"Did you mean all the words you told me ?" Sanjay asked Anjana. She smiled, and before she could respond, her phone rang. It was her mother. As Anjana was speaking to her mother, Sanjay began to probe her words in his mind once again. "Sanju, I've been thinking for quite a while about telling you that I love being with you, even in those groups where you are present. Your friendship means a lot to me. You never ignore anyone, and you always make others feel that they are very important to you."
Anjana finished talking with her mother, and before she placed her phone on the table, Sanjay asked, "Is everything fine, Anju?" "Yes, it's just a courtesy call from my mother asking me when I will be home." "So, are you late?" I will drop you off right now. Let's leave." Sanjay responded. 

"It's fine, Sanju; we have time, and yes, you may drop me." Now, returning to your question: "What time is it?" Looking at his watch, Sanjay replied, "8.00 pm." Again, Anjana asked, "Where are we?" Sanjay got puzzled, looked around, and said, "We are at The Beans Coffee Shop inside the Botanical Garden." Anjana continued, "And how far are we from our town?" "Around 30 km," Sanjay said. 

Taking a heavy breath, Anjana said, "Now do you think I shall come all the way here, still having coffee with you at 8 pm if I didn't mean what I said?

Looking at the waiter, Sanjay requested, "Bill, please." Anjana gave him a confused look. Sanjay continued to look at the waiter, and he said, "but first, two more Belgian Chocolate Coffees, please." He changed his focus toward Anjana and asked, "Do you need something else?" 
She waved her head with a pleasing smile. 
© Krishnan
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