Chapter 2: Chamomile Relaxes the Tongue

This is a short romance series that explores love against the backdrop of Dublin. A chance encounter in a tea shop marks the beginning of a romance between two unlikely individuals. If you missed it, you can find chapter 1, "The Heat of Candied Ginger," at https://candidadhanaraj.wixsite.com/my-site/post/the-heat-of-candied-ginger.

Oliver looked out of his office window, and he was lost in his thoughts. He was thinking about the pair of intense eyes of a beautiful woman he had met recently. Someone unexpected he had met in a quaint tea shop on one of his home visits. Oliver ran his practice as a child psychologist. After his last visit a few days ago, he got caught in a surprise downpour and, in hopes of finding refuge, he was drawn to the warm glow of what seemed to be the only coffee shop on the street.

When he entered the shop, which he later discovered was a tea shop, he didn't expect to find such an extraordinarily beautiful woman. Amidst the warm yellow lights, she glowed like an angel. She had the most gorgeous brown skin like luxurious milk chocolate, a full figure with curves, and a beautiful smile. Her every movement was a graceful dance. She was intriguing, and her name was Namrata.

Within the short time that he spent at her tea shop, he was taken in by her passion, intellect, and knowledge of her craft. When he thought about her, he was aware that his heart started to beat faster. Something that he hadn't experienced in a long time, a feeling that he was all too familiar with, and a feeling that he never wanted to entertain. A knock on his door interrupted his daydream, reminding him of a long list of patients that were scheduled for the remainder of the day.

It was late, and the day had been extremely busy and challenging. Oliver locked his office door while thinking to himself that it would be nice to get a cup of tea or perhaps...he wanted to see her. He stood outside his office for a few minutes debating whether it was a good idea, and before he knew it, his feet had started moving on their own accord. The air was cool, and the tea shop was a couple of blocks from his office. He was glad for a brisk walk after spending a whole day of being cooped up in the office. Oliver reached his desired destination after twenty minutes, and as he turned the street corner, he noticed a figure at the door of the tea shop. As he drew closer, he realized that it was Namrata hunched over the tea shop door.

He began with a weak, "Hey". He must have startled her because she turned around with wide eyes and gasped. Namrata said with a wide smile, "Oh, Oliver! It's you! He smiled to himself because she remembered his name, and said, "I am sorry, I must have scared you". She winked and joked, "If it's you, then I don't mind getting scared at any time". Oliver noticed a key in her hands and quickly realized that she must be closing up the shop. He said in a disappointed tone, "Ahhh, I didn't think about the hours of your shop".

Namrata looked at his face with her intense, dark eyes in deep thought. Then, she unlocked the door. "Come on in. Seems like you have had a rough day", she said, bent down to pick up a small carrier. Oliver quickly took the carrier and said, "Thank you, and let me help you". A small familiar meow seemed to come from the box, and he saw two familiar amber eyes glowing from the darkness. It was Meen.

Namrata locked the door and switched on a few lamps. Oliver put away his coat and let Meen out of her carrier. The ginger walked out, grateful for the release, gave a mighty stretch, and began to groom her body. While he was fixated on Meen, Oliver hadn't noticed that Namrata had walked over to put away the pet carrier. He swallowed hard as the faint smell of vanilla and spices overwhelmed his senses. She smelled really good, and he found it intoxicating. He took a few steps back to maintain a safe distance.

"So, what kind of day are we having? Would you like something that helps you relax?", Namrata asked as she placed her coat on the rack, oblivious to the effect she was having on him. Oliver exhaled slowly and said, "Relaxation is what I need. It's been a long day!". He glanced around the tea shop and noticed that the light from the lamps created a soothing ambience. Namrata moved over to a shelf, grabbed a jar of a mystery tea, and vanished into a small door behind the counter. Oliver slumped into an armchair, grateful for the soft cushion that enveloped his tired body like a warm hug. He decided to rest his eyes for a moment and didn't expect that he would fall asleep.

Oliver could hear someone whispering his name from a distance. He slowly opened his eyes, and his breath caught in his chest. A concerned-looking Namrata was in front of his face, and her hand was gently tapping his hand. He looked into her eyes and suddenly all the words in his head disappeared. He was trying to remember how to breathe.

"Are you okay? Did I startle you?", Namrata asked in an apologetic voice. Oliver felt embarrassed, and it was uncharacteristic for him to fall asleep in front of a stranger.

He shot into the air and choked, "I am... so sorry! I don't know what happened. I must have fallen asleep". It's completely fine! It's the curse of the armchair that you are sitting on. I have fallen victim to it myself many a time", she said as she laughed. He joined in, "Yes, it is completely the armchair fault". He noticed how her eyes crinkled when she laughed and the way her curls bounced around her face joyfully.

"I prepared chamomile tea for you, but I am afraid that it is going to make you feel even more relaxed", Namrata said. Oliver glanced at the coffee table and found the prettiest floral tea set with a light brown tea, a pot of honey, and thin slices of lemon. "To be honest, I need all the relaxation that I can get", Oliver said. They both settled into their seats with cups of hot tea and enjoyed the warmth. Between the small sips, Namrata inquired about his day.

Oliver explained that he was a child psychologist, and he talked freely about the nature of his job. Namrata listened intently and, after a while, said, "It makes sense to me now. You are very perceptive and have a calming energy. He blushed slightly as he continued to sip his tea. Not many people have told him that he was perceptive. She continued, "I can imagine that it can get overwhelming". "Yes, it most certainly does. It's a delicate balance between caring and creating a safe distance from your patients". After a short pause, Oliver said, amused, "You seem to be a wonderful counsellor yourself since I am the one who is usually listening".

She laughed and said, "Absolutely, selling tea is simply a facade and my shop is a counselling room in disguise. But jokes aside, it's interesting what people reveal when they feel safe and have someone who takes the time to listen. Most people want to be seen and heard". Oliver allowed her words to wash over him. He understood that she was someone who had a certain depth about her. "That is very true", Oliver added after a long pause.

The chamomile was doing its work. Oliver felt extremely relaxed. He was surprised since he didn't usually let his guard down. Before he could control himself, he blurted out, "I don't usually warm up to anyone this fast. It takes me time to open up to anyone. I think that you have a special energy about you". Oliver wondered whether Namrata had put a truth serum in his tea because he was speaking too candidly. Oliver couldn't read her expression, but Namrata was looking at him, not saying anything.

Tune in next time to read what happens...