MAGICAL CUP OF TEA

Magical cup of tea

Life and memories are created with a little magic.

                                        -unknown.

For the centuries, people believed in after-life concepts considering the ancient saints, books, sculptures, and gods. And even today if you start a debate or encounter some people discussing rebirth, the talk ends with revisiting historical facts.

                                                                                                                 -Author.

24^th century- Manhattan, New York:

Sir, I request you to board another train. As all the sections are full.

Thank you for your information. But if I am not wrong I heard that the women section is free and only one person is sharing it for 6months. So, can you allow me this time gentleman? - Sir Richard.

Sir, this is a very heartwarming request from you. But, we have some rules, sir.

Wait for peter. Stop it now, Sir Richard you can board in the driver's section. And if you wish to ride the train-then the ride is yours, sir.

AFTER AN HOUR:

Wow, it feels so awesome riding the train-Richard.

Phone call:

Did you pack the items I asked for? – Stella

Delivery man:

Yes, Madame, no need to worry the items will reach on time.

                             ***

Richard struggling with a headache. Voice (stop, I said stop). Who is this? Where are you?

Mr. Are you okay? – Passerby old women.

Yes, Madame. Thank you for showing concern I am ok. Just hearing strange voices and callings.

No need to worry son, everything makes sense so soon. Just bear the pain and hearing.

Ok, Madame. (Where does she vanish?) 

                          ***

Stella conversing with her mom:

It has been a fun ride this week mom here in winter. Playing with the kids in town with snow and having a meal with a cup of tea, visiting Amsterdam during weekends was so awesome.

Baby, by the way where are you now? Have you eaten breakfast? Did you board a train or taxi?

Mom, come on. Cool down, no need to worry. I am traveling on the train and also I had my breakfast. Moreover, tell me mom: how is your health? It's fine darling. Don’t think about me, just concentrate on your work baby. I am hanging up now. Take care.

        ***

Richard, Stella’s meeting, sand storm:

Virtual announcement around the city- attention, according to the weather graph and forecast department. We may expect a heavy sand storm between 2pm-4pm. So, we request all the citizens to stop at nearby stores, lounges, and motels at least for the mentioned period.

Oh! No, why Jesus? – An old lady.

Phone call:

Madame Stella, do we need to postpone our meeting? As based on the current situation you can't reach for office in time. (Answering) No, need Jessie meeting will be conducted as scheduled. So, inform staff to gather in the meeting hall prior. Ok Madame, got it. Then, I will be on my work. If that’s it.

Attentions all the passengers: now the time is 1:50pm. So, as per the instructions we have to go into hiding from 2pm-4pm. Here, is the thing within 10minutes we are going to reach the coffee lounge and deserts. So, grab your items and be ready.

AFTER 10MINUTES:

Is everyone in? – Owner of the coffee lounge.

Sir, let me have a quick check- serviceman.

Clear sir, we can lock the gateways now.

Rich women: Have you ever heard of lousy man sir?

Owner: what do you mean by that mam?

Owner by staring into her face: ok mam, ok just wait a second.

Serviceman: Madame, please follow me. Have a seat and grab your drink mam.                  

                         Meeting starts

Stella: - Good afternoon everyone, I can see everyone has received their cup of tea. Ok, this session is all about the museum of lost species. So, I need information from every department about the work progress.

Meanwhile, in the coffee lounge, staff notes down the order. As remaining stewards serve the customer.

Steward: (Approaching Stella) Mam, can I help you with any coffee?

Stella: yes, can I get a tea if possible?

Steward: ok mam, I will check in the store and get back to you. Until then have some water mam.

Tea, who is this weird person? Whatever I don’t care? – Richard's inner voice.

Guys, a surprise for all of you. As we know, that sandstorm is raising outside. We are blessed to have a multimillionaire-Sir Richard.

So, let’s show our gratitude to, Sir Richard as he agreed to light up this afternoon with his amazing singing.

Back to meeting:

All departments: Mam, the project has already finished up to 90%, and only touch-up, cross-check are required. We are happy about, the outcome of the work until now.

Stella: That’s great to hear. Hope we can finish the work and have a grand opening on the 1^st of next month. Right now, there are a lot of things going on in the coffee lounge. So, I am closing the meeting. Don’t forget and keep up with the good work.

Richard singing:

Walking to the town

Remembering the place where you left me

Turning all around

Looking into memories

Driving past the mall

Thinking about the place how we met?

And you went just like that

Leaving a letter at my door

Which dragged me straightly down to hell

Hell,

And I have been alone once again.       

Music continues….

Steward: (approaching Stella) mam, here is your tea? Have a nice day.

A few minutes later:

Stella enjoys her cup of tea listening to the music.

The owner approaches the Young lady, sorry for the delay. We don’t have tea in our kitchen.

Stella: what?

Music fades.

Stand storm rests.

Everyone leaves the lounge one by one.

                            ***

FEB 8 2322

Personal diary: It is exactly 248 days after the incident of hill station took place. I dreamed of not writing it down again but this is weird or peculiar or strange or maybe a magic incident I don’t know how to explain this? Which happened yesterday just with a cup of tea?

Maybe I will write down more lately.

Yours,

Stella.

Jessie: mam, where are you? Our opening is at 10 A.M.

Stella: I am on my way. Don’t worry I will be there in time.

Beep sound. The beep sound continues.

Phone switch-offs.

Please don’t go, stop, stop R, I said stop- voices

Stella: what is happening to me? Why I am hearing weird voices?

Richard on phone: Peter, where are you? How much time should I have waited in the taxi pick-up stall? Are you coming or not?

Peter: I am on my way, Richard.

The old man arrives in a taxi stall and takes a seat by listening to the news.

News: It seems like these days the weather is out of balance. I said this because we are going to have heavy rainfall the whole day. So, you should stay indoors.

Stella reached a nearby taxi pickup area.

Thunders evolving in the sky:

As the rain starts Stella runs towards the stop, where she sees an old man. He gives her a blanket to keep herself warm. Where Richard notices her.

Are you the youngest entrepreneur of the year? If I am not wrong, you are Stella.

Thank you for the compliment. And you are a multimillionaire, right? So, nice to meet you. I have also heard you singing last time in the coffee lounge. It’s good.

Peter approaches slowly chasing the heavy rain: Richard, come on. Get in man? We have to hurry.

Richard: Do you like to come with us?

Stella thinks for a while and asks old man, grandpa will you come with us?

Old man: No, darling I am good here. Take this umbrella with you. Do you need me the most than me?

Where Stella stays in shock for a split second and then settles in the car, peter picks up speed.

An Hour Later:

Stella reaches the opening ceremony of the museum, where Richard is the special guest? Every individual was mad at Stella for touching and not postponing the ceremony even in the heavy rain.

As they reach the area, Stella observes everyone standing in the rain. And so sad about her decision. But as she already decided, she picks up the umbrella borrowed by Oldman and walks along with Richard to the stairs. Where Richard cuts the ribbon and starts the museum grandly.

This is when the rain stops suddenly, everyone at the ceremony turns happy for the great start and for the good sign.

Where everyone walks in to visit the great museum.

Voices in Richard's mind: stop, stop, I said stop.

Not again?-Richard struggling with the voices.

And Stella turns horrified as the umbrella doesn’t shut down. Where the time, trees, birds, universe, nature notices the presence of another Stella.

                              ***

FEB 28 2322

Dairy: I said right I will be back again. On the day of the ceremony, I was unable to shut the umbrella down. I don’t know what that means? And I noticed a millionaire suffering from something. And I was unhappy that I couldn’t find time to have a cup of tea lately facing all the weird, amusing moments. Don’t know what will happen? And what I am going to face further?

Yours sadly,

Stella.

Calling mom: the user you are calling is not answering. You can leave a message after 10 seconds. Hi mom, lately many ups and downs have happened here. So many things to talk about. So, call me back when you receive this message.

Minimal shocks all over the town:

What is happening? 

I think it's an earthquake. It’s better if you turn in to that house. (Voices)

Who are you?

I said go into the house now Stella…Stella (voices)

Stella runs into the gateway without any clue, what is happening?

Stella: Is anyone home?

Footsteps sound coming down the stairs.

Yes, what do you want? - Young Men voice.

Seeing women.

Stella saw him.

Richard: Stella, what are you doing here?

Stella: I just stopped by as the earthquake was...

Richard: ok, it is fine.

Stella: can I get a tea? If possible.

Richard: but I ? ok let me make it for you.

Richard: do I really have to use this tea plant?

Stella: don’t you like tea?

Richard: no, not at all. But, here is your tea?

Stella: thank you, but what are drinking now?

Richard: coffee.

Stella: are you sure? I don’t think so. It smells like tea.

                           ***

Every story starts with a little bit of magic. And this story has its magic in a cup of tea.

                                                    -Author

END CREDIT:

Smells like tea.

Is it?

Yes, I mean it.

What is it really tea? But how.

A small chapter is left behind meet you very soon guys. This time to enjoy love and happiness.