8. Nocturne Op 9, No 2

When Mira came home, Kris and Pama were sharing few beers as they sat at the kitchen counter. They looked cheerful and much more at ease than in the morning. The animated conversation left Mira puzzled. She stood there wondering whether she should greet the two or slip away without being noticed.

"Oh hey, Mira", Kris noticed her before she had the chance to talk escape.

"Hey.. Guys", awkwardness radiated from her body and voice.

"Come, sit with us." It was Pama's cue and she took it gracefully. She moved the chair next to her to accommodate Mira.

"What are you guys up to?" Mira tried to casually join the conversation.

"Well, it happens that over the day's deliberation, Kris and I have become business partners."

"Oh wow. Wonderful. Good to know that you guys are fine with each other. I thought you were at each other's throat this morning." Mira felt a little anxious for no reason.

"Oh no no. You probably misunderstood. We're good friends, actually. I was just angry at Kris for not telling me that he was around. And this partnership is purely business. You will not even be seeing me around here once work begins. He's all yours." Pama cleared the air. But Mira panicked.

" What? Mine? No, no, this is a misunderstanding. "

Kris interrupted.

"Ladies, enough. Please don't fight over me. I'm tired of these things, even though it's flattering."

"B*st*rd", Pama said as she threw a handful of popcorn at his face. Mira laughed. She felt strangely comfortable with this newfound company.

Kris had already cooked dinner and kept it in the preheated oven to retain the warmth as Mira was late. Over dinner, the discussed the cafe and things they'd do with it. They decided to hold a grand opening. The choice of music was their bone of contention at present.

"How about something pop? People love pop music." Pama put her two cents in.

"Jazz, that's the right mood." Kris interjected.

"Oh, come on. No way. This is a cafe, not a bar." Pama wasn't ready to give up.

"How about classical music? Say, like Chopin's Nocturnes? My favourite is Nocturne Op 9, No 2 in E-flat Major." Mira quietly added to the conversation.

"Wow." Pama was speechless.

"Play it for me, I'm not familiar with it," said Kris.

Mira switched her phone on and opened the music player. The Martha Goldstein version leaked out of the instrument like a newborn river. Absolute silence filled the room.

"Clearly, music is the best idea the Gods came up with." Pama winked at the other two. Kris grinned and got up to get some wine. Maybe the music changed the air. Mira felt good, she felt at home with these strange people.

"Mira, do you play?" Pama asked.

"I did learn at school as a child. But I'm far from being a prodigy."

"You should play someday. Do you have a piano?"

"Sadly, no. But if you're getting one at your cafe, I'll come play for you guys once in a while. When there's nobody around, though."

"That'd be wonderful. If you're good, who knows, we might hire you." Pama grinned.

Mira smiled. Yes, this was peace. Kris was observing both the women. They were so different, yet one thing connected them – their heart; they were uninhibitedly loving, caring and opinionated at heart.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Kris woke up with a start as he heard a loud shriek from somewhere. It was morning already. He had slept in a bit too long, and very uncharacteristically so. He rushed downstairs after wearing a pair of trunks. Mira stood at the door and he went to look at what she was staring at. Pama stood outside, and behind her was a grand piano.

"You could bring it in through the yard, that door is wider." Kris tried to sort out the situation. Mira was still in shock. Kris ran to open the door to the yard. The helpers picked up and brought the piano in. It was a beautiful antique piece of instrument; Pama must have shelled out a lot over this. But why?

" Simply because I liked this woman of yours. She's just my style, you know." Pama whispered into his ears and winked. Kris smiled.

It's not the first time that she liked somebody he liked. She has always been accommodative, probably because of the century to which she belonged to. It was fairly common to share a man. Of course, someone like Mira will never understand. Kris liked that about the present time. Back in the day he enjoyed being the popular man, but after so many million years, he fancied belonging to just one woman. He wanted to have that human experience of present days.

Mira was nothing less than elated. The grand piano was made of glossy lacquered ebony and had elaborate marquetry inlays. It looked as if it had a story to tell. The three of them stood gazing at it with a sense of longing after they had placed it near the windows of the living room, moving the sofas to the right now to face the windows. The lacey drapes covering the windows and the off-white paint of the rooms matched with the elegance of the magnificent beast standing there on its four legs. The seat was also of the same ebony finish.

"I was confused between this and mahogany. I guess I made the right choice."

"Perfect", replied Mira is a dreamy voice.

"Why don't you play something?"

"Shall I?"

Kris spoke for the first time. "Please. Do."

In a few moments, the sweet rapture of Schubert's Impromptu No. 4, Op 90 gently captured the room and even the air could breathe no longer without dancing to the sound of music. Everything came to a stand still and only Mira's fingers moved. If memory had a form, it was that of the music which came out of this piano right now. Time stopped to take a look at it, to listen and to forget about all its pains. Only Mira played on, as Kris watched her from a distance. The first seeds of love were sown somewhere and nobody knew.