Coffee

-ANASTASIA-

1 December 2019, 8:47 am.

‘Tilt your head to the east if you happen to live where the sun rises there and see the orange red sun rising by taking its time to come out of those white fluffy clouds showing the world its unbeaten beauty and bringing a tinge of warmth on this cold day. I have seen it today like every other day but one might wonder then what the difference in today and yesterday is?

Obviously today is Monday and yesterday was Sunday! Nah, I am kidding my dear friends because today I can see a white pigeon in the clear blue sky basking in the warmth of the sun and as I walk along the sideway waiting for my best friend to come down, the smell of the tastiest pizza in the whole of New York from Delta Pizza wafts near my nose awakening all my senses.

Just to those who are wondering about my address and putting on your shoes to locate Delta pizza, be at rest because I am still far away from your reach. I have seen and acknowledged a few of your requests to know where I live but if I reveal it then the joy of the suspense will cease to exist. Anyways the clock on the tower had struck 8, forty seven minutes ago and the sound of the chimes of her anklets are near, I will be late if I don’t hurry so until I write again remember fellas, Rise early and smile because all your worries have been slept off and today is a new day.’

                                                                                                        -Key-

I obviously didn’t have the time to go through the comments and mails people sent. Therefore I closed the app and looked at the main door of the beige apartment building I had become accustomed to seeing every day.

“Priya if you are not here in the next five seconds then I am leaving you.” I yelled loudly and tapped my foot impatiently while counting numbers in my mind. I placed my I-pad inside my bag and just when I reached five I saw the cause of my frustration smiling at me. No one not even my mother knew that I wrote under the name Key including Priya but some secrets are best kept hidden. Also I don’t want to get any sort of recognition and I like the mystery in it.

Priya Patel directly imported from India even though sometimes I feel she was abandoned by aliens in a planet in space. She was as usual wearing a long top, a kurti in their language and a beautiful red bindi which made her olive skin glow, looking very classy with her new blue kajol that brought out her brown eyes. A black cardigan kept her from shivering. I looked completely opposite to her with a grey top and my navy green parka and long brown boots.

It was chilly but not too cold for me to wear a beanie or a scarf and I admit that my fashion sense was relatively poor considered to normal people. Priya had her black hair out letting the waves dance in the wind while I had my crimson red hair in a messy bun. I was too lazy to style it early in the morning.

“Tasha are you not going to be late now?” She asked sipping the coffee she took from my hands. Remembering that I was supposed to be annoyed at her for making both of us late I frowned.

“Priya, I thought Indians were one of the people who woke early in the morning but my friend here is quite the opposite.” She pulled her jacket together and then smiled,

“Hmmmm… right, but who wouldn’t like to sleep a little longer during these chilly days also I had to get pretty before I meet Josh.”

“Oh come on he has been your boyfriend for the past two years I am guessing he has seen the worst side of you so you don’t have to work yourself up to impress him.”

“Meh… it still matters. You know I think Edward likes you but you have to wait for him to ask you out.” I am sure my brows rose in confusion and looked at her for a plausible explanation for what she just said.

“We girls never propose before the boys, we should let them take the first step.” I laughed at her thinking and then looked at the time making me gulp. If we end up late again Mrs. Vacanti will have our heads for dinner. My steps quickened and I looked at Priya walking lazily and yelled,

“American girls like me don’t mind doing it first but you are right it is more fun when they ask us. And plus I am not interested in him but right now Priya hurry, I don’t want to be the reason for Mrs. V’s anger.” I said walking or more like jogging backwards.

“But you didn’t let me finish my coffee.” She whined making me glare at her. But before I could continue screaming at her, my shoulder bumped with the wall and the coffee in my hands spilled as my foot stumbled. Hearing Priya’s gasp made me look at the wall who turned out to be a living man, his jacket which looked really expensive was now stained with the dark liquid.

“Bloody hell!” I gave him a sheepish smile hoping to calm his anger. His eyes were covered in Ray-Ban and his chocolate brown hair was in a mess. But I don’t think I have the time to explain anything nor to ogle at him.

“I am really sorry sir but you should also look where you go. I am sorry again and I hope the coffee has offered you some warmth.” Priya snickered behind me but I pulled her hand and rushed to the publishing office. Rude but right now I had no other choice because I really don’t want the she-devil’s hatred towards me rising any further.

“Seriously?” he yelled behind us but nothing couldn’t stop me today. Thanks to my clumsiness I had destroyed a man’s suit. Note the sarcasm.

“Do you even realize who he is?” Priya asked panting at the entrance of the building.

“No but don’t have the time to care.” I whispered catching my breath for a second and then rushing to catch the elevator.

“3 minutes before we are officially late, yes! Thank you Jesus.”

“Thank you Lord Krishna.” Priya and I whispered simultaneously once we were in the elevator of the office. We looked at each other and laughed. Even when our cultures were so different we were always together in everything we do.

The lift opened and Edward, our coworker entered passing each of us a smile. I smiled back at him while Priya greeted him loudly. “You are looking gorgeous today Anastasia.” He was sporting a salmon pink shirt and black jeans which really went with his lean body and black hair.

“That’s really flattering. You look handsome as well.” I said blushing and stared at the ground. God! Why am I going back to the conversation that I had with Priya? He is fine looking and don’t get me wrong because he has great character only problem I feel no butterflies or jittery vibes from him.

Got those from the prince charming in a chariot type novel but hey sometimes they are real. My dad proposed to my mom from the top of a horse…. Long story will tell ya later.

“Thank you.” Edward got out at his floor soon and we were left alone again. Priya was smirking at me giving me wiggling eyebrows but for the sake of my sanity I decided to ignore her.

“Do you have any idea why Mrs. V wanted to meet me today?” I asked Priya as soon as he left.

“I just hope you don’t get fired.” No I hope not, I still have a lot of debt to pay off which includes the loan I had taken for my last year of college. A step towards being independent. Also John, the owner of my apartment wouldn’t be exactly pleased.

“Don’t even think of something like that, Priya.” I warned her but she just patted my shoulders to comfort me.

The lift stopped but my heart didn’t stop beating fast. We stepped out of the metal doors and into the third floor of our office. I loved this place more than anything and since being a journalist had been my dream for as long as I can remember this was the best. And here we were allowed to film our daily news and stuff like that on our own which made my second dream of photography come true. Now, it isn’t exactly photography but it is close to that. Also I had a column for random thongs every Wednesday. It is usually about celebrities and their gossip. Not exactly my favorite but it is interesting.

Priya had her own column in the newspaper and yes, it was very famous. One would wonder that being an Indian, people might look at her differently but no she and her writing is loved by everyone. Mrs. V wouldn’t accept it but I knew she loves it. At least more than mine. “Tell me later at lunch whatever happens okay?”

I nodded and we separated to go our own ways. I reached Mrs. V’s office and knocked. “May I come in, ma’am?”

She was busy on the phone while simultaneously reading the newspaper but she nodded her head making me slide in through the doors. I made sure that the doors were closed and the curtains were pulled together so that incase I got yelled at nothing would go behind these four walls.

It took a few minutes but finally Mrs. Jane Vacanti our boss and co-owner of the publishing house, well the other one is her husband Mr. Thomas Vacanti, a very sweet and gentle old man but he rarely came by to the office, looked up. For a fifty year old lady she didn’t look anything above thirty five.

“I have a new assignment for you, Monroe.” She spoke pushing her glasses up and glancing at me. I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Whew! We aren’t getting fired today but what is this assignment? The nerves were now for excitement.