CHAPTER -2 SPRING IN WINTER
The door to the café opened and a women in long bob cut entered with her baggy clothes and square framed glasses. As she passed by the coffee station Aanya came out of the kitchen with a glass vase full of lavender and greeted the women-
"Good morning, Diana. Are you feeling wonderful as usual?"
"Good morning, Yaya. Oh… those lavenders are beautiful. Are they 'flowers of the day'?" She asked wrapping an arm around Aanya's shoulder. Diana was a petite woman but felt tall when standing next to Aanya, her 5-foot four frame towering over Aanya's 5-foot two. Smiling Aanya shook her head and pointed towards the bunch of Zinnia flowers sitting in a huge ornate glass vase.
"Ah…well nice choice Janise." She called out to a silhouette moving past the kitchen door and went for her usual place by the garden. A minute later Janise appeared with her apron covered in cherry juice and flour. Looking around the counter she eyed the Zinnia's she picked up and asked herself 'what choice did I have? The flower picked me, not the other way around.'
"Exactly, so forget about the flowers and concentrate on the task at hand." Aanya said coming around the counter and handing Janise a tissue.
"How do you do it?" A wide-eyed Janise asked Aanya straightening her apron and taking the tissue offered.
"Do what?" Aanya asked oblivious to Janise's question. Any person who witnessed the exchange would get the idea – how does Aanya know exactly what each of her employees think. Then again Aanya knows anything and everything concerning flowers and people's sentiments toward them. Almost all of the Vianden residents went to her when they had a bad plant or questions on flowers and gifts. It was as if she were a plant whisperer or plant spirit always talking to plants and trees, petting them and complimenting the fruits and flowers. The only plants it never worked on were her treasured Cherry blossom and Plumeria. Those trees had a different mind of their own too, they would bloom once Aanya whispered to them!
"You know what, never mind. I'm going to go in there and make the best cherry cake ever and then make myself a cup of coffee." Janise said smiling to the amusement of a surprised Aanya. People were right to joke that Aanya talked to plants and couldn't understand basic human sarcasm or humour.
Just as Janise disappeared behind the double door leading to the kitchen, San came out of the store room carrying a large box of instant coffee packets. He motioned toward Diana who had already opened her favoured silver laptop and was frantically typing into it. To an outsider it seemed as if she was a journalist typing away every bit of information and gossip, but she was on the gateway to write another masterpiece web novel. At 40, a migrant from Tajikistan, Diana (if that's her real name) was relatively new to Luxembourg and had yet to get used to Vianden. She came in for breakfast every day and stayed till lunch hours doing her work near the garden because she found her inspiration there. Who can say no to that? A sweet soul, who loves to make friends and has been on Aanya's favourite list for a while. They always talked about books, romance and stuff no one else knew or bothered to care.
Janise entered into a love-hate relationship with flowers and pollens, but Diana became a flower lover and an online plant and flower seller on courtesy of Aanya. When Janise found flowers a distraction, mess and free time activity, Diana found comfort and life in them. Both of them though with very different feelings, found a reason to be happy and move on in the presence of flowers. This was a miracle only flowers could pull and a miracle that existed only around plant lovers. This was the miracle that Aanya was trying to bring to every one through her spring themed café.
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Somewhere near Vianden Plank
A tall man with slicked back black hair came out of a black door wearing white chef's coat. He was talking to someone on phone.
"I'll be there in a minute, Kevin. I need to close up the cold room."
"Take your time, Atid. I was just checking to see if you remember." The other person replied in a relieved tone. It was as if he was worried that Atid may not go.
"I do. It's just the late reservations and delivery. I'm getting ready to leave now." Atid said smiling as he crouched down to lock a huge silver door with one hand.
"Great. I'll meet you there." The voice from the other side continued.
"It's near the big parking right?" Atid asked as he momentarily stood up.
"Yes. Five minutes from parking, to your left. You'll see a floral arch at the gate." The voice was now hopeful and glee.
Atid took a deep breath and looked around his perfect bakery. The sight of the akari lamps illuminating the bakery and the sweet smell of chocolate mousse filling the air reminded him of his seven years as a Pasteur chef.
This is strange. He thought. He was suddenly getting a foreign feeling of cool floral breeze invading his heart. Cherry blossoms. His mind quickly registered the scent. And something else… sweet, light and fun…Plumeria? Is this the sign of something good going to happen? Even though strange it feels good.
The drive to the café Kevin mentioned was only seven minutes even with the traffic. He had heard of that place before, all good. All the tourists who came to Vianden to see the Château went there for latte and cake. It was almost like a second tourist sport that was never an official part of the tour packages. People always mentioned the café that was made for the comfort of the customers, which gave out free saplings and coffee. Although he tried to visit the place numerous times, he was busy with his bakery. Couldn't he spare just few minutes to see the second wonder of Vianden?
The café was indeed beautiful with a floral arch of Jasmine vine with a pink board reading 'Expectantes fons café' and a stone pavement leading to a white door which opened to a two storied glass building. Jasmines meant peace and purity. He wondered if it offered the temporary peace that people compared to drugs. Parking his black Lexus RC near the arch he started walking towards the door with a bag in one hand and the car keys in other. Then surprising him the same floral feeling came back to him, but this time with a hint of familiarity.
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Jasmine – represents what is pure and peaceful
Vine plants – provide thoughts of stability and anchoring