☕ Cafe Delite | The Old Man | Part 2
I am an artist, more like a designer in away.
He said
Read Part 1 – Click Here
A young couple walked in with a two-year-old. As soon as the child saw the old man, rushed to him and started playing with his beard. He swooped up the kid and placed him on his lap. The mother and father ran after him and stood in awe. “Oh, he recognised you,” she said, and he smiled. The father thanked the old man, pulled the hesitant child into his arms; bowed to the old man and went to their table. “Friends of yours?” asked Mark.
“I am an artist, or rather a designer, in a way. They know me from my profession for I helped them in a project.”
“Strange that I haven’t seen you around. Small world we say, yet so distant,”
“Oh, I keep a very low profile. So its fine,”
By then the bread was ready to be served. Mark was a regular at the cafe and most of the regular customers knew him. David, who owned Cafe Delite, was in his late 70s. He rarely served, but that day was an exception. Mark introduced him to the old man.
“Do you plan to stay in town for long?” asked Mark
“No, just for a day. Had an appointment for 2nd November. I plan to leave later tonight.”
“You should come to town more often. Maybe I could help you out with some of my contacts.”
“If I may? You are a regular here, but you joined me. Is there any reason?”
“Let me say it this way. Most of the people in this room are… How do I put it…. Ordinary. But in you I see potential to become like me.”
“Ordinary?” asked the old man “That sounds rather vague. They all seem a cheerful bunch to me”
“Life has a higher purpose. They don’t get it. You seem wise, you know what I mean, right?”
“Actually, I take each day as it comes. More focused on what I do. Of course, do the best for my clients and then let them be. As long as they are happy, I am fine. If I get a customer complaint about my work, find a solution for them.”
By now the rains had started. There was lightning and immediate thunder. David came to the old man and asked if he liked the bread that was served for supper. The old man held his hand and thanked him.” Wish you could stay longer,” David said. The old man smiled and David went back into the kitchen.
“Now, coming back to our discussion. I could improve your life. Maybe you could drop into my organisation some day,” said Mark.
“What is it that you do?”
“I help make people’s life better,”
“… but my life is going fine… I guess” said the old man
“Hmm, so you are like the others too… but don’t despair, we have you covered. Join us for a day and experience our group. You will understand when I answer all your questions”
The old man just smiled. Broke a piece of bread and ate it.
“This bread is lovely” He turned to David at the counter and said, “David, you pleased me”
Mark at this point was a little annoyed but held it back. He couldn’t digest the fact that while he was talking about such a grave topic, the old man was focusing on the taste of his bread.
“What do you think is the purpose of life?”
“At this age, be happy. In fact, I have always loved to be happy. More of a live and let live person,”
“Didn’t you at some point feel you want to show others the right way or something in those lines?”
“… Yes I attend to my clients’ requests and serve them but as long as they are happy I don’t get into their personal space.”
“Hmm, Can I be frank with you?”
“Sure,” said the old man. A young lad walked in. He came to the old man and whispered in his ear. The old man reached into his pocket and took out the watch to check. The lad left. “Sorry for that, he was just updating me about a client. What did you want to ask me?”
“I think a person like you should have done more for the world than wastes your time on materialistic things of pleasure like art. I am sure all your creations are not perfect. We are not to be perfect.”
“I love my creations but sometimes, like you said the creations…” the old man paused, interrupted by the couple who came to bid farewell. He smiled and reached into his bag, pulled out a small wooden horse, and gave it to the kid. They thanked him and quietly left.
“I too will leave soon” said Mark
“A few minutes more. What is it you want from me?” asked the old man.
“I want you to join us. Be a part of our organisation and help us help people like you,”
“What do I get?”
“You will learn the truth. Will get out of bondage. Free yourself from this materialistic life. Understand that I can make you a better person….I could go on and on,”
“What about family and friends?”
“They can also join us…. but remember.. we are the only truth… so if they don’t join us you will have to renounce them.”
“Can I be open with you?” asked the old man to which Mark said yes. The old man continued.
“You are funny,”
“You find it funny?” retorted Mark in a mildly raised voice. “I am trying to save you from this mess you are in and you find it a joke?”
“No, not at all. Sorry if you misunderstood me. What I mean is I find your understanding of reality funny.”
The rain was very heavy now and in the street. People were finding it hard to keep to their umbrellas. In the thunder, the lights flickered a bit. This was rather unusual. David came back to the table and asked, “Is it time?”
“Soon” said the old man.
“Time for what?” Asked Mark.
“I had booked an appointment and reserved this table. He was asking me about it,”
“Oh this damn rain, I wish it stopped” Mark said
“Ok” said the old man, and the rain stopped. As he spoke he reached out and touched Mark’s hand; an icy chill went up his spine.
“David, it is time” called out the old man. He then turned to Mark and said.
“Mark, your time has come”
There was a massive flash of lightning, as everyone looked outside the lights flickered once again.
“Is there any other way” Mark pleaded.
“I wish there was my child, but you got it all mixed up. Let’s go now”
Mark smiled and wiped the tear off his face. Then with both his hands grabbed tight and said.
“Father, I am ready” The lights stopped flickering and David cleared the vacant table and smiled.
Read the Epilogue in Part 3 – Click Here