn’t seen in years. A family who casted her away and never looked back at her. The family she had to face again once she graduates
“So what do you think?” Alex asked making Akshara almost jump as she was so lost in her thoughts.
“It’s very good. I like the hint of cinnamon as well.”
“It was a lot better when it was hot. It IS hot chocolate, Akshara!”
Akshara touched the cup. Alex was right. The hot chocolate had turned into cold chocolate. Akshara was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even realize.
“It’s okay. I’ll make you some later. Ready to start your shift? I am meeting Claire so I am running late.” Claire was Alex’s girlfriend and he was always taking her on cute little dates and asking Akshara to cover his shift. Akshara didn’t mind. Her own love life was nonexistent.
Akshara put on her apron and went behind the counter start her shift. She watched from outside as the same little two girls she saw earlier danced around holding hands watching the flurries fall. She felt herself getting teary but controlled herself. Whoever she loved in her life either left her or turned their back against her. Love was not something Akshara Goenka believed in anymore. The bell on the door ringed as a customer came inside so Akshara put on her best smile and greeted her first customer of what would be a very busy day.
Part 2 soon
Tag people please
Edited by MimiLulu - 3 years ago
Shiv Shakti
650