Regret and rue.

It was a cold month,

January to be precise,

Coffee brews invited me 

To that last shop 

Inside that muddy alley.

.

Wrapped up in warm clothes,

I rushed inside,

The strong smell of coffee,

Sweet aroma of desserts untouched,

Inviting me from racks behind.

.

I looked, I sighed.

I gave my order, chose my corner,

Bereft I sat, alone and unaccompanied,

Waiting for my cappuccino to be processed.

.

A man, age must be same as mine,

Came to my table

And smiled.

I was sure either he was a waiter 

Or the suitor in line.

The invisible threads pulled up the muscles,

I said,' yes?'

And his smile fluttered.

Was that only me, or he blushed in his cheeks?

He pulled the chair and sat besides me,

Waiting for his order, probably.

.

With these thoughts in my mind 

And chill in bones inside,

I ignored his silent pleas

To speak or respond to his glee.

.

Pondering over unheard melodies

While he fumbled with his own keys,

The warmth of the café seeped within

And

I was less cold but still a chilly bearing.

.

I was avoiding his face,

But he tried again and again.

.

'Richard, what do you want?'

'You and only you'

'What if I don't want you back?'

'I will understand and let you go.'

.

Only if these words were spoken,

Only if this conversation had happened.

.

This might've had won my heart

Only if I had the courage to start

Neither did he spoke up about his want

Nor I waited for his words 

For more than an hour.

.

We departed our own ways,

Both wishing there was more to say.

.

-Raj Nandani