After a few days, when he returned to Java Joy Café, he was pleasantly surprised to find Deepa in his favorite corner. A smile passed his lips. He vowed to find out more about her that day. With Mr. Pandit’s passing, he realized that life is too short to waste and that every minute counts.

As he knocked at the entrance to take his seat, the girl gave him the most pleasant smile he could ever imagine from her.

“Welcome back, Mr. Celebrity. I thought I scared you off that I was pretty sure you changed coffee shops,” she said pushing the chair opposite her with her foot for Arpan to sit.

“Were you trying to scare me?” smiled Arpan, his wicked smile trying to catch up with her humor.

“Most of the people do get scared of me for reasons unbeknownst to me. Look at you. You were brave enough to come back. Your bravado must be applauded,” she said mockingly while gently clapping her hands.

“How many people did you kill with your words and ancient manners?” asked Arpan making a serious face.

“So where were you? I felt that our conversation was left incomplete,” said she taking a sip from her coffee.

“My neighbor died and I was helping them. It was sudden and the elderly lady didn’t know anyone else in the city. So, my neighbors and I helped the family with the food and other arrangements,” said Arpan looking down.

“Very sorry to hear that. Please forgive my intrusion,” she said pushing up her glasses up her nose.

“So, you did miss me,” smiled Arpan coyly.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Celebrity. For a change I thought I found an interesting person with whom I could have a decent conversation without the ogling and pestering me for phone number,” she said, taking another sip of her coffee.

“Ahh! I have to cross that one out from my list of questions today for you, then. That’s a bummer! I so wanted to ask your phone number so we could continue our conversations over the phone when I am not in town,” said Arpan pulling out a notepad from his bag and making an ‘x’ on an empty page.

She giggled. “You have to earn my trust. Maybe one day I might be tempted to give you,” she said, tugging a stray hair behind her ear.

“Alright, my lady. What is on the agenda today?”

“Well, did you get a chance to read any interesting book?”

“That’s it? I thought you would be interested to know about me, like what I do for a living. Aren’t you even a wee bit curious?”

“Oh! You are dying to tell me that you are a big celebrity? What am I going to do learning about your profession? It is what puts food on your table. You are a hardworking man like many millions out there. Big deal! You might be earning slightly higher than most individuals but at the end of the day, all that earnings enable you to have a decent roof over your head and good food in your belly. Ding…ding…ding!! News flash for you Mr. Celebrity – Almost every man has been doing that for ages,” she blasted at him a bit angrily.

Arpan was taken aback. What kind of a girl is she, thought Arpan unable to exactly pinpoint her attitude. She comes off as rude and arrogant but intelligent and sensible at the same time. What she says seems to be apt.

“Well, I’ve never thought of it that way,” mumbled Arpan, stumbling onto the chair opposite her.

“Sorry, Arshad. I didn’t mean to yell at you. I don’t like this celebrity status that people thrust on others just because they are in the limelight. They forget that they are also human beings like others. It really bothers me a lot,” said Deepa, looking down.

“It is Arpan not Arshad,” corrected Arpan.

“What?” she shouted again.

“My name is Arpan, not Arshad,” said Arpan again.

“Oh! Sorry again. I am bad at remembering names. Forgive me,” she said, sipping her coffee.

“You seem to be having a bad start today. Is everything alright, Deepa?” asked Arpan, leaning forward.

“Umm…what makes you think that?”

“You are not your usual cheerful and chatty self. You seem to be…uhhh… a bit edgy. I don’t mind leaving you alone for a day. Or I can cheer you up. Your call,” said Arpan, leaning back in his chair.

She thought for a while. “You are right, Mr. Celebrity. I need some cheering up. Tell me something about you today so I can be distracted from the thing that has been plaguing me since last two days. Only don’t ask me what it is,” she said, cupping her coffee mug in both of her hands and leaning back in her chair.

“Alright, Miss Deepa,” said Arpan rubbing his palms together.

“As you are not familiar with my name, I think there is a need for another reminder. My name is A-R-P-A-N,” said Arpan, spelling out his name. “Since you are not interested what I do for a living, I shall not bore you with the details. I finished Bachelors in Commerce long time ago but I was more interested in entertaining people. I am the only son to my parents who by the way are very lovely people. I am sure they love me very much. Since I’ve been earning a decent amount of money lately, I started living on my own. I am not yet married but hope to one day. In my line of work, I get to travel a lot. I’ve visited a few countries and I’ve travelled extensively in India as well. I had a huge crush on my Economics professor in college but she declined me. Since then, I’ve been a heartbroken man,” explained Arpan.

“Oh! You poor rich kid! Your life is really boring. Why did your professor decline you? Did she give any explanation?”

“Yes. She said that it is illegal for women to have two husbands in our country,” shrugged Arpan.

“Not fair. Men can have as many wives as they please but women cannot be married to more than one. It is injustice, I say,” she said pounding on the table smiling.

“I think it is illegal for men also to have more than one wife in this country,” explained Arpan.

“Serves them right. Do your parents live in the city too?” she asked, finishing her coffee.

“Yes, they do in other part. I visit them often when I am in town and of course my parents are always visiting me just to see if I am doing well,” Arpan paused.

“I think I am doing all the talking. Feels much like an interrogation to me,” he added.

“Hey, you are catching up. Why do you think I am doing this interrogation? Maybe I will be convinced to give my phone number after all,” she smiled, with only one side of her lip moving up.

“That seems promising. Ask away any more questions you have. I am here at your service,” Arpan bowed. “Since you are not married, do you have a girlfriend?” asked Deepa abruptly.