The Cafe of Seasons

Chapter - 1

"Your destination is on the right", announced the woman's voice in Google Maps through her earphone. The cab driver also stopped and signalled that they have arrived. Alice always keeps the navigation in her phone on even though she has hired a cab. Just to be sure that the driver is not taking a longer route. Or the worst case, wrong route. She nodded and looked around. But she found nothing around. She expected a sign board. Or a building. Or people. At least any sign of life. Well, there were tall and bulky trees and, grass and plants. They are life, of course. She noticed that the driver is staring at her. He wanted the cash and he wanted to leave. Alice paid the cash and reluctantly stepped out of the car. The driver politely placed her luggage outside, thanked and drove away. 

Did I do the right thing? Should I have not stepped out here. Should I have just asked the driver to take me back to the airport? Or at least to a railway or bus station. Or even a market place nearby. She fidgeted with her mobile phone. Then she heard the grumble from the phone, signalling low battery. Not now, she murmured and sighed. She bent down to her knees and opened her backpack to retrieve the power bank. The evening breeze was gentle and a strand of her pixie cut hair reached her eyes. She tucked it away under her ears and looked up to see a little boy. He must be around six, she thought. Or even five. Where did he appear from? Nobody was visible until a second before! 

"Hi", Alice said hopefully. "You are hear to drink seasons?" the boy asked. She noticed that the boy's front tooth was missing making him look more cute. She nodded eagerly and smiled. Then she fetched a bar of chocolate from her bag and offered to the boy. "My ma has asked me to not take anything from anyone. Exception is..." He started counting his fingers, "ma, pa, kha and papa". Alice chuckled when he counted "and" also among others. Then he made a first and lifted it up in air as if he has finally succeeded in recalling what he had been taught all along. So, she kept the chocolate bar back in her bag and offered her hand instead. 

"My name is Alice. I am pleased to meet you. What's your name baby?" 

"My name is not baby. My name is  Sol", he said sounding a bit irritated that he was called baby instead of Sol. Alice still smiled admiring the beauty of childhood innocence. Why do we need to grow up she often wondered. Most importantly, why does the innocence die as we grow older. Or is it the death of innocence that signals the birth of adulthood?

"Sol, that's a cute name. And you are cuter", she ruffled the boys thick and long jet black hair. 

The boy moved away and pulled his hair back, making sure it's away from his forehead and face. He said, "come let's go".

"Where?" Alice asked in a surprised tone.

"To get you the seasons", Sol said as a matter of fact. Alice was surprised because she still didn't see anything that signalled that a cafe existed anywhere around. 

"You mean you are going to take me to the Cafe of Seasons?!", she clarified in disbelief.

Sol shrugged and started running as if he doesn't care anymore to make Alice believe that he knows where the cafe is. As if he is bored already. As if he had done his task well and it's upto Alice to do whatever it takes to complete the task in her hand well. As if he does this everyday and he doesn't have time to explain anything to her anymore. 

"Sol wait. Don't run", Alice collected her backpack and secured on her back. And crossed her sling bag across her body and rushed behind Sol. 

"Vroom vroom.. vroooooooom.... Vroom vroom....", Sol made these noises and ran like wind pretending to be riding an invisible motor bike.