OS | Wednesday in A Cafe

As promised Taylor Swift OS series ;). Now I listen to like any song if it sounds good and for a long while after Love Story I wasn't her biggest fan but I can't get over how perfect all of the songs in her new album "Red" seem to be! So this is my tribute!

                                                                          ~

All I feel in my stomach is butterflies,

The beautiful kind making up for lost time,

Taking flight,

Making me feel right.

- Everythign Has Changed, Taylor Swift

                                                                         ~ 

Arnav Singh Raizada sat at his corner of the cafe. It was late in the evening, his typical alone time and he watched as the daylight slowly dimmed into the dark night, the fading sun making way for the glimmering moon and twinkling stars. His pen remained frozen on that position on the thin-ruled paper as that complete look of serenity passed through his face. It didn't hurt him to remember her anymore; his mother because in the end things happened in life but you just had to move on, even if it meant moving on with the broken pieces.

He resumed his writing, where was he again? His pen halted at the sound of his phone vibrating against the hard wooden tabletop. He brought it in front of him, his brows furrowing at the few lines he could see in the preview and he slid it on to view the rest.

Dude just agree! La & I really want this to work. The chicks nice just a little down! And you need to get a life!

He smirked at NK's annoyed text message; he had been hounding Arnav down over going out with his girlfriend’s best friend for over a week now. And he finally decided to give in, what harm could it possibly do? Besides he was going to finally move on with life right?

In the distant abyss of his memory though a face churned somewhere, a tinkling laugh, soft hazel eyes but he made a point not to dwell too much into it, the time for that had been and gone.

****

Khushi stood in front of her bedroom mirror whilst Lavanya lounged on the bed in the background, her fingers expertly flicking through the pages of a magazine. She looked up for a few minutes watching her best friend fumble over what to wear.

"You know babes it really doesn't matter what you wear you look fab anyway," Lavanya tried to put Khushi at ease, wanting her friend to finally be happy. She remembered Khushi's sleepless nights, the piles of tissues, her bloodshot eyes as she cried and then that jerk who had dared to play with her heart all over again. If she ever saw him again she swore she would ram her heeled shoe up his arse.

A slight smile passed through Khushi's face as she pulled the white cotton t-shirt over her tightly fitting skinny jeans. "Isn't this too casual though?" She asked, her voice low, her eyes still downcast.

"It's a cafe hunnybun not a club," La retorted, rolling her eyes and focused back on the magazine then suddenly remembering something looked up again, "actually it's a bit weird, a cafe for a first date," she commented, her face thoughtful then waving her hand let it go. "Oh whatever! To each their own!"

Khushi smiled, that small smile that still didn't quite reach her face, the heartbreak still too real, omnipresent, only a click away from reaching the surface. But she had to move on, he wasn't worth her time.

Noticing her friends glumness once more, La got off of the bed and walked towards her, placing her hand on Khushi's shoulder and pinching her chin with the other, "chin up babe," she smiled. "Everything happens for good and who knows this might be your prince charming," she winked.

Khushi couldn't help but laugh this time; La always had a way with her words. Leaving a smiling La she slowly walked over to the cupboard at the far end of the room, stopping in front of it and letting her finger skim over the metal handle, the silver obscured by white paint in places. Finally tightening her hand around it she pulled the door open to reveal the many pairs of shoes, in every colour in all different styles. Bending down she pulled out a pair of healed boots, tanned and laced, possibly only worn a few times. A slow reminiscent smile spread across her face and she felt the first spells of happiness bloom. She placed her feet in them slowly, allowing herself to revel in the feel of them, how good she finally felt. This had been the last step; towards moving away from that relationship, from him, he’d never liked her wearing heels.

She stood in front of the mirror again, adjusting the way her jeans rested on her hips once more, her eyes distant as her mouth curved down a fraction. She remembered mornings of conversations, the smell of coffee, deep chocolate brown eyes and she swallowed hard. Prince Charming she would never find again, she’d just have to settle for second best no one could replace the void the he had left.

Took a deep breath in the mirror

He didn’t like it when I wore high heels

But I do

Turn the lock and put my headphones on

He always said he didn’t get this song

But I do, I do

La looked up again, her curious eyes taking in the features of Khushi’s face that had rapidly changed. She stood up again, leaving her magazine aside and walked over to stand behind Khushi.

“What’s wrong babe?” She questioned analysing her features, then placing her hands on her shoulders turned her around to face her. “You need to stop thinking about him, today is the day you move on,” she said, pushing her fingers into the curves of her lips and pushing them up.

A slow smile passed over face, “I wasn’t thinking about Shyam, I’ve moved on from him and that too gladly,” she finally worded her thoughts. “I was thinking about him, the one that I know I’ll never be able to move on from,” her eyes met La’s suddenly, the tiny drops of water that had gathered in the brims of her eyes all but too evident. “You know I think that was the main downfall of my relationship with Shyam, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to replace him.”

“Chin up babe,” La replied, pinching Khushi’s chin and pushing it up, “who knows what today will hold,” she winked, suppressing the wide grin that threatened to escape her.

****

He looked up slowly, the tantalising tinkle of the many wind chimes that moved in the wind reminding him of her once more. Maybe agreeing to this date was a bad idea; he just couldn’t get her off of his mind. 

He looked up to the door suddenly, a deep hidden feeling stirring in the depths of his heart somewhere. He couldn’t place it, the cause for the sudden rapidness to his heartbeat. It was nearly 6pm, he gulped, maybe he wasn’t ready to move on just yet, the scars of what had happened, what he had created still only a mere few layers beneath the surface.

His mind whirred back to the last time he’d seen her, spheres of hazel, glazed over with tears as they slid down her cheeks and fell to the ground in little drops.

“I just think we should break up, I want time alone, away from everyone, away from you.”

He remembered his harsh words, his cutting voice that had contradicted his every thought, his emotions in a muddle, conflicting and painful as he had tried to stifle them and spare her of the pain his future could hold.

He remembered how he’d walked away without so much as a glance backwards, placing a stone on his heart. And now how he yearned for her, to hold her in his arms and rest his head on her shoulder, feel the warmth of her, the safety of the cocoon she created, the way her laugh vibrated in hears even after she was done. But he couldn’t undo what had been done, he’d let her go and he didn’t deserve to have her back just because he knew all was well again.

He looked up again suddenly, his heart almost stopping for a moment. He stood up abruptly, the pieces of paper over the table scattering, pens rolling over and falling to the floor.

She stopped mid-step, her heart pounding away in her chest, her eyes wide.

He took a step forward as she took a step back.

Their gazes clashed.

Walked in expecting you’d be late

But you got here early and you stand and wave

I walk to you

She was sure this was an illusion, she’d allowed herself to think about him too much today, her mind was playing games on her and she just needed to run out, otherwise the guy who she was supposed to meet today would take her to be demented.

He tried to fix his scattered thoughts, tried to allow pieces to fall together. It was 6pm and NK knew of Khushi. La? Was La Khushi’s friend, did it stand for Lavanya?

“Khushi,” his voice came out in a whisper and she stared into his eyes in wonderment.

That felt real, like he was really here, in front of her.

He took a few more steps forward as she stood rooted to the spot.

“Arnav,” she mumbled this time, not quite sure of herself, of her mind that was prone to playing games.

“Khushi,” his lips spread into a slow smile and this time she knew he was real.

She took a step forward then another until she began running and she had flung herself into his arms, colliding into his chest, her arms going around his neck.

“Khushi,” he whispered once more, that tiny smile widening as he sent his arm around the small of her waist, resting his head in the space of her neck.

She couldn’t stop the tears that grazed her cheeks, he was here in the flesh in front of her, she didn’t know what to do, her thoughts lost in an incoherent muddle somewhere and then she stiffened, his final words ringing through her ears.

He’d broken up with her, eight months ago; he’d left her, not even offered a final glance back. She pushed back against the hold he had on her, peering into the depths of his melted chocolate orbs.

He felt his smile die on his lips, could read her thoughts as her brows scrunched together and she looked to him in confusion.

She pushed back away from him then, breaking away from his hold. “You left me,” she accused.

“I…” He didn’t know what to say, he was stumbling over his own conflicting thoughts.

“You never called, you didn’t reply to my texts, you just left!” She shouted and he didn’t know how to reply.

“I thought it was the best option, I didn’t want you waiting for me till I could get back, if I could get back,” he finally replied his voice low, his eyes downcast, not meeting her challenging gaze.

She frowned, that wasn’t an explanation, not to what she had gone through, the attempts that she had made to move on, onto a relationship that she would forever regret.

“That’s not…” She began still looking for the right words to not hurt him with.

“Good enough, I know,” he finished off for her, his chocolate brown orbs meeting hers once more, “but you know I make rash decisions,” he admitted.

She couldn’t control herself any longer, she’d known all along his every feeling. He’d taken a gap year and went back home because his mother had been ill and then she’d passed away. NK, his friend had told her and she knew why he hadn’t gotten back in touch with her, that was Arnav, it was the way he thought.

“You could have called me once you got back,” she finally replied, her tone still accusing, she couldn’t keep in the anger that she had held somewhere deep inside of her.

“I didn’t know if you’d moved on and you don’t deserve to have your heart played around with like that,” his gaze fell to the floor once more as he said it.

She felt her heart go a little at that, this is why she loved him, because of how he always thought it necessary to put her before him.

She moved into his embrace again, all her inhibitions, her anger forgotten, she placed her face against his chest. “Why are you here today?” She questioned then.

His arms tightened around her, glad for the comfort that she offered, her safe haven. “I’m guessing I’m here to meet you,” that mischievous glint was back in his eyes as a slow smirk spread over his face.

She moved back in his embrace, pondering into his eyes, “to meet me?” She questioned, utterly confused but with her own lips tugging into the smallest of smiles. He looked good when he smiled, she’d missed him so much, she’d missed this warm embrace of his, the smirk that he pulled off so well.

“Well,” he drawled, “erm I came here to meet NK’s girlfriend’s best friend who was looking to go on a date with me,” he finished off finally, his lips widening into a smile.

Her eyes flickered through the features of his face as La’s words began to play over on her mind and it all made sense now but two could play at his game. “Well I guess you should meet her instead then, I’m sure I can find someone else,” she mumbled pretending to be upset and feebly attempting to push away from his embrace.

He raised an eyebrow, smirking once more, “oh really? I think I should, seeing as you aren’t interested,” he murmured, pulling her back in, completely ignoring all of the disapproving looks that were thrown their way.

She smiled back against him, “I missed you,” she murmured.

He sighed, he hadn’t had the strength to ask her to come back, he was glad for what NK had done.

“I love you,” he murmured back into her hair.

He moved her back a little, appraising her, he’d missed her, almost forgotten how good she looked, how breathtakingly beautiful she was.

“You still look as beautiful,” he whispered, tightening his arms around her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead as her smile widened. “And you’ve got your heels back,” he remarked, smiling, he remembered that she’d stopped wearing them a few weeks before he had broken up with her because she had sprained her angle.

She looked up at him again, surprised that he’d remembered, her mind involuntarily picking out at the jarring differences between Shyam and Arnav, “I’m out to impress this guy,” she mused dreamily, “he has a thing for heels you know,” she winked.

“Is that right?” He chuckled, “well hopefully in your attempts to impress this random guy you don’t end up toppling over again and spraining that ankle of yours,” he replied.

“Well I’m sure this one will catch me when I fall,” she retorted feigning anger, gently shoving him back then broke into a giggle at his laughing face. She loved it when he laughed like that.

And you throw your head back laughing

Like a little kid

I think it’s strange that you think I’m funny cause

He never did

I’ve been spending the last 8 months

Thinking all love ever does

Is break and burn and end

But on a Wednesday in a café

I watched it begin again

“I’m sure he’d be able to catch up with you if you don’t end up running like a headless chicken again,” he said in between laughs and she pushed him back giggling.

“I wasn’t running like a headless chicken! You Raizada are just not fast enough for me! Even when I’m wearing heels!” She stated back pointing her finger his way.

“Oh really?” He questioned raising an eyebrow, his hand going around her wrist then pulling her in, his scorching caramel orbs leaving her slightly dazzled for a minute.

“But I’ll always be fast enough for this,” he smirked, moving closer. She felt the blood rush through her veins once more, her breath hitching in her throat, she felt the familiar rapid beats of her heart, to the rhythm that was defined only for them.

He watched the slight quiver of her lips as his own hovered only inches away, the flutter of her lashes as her lids remained closed. He let his hands cup her face, moving closer still. “I missed you,” he murmured finally, taking her lips into his, her gentle reply making him feel like they had never broken up in the first place. She let his fingers entangle in his hair, pulling him closer, her lips hungry against his, how much she’d missed this. He lifted her up a fraction as she sought entry into his mouth and he let her, letting their tongues clash, intertwine, loosing himself in the love and warmth which only she could offer. Their lips moved to a known motion as his tongue sought every corner, every ridge of her mouth.

I’ve been spending the last 8 months

Thinking all love ever does

Is break and burn and end

But on a Wednesday in a café

I watched it begin again

“I’d forgotten how good you looked,” she remarked as they walked down the beach, her fingers interlaced through his.

“Aah that’s a shame, no wonder you were ready to date a random guy,” he smirked.

She slapped his arm playfully, “and I’d forgotten how much of an arrogant ass you are!” She chided.

She stopped suddenly then, moving in front of him, her other hand intertwining through his as he looked back at her questioningly “How are you though?” She finally managed to ask.

His face dropped for a fraction of a second but he hid it the next, only too aware that she’d already caught on. “It was difficult at first,” he finally murmured, looking away from her, towards the horizon, the flutter of wings of seagulls as they took flight. “But I think I’m okay now,” he reassured looking back towards her.

She nodded back, she knew what he felt; she’d lost her parents at a very young age too.

She looked away this time; she caught sight of a struggling wave as it lapped against others, fought with other waves that threatened it, its every effort focused on reaching the shore. “I tried to move on,” she finally mumbled, she felt guilty; she wanted to tell him, she didn’t want him to judge her.

He frowned a little then a slow smile spread over his lips, he couldn’t help but feel proud of her; this was why he’d fallen in love with her, why he would never fall out of love with her.

He pulled her back into an embrace, “it doesn’t matter,” he murmured into her hair, placing a gentle lingering kiss. “Besides I’d done voodoo on you to make sure that they wouldn’t work out,” he smirked against her hair. “Actually no,” he moved her back a bit and watched her bewildered eyes for a second, “I didn’t need to since you’re so annoying anyway,” he smirked, “no one else would go to the trouble of putting up with you,” he chuckled as she shoved him back.

“Shut up, that’s mean!” She pouted as she fell into a giggle herself.

“It’s mean?” He questioned raising an eyebrow as she moved over and linked her arm through his, “because I’m the one that demands jalebis in the wee hours of the morning, sends threatening text messages when I’m late for something,” he began to list.

“At least it’s better than a certain someone that replies with K after I’ve sent him a huge text just because he can’t be bothered typing a few words, makes up lame excuses after doing stupid things,” she retorted making a face at him.

“Well then I propose that as we are equally flawed as each other, we should go out, you know apparently things like this work out,” he winked stopping in front of her.

“Oh I dunno,” she mused, “it just seems like I could find someone so much better,” she tapped her chin, screwing up her face as if in thought.

He pulled her back against her suddenly, taking her lips into his, then breaking away for a second, “Actually sweetheart I’m not leaving you an option here, we’re going out,” he murmured into her lips, his husky voice sending goosebumps over her skin as he took her lips in once more and she sighed against them then moulded herself into the haven of his embrace.

And you throw your head back laughing

Like a little kid

I think it’s strange that you think I’m funny coz

He never did

I’ve been spending the last eight months

Thinking all love ever does

Is break and burn and end

But on a Wednesday in a café

I watch it begin again

But on Wednesday in a café

I watched it begin again…