1 November 2034
Raghav parked his rental on the road. Roads are the least inhabited places after deserts. He wore an olive green Tee and a white shirt over it. A peculiar prospect.
He entered the gothic looking cafe. He just finds these anti-minimalists out of nowhere. He went straight to the table in the middle. Maybe that's just a proliferation of his main character vibes. The cafe had a warm yellow lighting with a constant Beethoven background.
The waiter came to him and nodded, "Üdvözlöm!". Raghav stammered, "Umm.... Hello". The waiter changed his mode with a blink to ask, "What do you like to have, sir?"
Raghav replied, "I am expecting a friend. She'd order." Raghav said so not because he wanted Emese to order for him, but because he won't get a Filter Coffee there. That distinction matters, especially for the near future.
Raghav wore his convo-pod and called in Draupadi and Sankarshana. "Children, today you're going to learn the art of rejection from the master."
"Why the hell would you call me for such a nuisance?", screamed Sankarshana
"Hey girl, do you remember how you devastated Hanu a decade ago? I never heard about that pure soul ever since ", teased Raghav
"Pretty sure he isn't dead", Draupadi replied, "where are you right now?"
"I'm in Hungary, on an expedition", Raghav replied with a gasp.
"An expedition for the best spa, I guess", added Sankarshana.
"I'll explain once I am there", Raghav said, "Here she is "
Raghav didn't notice her coming at first as he sat with his back towards the entrance. Emese came near him, tilted her head and said, "Hello, Raghav!". Raghav stood up and gave her a hand with a hello. Both sat down opposite to each other as the waiter approached Emese. She looked at Raghav straight into his eyes and said, "Raghav, Don't you think what we order depends on whether we are on a date or not?". Raghav shrunk his forehead and said, "Friends hangout". Emese giggled as she ordered, "Two Caramel Lattes, please". Raghav heard Sankarshana go, "Winston Churchill and his chilly wordplay, spicy & cold"
Emese was discussing normal topics like Raghav's return to India till the waiter arrived. Raghav got a white cup while Emese got a green cup matching her dress and eyes. After all, the waiter is a human being.
"And to answer your question", Raghav started as her eyes lit up, "I'm sorry that I made a week of scientific companionship let you lose your stand to differentiate between Pandora and Pandemonium, Pandora"
"Wordplay level moving from England to Deutschland. James Cameron, John Milton and Greek Mythology enter the chat.", Sankarshana laughed on the convo-pod.
Emese replied, "You don't have to be sorry and all."
Raghav continued, "I love you, but in the most platonic way possible. And that's what friends do."
"That's a very non-Raghav thing to say it out loud", judged Draupadi
Emese said, "Don't stress out too much. That's a normal proposal of romantic interest. If you are not interested, it's ok. I can rewire"
This blew his mind off. Raghav held her hand, looked straight into her eyes and said, "Emese, that's why we are not making it out. For me, love is never about interests. It's a bar magnet. There's always a south for a north."
"Wordplay's on Greece tour", whispered Sankarshana.
Meanwhile their cups got emptied. As they both stood up to leave, Raghav gave a handshake and said, "Hope to meet you again soon". Emese hugged him and said, "Be sure."
"Where is that one toaster who'd toast you to such an extent that I'd regret not leaving the bread to the fungi?", asked Sankarshana.
"Here, sitting on the next table, watching everything live", laughed Raghav.
"Hello guys!", screamed Aditya.
"So he's there to escort this precocious child home?", asked Draupadi.