Morning hadn't changed.
---
Only—
what it carried.
---
The café stood at the corner of a quiet street.
---
Glass reflected soft light.
---
Inside—
low voices blended with the faint clink of cups.
---
Nothing stood out.
---
Nothing needed to.
---
Except—
one table.
---
Arjun sat there.
---
Back straight.
---
Shoulders relaxed.
---
Still—
in a way that didn't match the place.
---
A cup rested in front of him.
---
Untouched.
---
A thin line of steam rose—
then faded into the air.
---
"…So it didn't wait."
---
The words settled quietly.
---
Not reaction.
---
Recognition.
---
Outside—
a vehicle passed.
---
The sound stretched briefly—
then disappeared.
---
Arjun's gaze shifted to the chair across him.
---
Empty.
---
But not unfamiliar.
---
—
---
Same café.
---
Earlier.
---
The air had been the same—
but lighter.
---
Canora sat across him.
---
Her posture straight.
---
Hands still.
---
Controlled—
but not at ease.
---
"You came early," Arjun said.
---
"I didn't have time."
---
"That's not the reason."
---
A pause.
---
Short.
---
Measured.
---
"Then say it."
---
A faint sound—
someone placing a cup nearby.
---
Neither of them looked.
---
"You felt it," Arjun said.
---
Silence.
---
Not denial.
---
"…You did too."
---
"I expected it."
---
"That doesn't make it better."
---
"It makes it certain."
---
The words didn't rise.
---
They stayed—
firm.
---
Canora's fingers pressed slightly against the table.
---
"You shouldn't be this calm."
---
"And you shouldn't be here."
---
The line didn't escalate.
---
It settled.
---
Outside—
a distant horn.
---
Faint.
---
"If it moves now—"
---
"It already has."
---
The space between them tightened.
---
Not visibly—
but enough.
---
Canora's gaze sharpened.
---
"…Then we're not ready."
---
A small pause.
---
"Were you ever meant to be?"
---
The question didn't press.
---
It lingered.
---
Canora exhaled.
---
Slow.
---
"This isn't something you can just observe."
---
"I'm not observing."
---
"Then what are you doing?"
---
A pause.
---
The café noise dipped for a moment—
or felt like it did.
---
"Waiting."
---
Silence followed.
---
Complete.
---
A vibration broke it.
---
Canora's phone.
---
She looked at it—
once.
---
Her expression shifted.
---
Slight.
---
Enough.
---
"I have to go."
---
Arjun didn't stop her.
---
"Of course."
---
She stood.
---
Chair moved softly against the floor.
---
Not rushed.
---
But final.
---
She paused before leaving.
---
"…If it happens—"
---
"It will."
---
She didn't finish.
---
She didn't need to.
---
She left.
---
The door opened—
closed.
---
Sound returned.
---
—
---
Back to present.
---
The café remained the same.
---
Same rhythm.
---
Same noise.
---
But heavier.
---
The cup in front of Arjun had cooled.
---
He picked it up.
---
"…It finally showed itself."
---
A sip.
---
Measured.
---
Outside—
people moved.
---
Inside—
nothing reacted.
---
Except—
what had already been understood.
---
"They were reacting to it."
---
A pause.
---
"He wasn't."
---
Another.
---
"He had been waiting long before it began."
---
Arjun placed the cup down.
---
The sound was soft.
---
But it stayed.