AsYa SS: A Cup of Coffee & Much More Last Part Pg 36 - Page 4

Originally posted by: rajnid68

aap chupi hain kahan...

hum dunthay yahan...

update+update+update+update=cup of coffee

~ Running off to take my coffee ~ I am very happy that
U started, another, story. You are always up with something
Interesting d exciting. Want to read what."more" happens 😉

Interesting concept. Continue soon :)

Hi dearies,

i know i know i am too late. no excuses are there to give😳 i hope you will forgive me this time... too...😆 next updat will be within 3 days... hopefully😳... so here goes the first chapter.

Chapter 1: An Espresso Beginning

Certain places hold immense importance to some people's lives. Those places where they have grown up, learn to love, lost the loved ones... these places reminds us of the memories we have created, the memories we will cherish till our last breath, the memories which we will create on the go.

"Own a Coffee"- that was Zoya's life. Their own coffee shop, a place where little Zeenat and Zoya grew up, the place which have seen ups and downs in their life, the place which have seen their parents being snatched away by death, yet that place is their home, a home which filled with aroma of different coffees. A life without coffee will be a latte without sugar, drinkable but not enjoyable.

***(@)***

A cup of coffee lay abandoned on the table outside the coffee shop. The dripping rain created ripples in that coffee. As the rain started gaining strength, Zoya stepped out of the coffee shop, with a tray in her hand. The first raindrop touched her face making her feel heavenly. She quivered as the cold wet raindrops danced over her in symphony. She started collecting the coffee mugs in that tray shielding herself from the rain with her other hand. But rain was not merciful. Soon, she was drenched in rain as she continued picking up the coffee mugs.

"Zoya... come fast... if not you will catch cold..."

Her Aapi's sound resonated from the shop .Zoya rolled her eyes in return. Even after she picked up all the coffee mugs, she didn't went inside, instead she chose to stay in the rain, her eyes closed, while a dimpled smile tug in her lips. After a minute or so, breaking out from her reverie, she walked inside, leaving the rain to feel lonely.

As she expected, her Aapi was standing infront of the counter with fire breathing face. Zoya couldn't help but to compare her Aapi's facial expression with a dragon, only difference being the lack of real fire emanating from dragon's mouth and nose. She started laughing harder as her wild imagination continued while her Aapi stood there, with hands on her hips, perplexed at the sudden change in her sister.

"Zoya... Didn't I tell you not to drench in the rain?"

Zoya sulked hearing her Aapi reprimanding her.

"Oh come on Zeenat Aapi, don't be such a spoilsport. It was just rain. You are behaving as if I danced in fire"

Before her Aapi could back answer, the door to the caf opened leading a couple inside. Zoya slowly scooted away as she realized her Aapi's attention had been diverted to the customers.

"Zoya... get one Caf Breva and one Caf Macchiato."

"Yes Aapi the Great"

Zoya moved to her workstation humming some random songs while her Aapi rolled her eyes at her antics.

Within 5 minutes a chirpy Zoya emerged from the kitchen with brewing coffee in her hand.

"Caf Breva, the cappuccino made with half and half milk, for you sir. Caf Macchiato, the shot of espresso with steamed milk for you Madam."

She placed the order in the table while the customers smiled at her thankfully. They were middle aged couple. They sat there hand in hand occasionally sipping the coffee that was served. Their gaze was fixed outside as they listened to the pitter-patter of rain. The neon bulb which was brightening above together with the semi-darkness prevailing outside, casted a shadow upon them. Zoya sighed as her baby brown eyes drank in the picturesque moment in front of her. It was couples like these that reminded her that true love does exist and age is not a barrier for that. How she wished to have someone to love like this.

Her daydream was broken by the couple who walked towards the counter. She adjusted herself and smiled at them.

"That will be 175 bucks"

The couple paid their bill and walked towards the door satisfied. Before they step out, the man turned around and said,

"Your coffee is really good and the service too"

Zoya beamed in response as she proudly replied,

"Of course it will be. Because it's a cup of coffee and much more..."

***(@)***

"Bhaijan. Let's go out na? It's raining outside and we are sitting here idle. Let's have some fun. Please." Started whining a visibly bored Najma

"Ha bhajaijan. Najma is correct. What's the use of life when there is no fun?"

Asad casted a you too' look at Ayaan who was supporting his younger sister.

"Oh come on Bhaijan. Don't be soo boring and uptight. Can't you do this atleast for your younger sister?"

Asad looked at his sister defeated who was giving him puppy dog looks. He eventually agreed melting for his siblings. Ayaan and Najma hooted and hugged their Bhaijan forcefully resulting in the trio to fall down in the floor, Asad beneath and Ayaan and Najma over him. Asad couldn't help but to smile at their antics.

***(@)***

"Najma, can you please tell us where are we going? You told you want coffee and we already passed Starbucks"

Najma smiled at her brothers' impatience. There is no way she is going to Starbucks. Today she is in a mood to walk with her brothers drenching in rain, well not fully drenching since they have umbrella.

"Bhaijaan. Today we are going to Own a Coffee'. It's a small coffee shop near the lane"

Asad crunched his eyebrow in irritation as the word small coffee shop' drown on him. He imagined all those shabby looking shops he had seen in numerous films. There is no way he is gonna go there with his sister and brother.

"Oh hold on! We are not going there. God knows how that place will be. Let's go to Starbucks."

A disappointed Najma looked at Ayaan for support. He winked in response earning a bright smile from her.

***(@)***

After 5 minutes Ayaan and Najma walked into Own a Coffee' happily while Asad followed their suite grumpily. Once inside, Asad couldn't help but to admire the place. It was nothing that he was expected. It was small, but not congested. It was well lit with enough infrastructures. Whoever had done the interior designing, they sure have a taste in it, thought Asad.

Asad seated himself in a corner table as Ayaan and Najma went to order the coffee. He could see a girl taking their order but his view was obscuring by his siblings. Feeling curious, he craned his neck to have a perfect view of that girl's face. His breath hitched as he took the sight in front of him. Clad in a simple kurti, she was looking ethereal. It's not that she is the most beautiful girl in the whole world; it's just that she has an aura around her which will attract anyone. For a fleeting second her eyes darted towards him. Feeling caught staring, Asad straightened himself and stared outside the window trying to hide his embarrassment.

Zoya was taking order of two cute siblings when she felt her whole body warm up. It was as if someone was watching her for a long time. She suddenly felt the urge to look to her right, and when she looked, her whole world came to stand still. There was he, Adonis himself, sitting in her favorite table looking at her. For a fleeting moment their eyes locked she felt her breath hitch. Nervous about the sudden changes in herself, she broke the eye lock and again tried to concentrate on her work which was proving difficult minute by minute. She heaved a sigh of relief as she took the order and ran to kitchen. She held the edge of the kitchen cabinet trying to ease her erratic heartbeats.

"You can do it Zoya. He is just another customer. So what if he is good looking. Yeah, he has a perfect body, you know, like macho man. But still he is your customer. You can do this. There is nothing Zoya Farooqui cant do"

She muttered to herself trying to control her innerself. Gaining some energy from her self-talk she took the tray and walked towards the table. She saw his head shoot up at her direction as she came into his view. That damn blush! Her cheek reddened at its own accord as the similar warmness again coursing through her body.

"One caf latte for this beautiful lady and a caf latte Fredo for this young man..."

She said placing the order in the table only to be greeted by an extended hand. She looked at the curly haired guy, bewildered.

"Well, this young man has a name, Ayaan Ahmed Khan.

Zoya chuckled as she could well understand that he was flirting with her. She decided to return his gesture as she shook hands with him.

"And I am Zoya Farooqui"

On the other hand Asad was seething in anger as he saw his brother flirt with her. his anger manifold as she shook hands with Ayaan. He could very well see that his brother and Ms. Farooqui got along instantaneously. Feeling left out he cleared his throat alerting them about his presence.

"Ms. Farooqui, if your pleasantries are exchanged, would you care to give me my Espresso? I don't have my whole day to listen to your stupid talks, I have much better work to do you see."

The sarcasm and irritation in his voice didn't go unnoticed by Zoya. She felt humiliated. She faked a smile in front of them and went to get his espresso throwing a glare at him. Asad smirked seeing her reaction which was easily caught by Zoya.

After a few minutes, Zoya emerged from the counter with a cup of espresso in her hand. The nice aroma of brewed coffee filled in the shop. She lowered the cup on the table. Asad, who was watching her keenly, was horrified with her next actions. She took the spoon and started adding sugar cubes into his espresso. Asad practically screamed at that sight.

"What the hell are you doing? You are ruining my coffee"

She rolled her eyes at this. After dissolving the sugar, she motioned him to take it. He reluctantly took a sip and cringed at the taste.

"Yuck. It tastes horrible"

"Allah Miyaan what's wrong with you? It doesn't tastes horrible macho man. It tastes sweeter"

His face started reddening in anger while his siblings looked at the duo with their mouth wide open.

"Look Ms. Farooqui, what is the point in drinking a coffee which is sweeter? Coffee should be bitter and black"

Retorted Asad who was trying his level best to control himself from lashing out at her.

"Oh Yeah? Look Mr. Macho Man, life is just like coffee. Bitter and black. If you want, you can make it sweeter. All you have to do is add the right amount of sugar to it. Adding a little sweetness in life doesn't cause you any harm. It will just make your life sweeter. Being moody and uptight won't give you that much pleasure which the sweetness can give you. Atleast learn from this coffee. It's a cup of coffee and much more..."

For the first time in 28 years, Asad was at loss of words. He felt words dry in his throat as he tried hard to form a coherent reply. He was amazed at the easiness with which she threw the truth of his life in his face. And he was intrigued by her, like he was never before with anyone... He gazed into her baby brown eyes searching for something that he himself was not sure about.

Being a mute spectator for their verbal dual first then the I am searching for your soul' session for a long time, Ayaan looked at his sister who was looking equally shocked, their eyes mirroring the same million dollar question.

"Does this Espresso beginning will have a latte ending?"

very nice thanx for the PM and update soon 😊

Awesome! 👍🏼

Aw, this is super adorable! ❤️ What a great life lesson Miss Farooqui has taught the already mesmerized Mr. Khan 😳😆

finally...my cup of coffee is up...

How can they meet and not fight? That is next to impossible. And naturally had to be a flirt. Is Asad being jealous of his brother. Cont soon :)

Really interesting! 😃