chapter 40

Riya was cleaning the café’s counter one quiet afternoon, the hum of the espresso machine filling the air. It was a slow day, with only a couple of regulars seated at the corner table, sipping chai and chatting in low voices. Milli was at school, her laughter and chatter replaced by a soft emptiness in the café that Riya always felt when her daughter wasn’t around.The little café had become her sanctuary—a place that carried Niraj’s memory in its walls and floors. Every time she turned the "Open" sign on the door, she felt a bittersweet mix of pain and pride. This was the legacy he had left for their daughter, and Riya had fought hard to keep it alive.As Riya wiped the counter, the bell above the door jingled. A man stepped inside, bringing with him a gust of cold November air. He was tall, with a lean build, and his dark hair was slightly tousled from the wind. He looked around, his eyes scanning the café before settling on Riya.“Good afternoon,” he said with a small smile. His voice was warm, yet carried a hint of hesitance.“Good afternoon,” Riya replied, straightening up. “How can I help you?”“I’m looking for the owner,” he said, his hands in his pockets.“That would be me.”A flicker of surprise crossed his face. “Oh, I didn’t expect that. I mean, I thought…” He trailed off, looking slightly embarrassed.Riya smiled politely, used to people underestimating her. “Well, now you know. I’m Riya. And you are?”“Aditya,” he said, extending his hand. She shook it briefly. “I’m here about the café.”Her brows furrowed slightly. “Is something wrong?”“No, no,” Aditya said quickly. “Actually, I’m a food blogger and a business consultant. I came across this place online—your reviews are amazing, by the way—and I thought I’d visit.”Riya relaxed. “Oh, thank you. It’s a small place, but we try our best.”Aditya nodded, glancing around. “You’ve got a charming setup here. It has a lot of potential. Have you ever thought about expanding?”Riya blinked. “Expanding? No, not really. I’m just trying to keep things running smoothly.”“Well,” Aditya said, pulling out a card from his pocket, “if you’re ever interested in discussing ideas or need help with marketing, let me know. I’d be happy to help.”Riya took the card, glancing at it briefly before tucking it into her apron. “Thank you, but I’m not sure I can afford something like that right now.”Aditya chuckled. “No charge for brainstorming ideas over coffee. Besides, this place deserves a bigger audience.”His words stayed with Riya long after he left. She had always thought of the café as a way to survive, not thrive. But Aditya’s enthusiasm stirred something in her—a curiosity about what the future could hold.The afternoon passed in a haze. Riya sat by the window, the soft sound of Milli’s laughter floating in from the living room, but her mind was far away. She had sent Aditya off with polite words and a smile, but inside, she felt unsettled. His offer had sounded promising, even exciting, but it also felt like stepping into an unknown future—a future that might change everything she had worked so hard to build, or perhaps leave her vulnerable once again.The café was her lifeline, the one thing that had kept her going after Niraj’s death. It wasn’t just a business; it was a piece of her past, a reflection of the life she had lost, and the only legacy she could give to Milli. Would expanding it, bringing in new ideas, and relying on someone else to help her run it change the essence of what it meant to her? Would she be giving up control of the only thing that was truly hers?She didn’t hear Nirmala enter the room until the older woman’s voice broke through her thoughts.“Riya beta, what’s on your mind?”Riya blinked, looking up to find Nirmala standing in the doorway, her gentle eyes watching her with concern. She hadn’t even noticed the time passing, and now, Nirmala’s presence seemed to bring everything into sharper focus.“I’m sorry, Mummy,” Riya said, her voice distant. “I was just thinking… about Aditya’s proposal. He really believes in the café, and his ideas sound good, but I don’t know if I should take the risk. What if it doesn’t work? What if I lose everything?”