Menu Card

Ayesha kept glancing at her watch, waiting for 9 a.m. when the bell would ring signalling the end of yet another early morning Economics lecture. Economics fascinated her but she failed to comprehend how the professor invariably managed turn every lecture into a dreary monologue. This was just one day after the Union Budget was announced and there was a buzz in the classroom, with some of the brighter students whispering to each other what the budget highlights were. Ayesha couldn’t care less. All she wanted was to rush out of the classroom and head straight to Whisk café. It was one of the few places near her college where she and Arjun could meet without being bothered by their college friends who kept speculating what was going on between the two of them.

Arjun woke up late that morning as his classes for the day started only at noon. He smiled to himself in the mirror as he combed his hair, wondering how a geek like him could muster enough courage to ask out the free-spirited Ayesha. ‘It must be my way with words that made her heart melt’, he chuckled to himself. He knew how fond Ayesha was of poetry and literature.

He opened the door to reach for the crisp newspaper delivered to his doorstep. The headline was eye catching, and he was itching to read the paper cover to cover, more so as it was the special Budget edition with so many articles worth poring over. A quick look at the clock helped him resist the temptation. Petrified at the prospect of angering Ayesha who was always punctual, he rode out of the parking lot of his building hoping that he does not end up getting late for their date yet again.

Ayesha had her eyes glued to the entrance of Whisk café and was calming herself down in anticipation of yet another late appearance by Arjun. Ten minutes later, he finally came and started apologizing profusely, promising to make it up to her the next time. ‘I don’t even have time to fight with you over this’, she complained as she had very less time to spare before her next lecture was to begin.

They decided to have a quick bite before she left. Arjun saw Ayesha focusing on the right side of the menu card, which is where the prices were listed. They both came from a modest background and he knew why she chose to first look at the right side of the menu card in any restaurant they visited. He promised to himself that one day they would both reach a level of affluence and success which would make the right side of the menu card irrelevant to them. Seeing him lost in thought, Ayesha asked him if something is wrong. He just nodded and smiled, telling her to hurry else she would lose her reputation of reaching her class on time.