And German bakery was no more…

BANGGG and there was heart breaking silence all around... As if a mouse has been found lurking around in an open ground surrounded by big, fat, hungry cats all around... Or as if 2012 Nostradamus dream has come true all of a sudden 2 years earlier... Or as if a 1 year child has been thrown in a big wild storm and has been asked to come out alive.. He tried to come back to his senses, but everything was black in front of him… Suddenly, the pictures of a few hours ago started coming back to his mind…

"You are not going to find a single girl for tomorrow, shame on you Abhilash. Yet another valentine's day without a girl-friend. Ha Ha Ha.." said Rashmi. And all the friends started to laugh and make a mockery of Abhilash. But Abhilash was in his own dreams. As usual he was dreaming something else. He had a bet with his friends that this year's valentine was not going to be yet another dry-day for him. And expectedly, he had failed yet again. But he had come close this time. He had been talking to a girl, Chopsuey of late. And again she seemed to him as his yet another "true love"...

"So what, there is still one day to go. I will take Chopsuey out tomorrow. She is the girl for me." Abhilash started giving his mysterious, mocking smile to all. At the back of his mind, even he was aware that nothing of that sort was going to happen. But like always, he liked to make fun of himself by boasting of things around him and about him.

"Are Praveen bhai, make me a good salad today. Am too hungry. Had nothing since morning. Are Selvin, look at that gal mate. What a cool dress and what legs... Whoaaa…. Haven't seen a cool girl like this all day. " said Abhilash, staring at a girl standing at the money counter.
"Oh yeah, she is a babe." said Selvin who was wearing a cool beach shirt and was sitting near Abhilash staring all around.
"Here is your salad, Abhilash bhai... It seems like summer has started." said Praveen, the regular waiter in his usual casual attire with a yellow spotted shirt and a cream colored trouser.
"Yeah, especially with such hot girls around, the temperatures seems to rise at a higher rate." They all had a good laugh at that comment.
"By the way, what is the time Abhilash? I have to reach home before 8. " said Rashmi.
"Are baba, you always have some problems. Why do u have to torture yourself so much? Chill and relax. It doesnt matter if you reach some place a little late. Who cares after all. And ya by the way, it is just 6.45 and so u have enough time left."
"We girls have many duties to perform. Life is not as easy and chilling as u guys. "
"Ok ok, but at least you can stop worrying till u are with us all. You can be tension free for the next 1 hour or so."
"Oh yes yes, i am not against that. I am not taking tension also. Relax."

They were sitting in their regular hang-out joint. And being a weekend it was crowded as always. There were regular youngsters who had made that place a second home for them. Everyone had a smile on their face. The young couples holding each other's hands were happy for being in each others company, the small kids who had come with their parents for having come outside their cage like home to breathe a free air, the daily travelers for the prospect of the day coming to an end, even the frustrated IT employees were looking happy as it was a weekend. For the young guys roaming around for no reason at all, there was a reason to celebrate as well, as their eyes were getting free exercise. There were many beautiful girls around in their smart, sexy, exquisite attires to grab the attention of most of the guys around. And which girl won’t be happy with the attention. If there was a measure of gayness in a person, then even the guy with the maximum marks would also have been attracted to the girls around. Then there were the foreign breed roaming around in their long ankle length red gowns. They looked like a banana wrapped in a red covering and roaming around in a wheat field.

It was a moment of joy. It seemed like people were celebrating something. Their freedom, the freedom to be there and enjoy that moment with everyone. The freedom to smoke, to smile, to shout and to scream with joy. The joy that no one can take away their freedom. But everyone had a horrendous feeling deep inside the bottommost corners of their hearts. The feeling that their freedom may not last forever. But no one seemed to care for that feeling. Everyone wanted to have their share in the joyous spirit evolving around.

"It seems such a happy place. I just love this place. Especially with such a great crowd. We should ask our manager to shift our company at this place. We will be able to work for more hours and far more efficiently." said Abhilash.

Rashmi and Selvin smiled to that wild idea, another of those stupid suggestions made by Abhilash. Vikas, who like Abhilash was also in some deep thinking all the time, suddenly rose and replied "What a great idea, Abhilash!! It would really be the nicest thing that can happen to us IT people. After all, who needs to work in those shitty environment with all the shitty people sitting around us, keeping their shitty eyes on us and asking us to work all the time." This was the usual language in which Vikas used to talk. And his friends were used to that.

"Can you please get me a herbal tea Abhilash." said Rashmi with her sweet smile embracing her face.
"Ha, who can say no to that beautiful smiling face."
"Stop flirting and get me the tea please."
"Ok as you say. But i must say i have a strange feeling that you should not have tea at this moment."
"Stop it Abhilash, you and your feelings. Are you getting or shall i get it myself?"
"Ok darling, i will get it." said Abhilash and went to the cash counter nearby.


"Wake up Mr. Abhilash Hooda. Wake up". said a tense looking face staring down. Abhilash opened his eyes suddenly. He was smiling. He didn’t know why. He couldn't remember what had happened. He could see nothing. But suddenly there was a splash of water on his face. He tried to remember what had happened in the last 5 minutes. He had gone to get the herbal tea for Rashmi. As soon as he reached the money counter, he had heard a big bang. And then everything went black in front of his eyes. He looked back and could only see some red patches on the walls and the floors amidst the dark black smoke. People were running all around.

It took around 2 minutes more for him to get his senses back. And he, unwillingly, very sadly and in a panicking state, had to convince himself to see back… And the harsh fact, which he had tried to not to think of, came alive when he saw back - "German bakery was no more."...

P.S. All characters in the story are fictitious and any resemblance to a real life character is merely coincidental and is deeply regretted.