I didn't know what was I thinking when I proposed the idea of this "weekend adventure" because I am usually not the one to make plans with people I have only known for a little while. Then again, lately I had been doing a lot of things that ended up surprising me. Maybe it was the effect of pretty art, her tranquil living room and the tea, that I wanted to spend some time with her again.
The days at the bar when she wasn't there made my job feel unbearable. As if when she sat there staring and smiling at me she was actually giving me the energy to go on. I didn't realise I had become so accustomed to her presence. Not to mention, I constantly kept wondering if she was okay.
And then she showed up one day and announced that she dropped her phone in gravy. How does one drop their phone in gravy? Only she can do something like this, I guess. I had tried my best to keep a straight face when she said that but it was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life because it was also the bizarrest thing I heard in my life.
I guess that is why I find being around her so interesting. Every day a new facet of her reveals itself, each more interesting than the previous. One day she shyly brings me a wine-glass plushie and the next day she is roaring across the bar because of some rude lady. One moment she is fumbling for words the next moment she goes on and on about her favourite topic.
The next day when she arrived at the bar I witnessed yet another side of her. I glanced up when I heard the door open half- expecting it to be her since it was her usual time, she was very routine-bound so she always arrived at the same time, and saw her push the door open as if it was as heavy rock. She looked sullen instead of the eager delight she always had like a kid standing at the gates of an amusement park.
She hopped up on the high bar-stool and rested her head against her palm. I watched her with curiosity and concern as she kept looking down on the countertop for a couple of minutes, seemingly deep into thought.
Then as if suddenly realising she had reached her destination she looked up. I smiled to acknowledge her as I always did but she could only muster up a faded grin. Someone ordered a drink and I was interrupted from reaching up to her immediately but as I prepared the drink I kept glancing towards her anticipating her next move.
A couple minutes later I finally approached her. She raised her head to look up at me but instead of saying anything about her condition she named her drink. I was a little surprised because she always began with some casual sentences before getting to her order. Today, she seemed like an entirely different person.
I set the drink down in front of her but she didn't notice it for a while. In the meantime, I looked at her trying to assess the situation but I reached to no solid conclusion. Finally, curiosity got the best of me,
"Hey, what's wrong?" I tried to be as gentle as possible.
Her eyes were then directed towards me although her head remained motionless. After a couple of seconds of delay, she slowly shook her head. I was about to say something when I was called to the other side to help. I reluctantly walked away and tried to finish the task as fast as I could.
When I returned to her, she had begun sipping her drink slowly.
"You can tell me what is bothering you." I urged her to speak, again.
"It's nothing much. I just had an argument with a friend." She finally spoke and then sighed.
"Oh." I didn't know what to say. What do people do to calm others down? I tried to think but finally settled with, " Was it a bad one?"
"No, I will be fine." Was her reply, "Go, do your work, I'll just be here."
Before I could say something more, I was again occupied with a couple of orders. The chain then continued all evening with people coming up almost in a queue and no matter how fast I worked I was unable to find time to go to her and try to comfort her. I could only manage to glance in her general direction once in a while as she sat there meditating, chewing on the straw of her drink absentmindedly.
She stayed until the end of the night in the same way. The bar was almost empty by this time and after a while, she took notice of it. She then hopped off the stool and started walking towards the door. I felt I couldn't let her go without saying something. Last time when I was upset she took the effort to come back to check up on me and here I was just letting her go like this. My mind refused to allow this.
"Wait!" I called out to her but she apparently didn't listen. I called her again but in vain. By that time she was already out the door.
I wasted no time and quickly went after her. She hadn't gone that far. I reached her and instead of calling out to her this time I caught her hand. As if waking from a dream, she stopped with a jolt and immediately turned.
"Oh, it's you." She mumbled when she saw me, "What are you doing here?" She asked solemnly.
"I'm sorry, I called out to you but you didn't listen." I answered sheepishly, not letting go of her hand.
"Did I forget something at the bar?" She inquired.
"No, it's just..." I tried to find the right words, "I wish I could help you in some way but all I can say is I hope you feel better soon." I looked down, focusing on the cracks in the pavement, thinking I had done a horrible job at this whole comforting thing.
A couple of moments of silence later, I looked up at her again only to find her sparkling eyes fixed at me. The faded grin was gone and her usual smile seemed to be finding its place back.
"Yes I will be." She faintly muttered and then walked away.