→ featured on CoffeeCommunity [ 2022 ]
A dimply lit coffee shop - to the ordinary eyes Estella's was nothing more than that. However, it is the smallest of cafés that brew the sweetest romance.
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→ word count - 3k
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Two weeks had passed by. Two weeks and neither Aarav nor Adaira had returned to Estella's. The newspapers were collecting dust and the crossword was feeling abandoned. Just when hope was fading away, one Saturday, Estella's saw two familiar people.
Both Aarav and Adaira were having their examinations and hence could not visit their now-favourite coffee shop. They reached out for the newspaper stack at the same time and smiled awkwardly at each other. They both said, "Please go first!" at the same time. Ultimately, Adaira reached out and took out the newspaper with the crossword. Aarav's face lit up and said, "I was solving that crossword too!" Adaira's eyes widened and said, "I am so sorry for solving with a pen. I have solved the rest with a pencil." Aarav replied, "Thank you!" They stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before Adaira said, "Do you want to finish solving this together?" Aarav said "yes!" a little too quickly. They ordered Bombón and sat near the window.
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To form into the fire. It started with an 'i' and ended with a 'y'. Adaira guessed it instantly. Ignify! Aarav quickly noted the answer down. His competitiveness forced him to rack his brain harder so that he could answer the next one.
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Abet? He recalled reading the word somewhere. He said, "Aid". Adaira was spaced out and asked, "Pardon?" He said, "The answer is aid". He felt proud of himself and noted it down. He said, "My name is Aarav. What about you?" She replied, "My name is Adaira. Nice to meet you!" They smiled at each other. Only one clue was left.
Both of them groaned on seeing the clue. There were a lot of zeroes. Aarav started counting them. There were nine. They both blurted out, "nanometre" at the same time. They laughed and Adaira filled the last boxes with the answer.
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The puzzle was finally finished. However, the usual feeling of victory and relief was missing. Somehow, over the course of solving the crossword, the two had formed a bond. With sad smiles, they finished their Bombón and folded the newspaper neatly.
"I guess we are a good team," Adaira said. Aarav nodded. After a few minutes of silence, he said, "Well, it was nice to meet you Adaira, and thank you for helping me solve this puzzle." He was about to leave when Adaira said, "Wait!". He turned back. She asked shyly, "Can I have your number please?"
