"CHAPTER: 3 (Last)"

As my order arrived, I grabbed the holder of the cup, twirled my fingers around it and took it closer towards my lips and let the first sip provide heaven to my soul which was longing for it from an hour.

I let my tongue cherish the taste which ultimately made my whole body feel relaxed and overwhelmed.
Satisfying taste, indeed!
The only thing bothering my happy and cheerful mood was the location where I was sitting and the only obstacle, leading to that much of chaos in my head was that Lady.

(Oh.…how long I will refer to her as “Lady"! I should provide a suitable name to her, something which suits her most appropriately as I am about to mention her various times in the story. What about calling her, "The Cold Eyes"?!)

The rain was turning heavy and hence, various customers started leaving the place early to catch the bus or taxi on time.
The time would be around 5:40 p.m. in the evening when only three to five customers were left in the restaurant with me including "The Cold Eyes". I had some pre-planned work which needed to be done that day so I took the last sip of my coffee and hurried to pay the bill.

I took all my belongings, the notebook, the pen, etc. and placed them inside my old- fashioned looking brown leather bag. While leaving, I turned back to take one last glimpse of the seat and noticed that "The Cold Eyes" had left already.

I opened the door and the bell rang again, this time notifying about my exit. I came outside of the restaurant and searched for my umbrella.

While I was again pressing the button hard to let that faded black umbrella get opened and I could cover my head by it, I noticed someone's shadow who was standing a few distance away from me. I witnessed a young lady wearing a long red overcoat, a black turtle- neck with black straight pants, standing infront of the large transparent window of the restaurant trying to cover her head using her both palms due to the absence of an umbrella. When my eyes examined hers, I came to the conclusion that she was the lady inside, "The Cold Eyes". I came up to various reasons why she lacked an umbrella during such a terrific weather, in the season of monsoon, and concluded might she forgot and hence either waiting for the bus, or taxi, or for the rain to stop.

I saw her eyes moving fast, searching the street for the sign of any transport and, thought to help her for crossing the road so that she could catch the bus and hence, again, with politeness, gestured towards her with the umbrella and asked if she wanted to share but...again with an arrogant attitude she denied right away and with a rough tone, kind of, ordered me to help my own self first of all. I tried to swallow my anger but it erode like a forest on fire and when I finally opened my mouth to talk back over her such cold replies, I saw her running towards the bus coming on the other side of the road in the heavy rain, making her overcoat get wet ,leaving behind deep marks of her black boots over the rain water which disappeared as soon as she stepped ahead and then vanished with the bus within few minutes while I was standing alone infront of the gate of the restaurant holding my umbrella using one hand with a confused expression and wished to never meet her again or anyone like her.

Traffic light again turned red, I ,safely, crossed the road and started waiting for the bus while recalling about my tragic encounter with "The Cold Eyes".

Thank you for reading!

~ Newly Risen Sun