Chapter 23
The next evening, Manisha’s father gently reminded her that Mr. Khanna would be returning to Baskin soon.
Manisha knew it was time to nudge Rohit into sitting down and sorting through the paperwork.
Some of the changes Mr. Khanna had in mind for the café required city permits, and she wanted to make sure everything was in order.
She took a gamble and headed over to Chai Time to see if Rohit was available to go through the documents. But when she arrived, she found the café locked up tight. It made sense, though—it was already dark, with the streetlights casting a soft glow across the quiet street.
She glanced through the windows, but Rohit was nowhere in sight.
“Looking for me?” a voice called from behind her.
She turned, squinting through the darkness. Rohit was emerging from the side of the café.
“Rohit! Yes, I heard your dad’s coming back soon, so I think we should really focus on the paperwork. There are a lot of questions about what he wants to do with the café, and it could take some time to get through the permit process at city hall.”
“I’m free now. Want to come in and go through everything now?” Rohit offered.
Manisha smiled. “Sure.”
As they entered the café, their shadows stretched across the dimly lit walls.
She settled in at the counter while Rohit went to retrieve the paperwork.
Her eyes drifted to the corner table where yesterday’s disastrous dates had unfolded and she shrugged off a shudder.
She would be avoiding that spot in the future, perfect vantage point and seclusion be damned.
Rohit returned and wordlessly placed the paperwork on the counter. He sat down next to her, the silence hanging heavily between them.
“Listen, about yesterday…I had no idea it was the anniversary of your mom’s passing,” she said, trying to break the tension.
She flipped through the folder for a moment, but noticed he wasn’t responding. When she glanced over, she saw he was staring down at his phone, dejection etched into his features.
“How are you doing today? I can only imagine how tough yesterday was,” she pressed.
He sighed heavily and set his phone down. “Well, Manisha Patel, I’d feel a lot better if I had a drink right now.”
“Well, Rohit Khanna, why don’t you grab a drink, then?” she replied with a smirk.
“I don’t like drinking alone.”
“If you think I’m going to let you drink alone, you clearly don’t know me as well as you think you do,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
Rohit rounded the counter, grabbed a bottle of Chianti, and poured them each a glass.
“To your mother,” Manisha said, raising her glass.
They clinked glasses and took a sip. She hummed as the bold flavour flooded her palate.
“To our mothers, for raising two Indian kids who turned out pretty alright!” Rohit added, lifting his glass again with a grin.
Manisha chuckled softly. “Well, that depends on what you mean by ‘alright,’ ” she said, her tone quiet.
“What do you mean?” Rohit asked. “You seem to have it all together, at least in the eyes of most Indian parents.”
Manisha shrugged. “My mom’s opinion of my professional and personal life changes depending on the day of the week. She’s happy with my career, but when it comes to my personal life…let’s just say it’s been a challenge.”
Rohit laughed. “The struggle is real. I think every Indian parent feels that way until their kids are married. You’re not letting the pressure get to you, though, are you?”
She almost laughed out loud. If only he knew just how much pressure she felt—from her mother, from Dr. Rocky, from herself…
“How can I not? But maybe it’s just because I’m back in Baskin…” she said, giving a half smile.
“Are you thinking of staying?”
She hesitated. “Well…maybe. It wasn’t the plan originally, but you know how it goes.” She decided to change the subject. “Speaking of plans…your dad really has big plans for this place,” Manisha said.
“Not my dad, actually. Me,” Rohit corrected with a grin.
Her head cocked to the side. “Oh, so you’re not just running the place, you’re actually creating the whole vibe?” she asked, impressed.
Rohit shrugged nonchalantly. “You know what they say—change is good. Just look at me—I went from running a tech company to developing a community hub in Baskin. Who knew?”
“Oh, a community hub! That explains why you need permits to update the front exterior. You need more room!” Manisha pulled out the blueprints that were attached to the legal paperwork.
“You’re looking at it the wrong way,” Rohit said, flipping the draft around. “That’s the back of Chai Time.” He stood up from his stool and gestured toward the door. “Come on, follow me.”
“What? Where?” Manisha asked, puzzled.
“To show you the back. You’re a lawyer, right? Aren’t you supposed to do your due diligence?”
“Right, but I need a little more info before—” Manisha began.
“Manisha, you’ve been stubborn from the moment I met you. Just, for once, trust me. Come on.” Rohit extended his hand, clearly not taking no for an answer.
She eyed him for a beat.
“Fine, but can I bring this?” she said, lifting her glass of wine like a treasure.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Rohit grinned, hand still outstretched. Slowly, she placed her free one in his.
He grasped it gently, then grabbing his own glass and the wine bottle in the other hand, he led the way through the kitchen. Manisha followed, her body lightly brushing his as they made their way toward the back.
“You know…” Manisha cleared her throat, squinting a little in the low light. “I’m guessing there are a few violations back here. Mostly the complete lack of lighting.”
“Ah, now the lawyer comes out,” Rohit teased.
“Why does it feel like I’m being led to the scene of a crime? Or what will be one,” she shot back, a playful glint in her eye.
“Oh, it’s not a crime scene,” Rohit said with a smirk. “Just a little further…”
“I hope this is worth it, Rohit Khanna,” Manisha muttered, still not entirely convinced.
“It is, Manisha Patel. You’ll see.” He gave her an encouraging smile.
And it was. When they finally stepped through the back door, everything behind them seemed to fade away.
Manisha found herself standing in a peaceful little courtyard.
The air was still and cool, the streetlights casting a faint glow from afar.
But the real magic was overhead. A sea of stars stretched across the sky like a blanket, twinkling and shining brightly in the desert night.
The soft desert breeze carried the scent of earth and sage, and for a moment, Manisha forgot all about the chaos of her life.
“Rohit…this…this is…” She was at a loss for words, staring up at the sky.
“Magic, right?” Rohit said with a grin, clearly proud of his little secret.
“You took the words right out of my mouth,” she said, her voice soft with awe.
Rohit nodded, then dropped her hand to point to a cozy little table set up under a mesquite tree, with a few lanterns casting a warm, flickering glow. “I’ve got a table over there. Come on, I’ll show you.”
Manisha took a seat next to Rohit and got lost in the view as they both sat in silence, sipping their wine. Finally, Rohit spoke up.
“My dream is to turn Chai Time into a space where artists can come, create, and practice their craft,” Rohit continued, his voice steady and filled with conviction.
“It’s going to be a not-for-profit, something that gives back to the community.
I want it to be a place where young people can feel free to explore their creativity without worrying about making a living off it.
The sad reality is that Indian kids don’t always get that push to pursue careers in the arts.
There’s a lot of pressure to go into medicine, engineering, or something more ‘practical.’ My mom always felt that if kids could see the value in the arts, they’d be able to break free from that mindset, and maybe even find a way to make a living doing what they love. ”
He paused, looking up at the stars, as if his mother’s spirit was somehow still there with him.
“She dreamed of a place where they could learn, create, and be supported. That’s what I want to build here—something that lasts, that helps people find their voice, without the pressure to conform to what society expects. ”
Manisha was quiet for a moment, feeling the weight of his words. She could see the fire behind his vision, how deeply he cared about carrying forward his mother’s dream. “That’s incredible, Rohit,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “A space like that could change so many lives.”
Rohit smiled, a little shyly. “That’s the hope.”
“So, you’re developing the new Chai Time in honour of your mother.”
Rohit nodded, a little smile playing on his lips. “For the Khanna family legacy. I’m finally in a position to…”
“Give back,” Manisha finished for him.
He turned to her, his smile widening. “Exactly.”
There was a brief lull before Rohit leaned back, looking at her with a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “Manisha, if you had the chance to become anything your heart desired at this moment, what would you choose?”
A mother.
“As a kid, I always dreamed of owning my own bakery, but you got there first!” She chuckled.
“It isn’t a race, Manisha,” Rohit reminded her.
“Can I share my real aspirations, or will you think I’m crazy?” she asked.
“Hey, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected around here,” Rohit said, half smiling. “Go ahead.”