The man looked at Anaya thoughtfully, then asked in a calm voice, "You're the one who plays the violin here, right?"
Anaya's fingers tightened slightly around the tray she was holding. Her brows drew together, puzzled. "Yes… I do. But… why do you ask?" Her eyes shifted to the woman who was still holding her hand.
Sensing her confusion, the woman gently let go, offering an apologetic smile. "Don't be afraid. I'm just your fan."
Anaya's lips parted, the words sticking to the back of her throat. Fan?
The woman's voice softened even more. "I really love the song you played recently. I think you called it… 'Long Distance Love'? It stayed in my heart for days." She sighed wistfully. "From the moment I heard it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I told myself, one day, I want to hear that piece directly from you."
Anaya blinked rapidly. That song? It had been months since she played it. The memory swept through her like a soft gust of wind,.
Anaya whispered herself, " it was likely, November 6, 2022. The day the first snow fell in China. Yu Chen had posted a story that day. just a quiet moment with snowfall and music in the background. Something about it lingered in my mind that evening. A strange ache. A distant warmth. That's when I had picked up my violin and composed that tune and wrote notes on it. I remembered that i really named it as 'Long Distance Love.' but, I think I hadn't named it then, but the feeling in my heart had shaped the music, and that night I accidentally played it. And then, a man asked me about this tone..
She continued, "then I just named it as long distance love."
It was never meant to be heard by anyone else. Just a moment she created for herself… and him.
"I… just played that once," Anaya said slowly, still trying to wrap her mind around the situation. "And I didn't share it anywhere. How did you…?"
The woman chuckled gently. "You may not have, but someone else did. A customer at the restaurant must've recorded you without you knowing. It was uploaded online. It didn't exactly go viral, but it touched people. The restaurant gained a bit of popularity after that."
Anaya's eyes widened. "I didn't know at all…"
"We came here today because I wanted to meet you. Not just to hear the song again," the woman said, now opening her small purse and pulling out a business card. She held it out toward Anaya. "I work with a small music company. I don't want to pressure you, but… we're interested in collaborating with you. And I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself., I'm Jiya from Mumbai. Feel free, you can also call me sister"
"Me?" Anaya took the card slowly, staring at the elegant print. Her heart raced.
Anaya thinking herself, "what? From Mumbai. She said, she just came here just for me."
Ananya murmured herself, " oh my God ! My head is spinning like a grinder. What's happening today. Shock after shock. I really can't take anymore. Or is this is a dream." She slowly pinched herself. And know, that its not a dream.
The woman continued, "Yes. You don't need to perform publicly. Actually, I understand you're probably a very private person." The woman gave her a knowing smile. "You wore a mask in the video. We thought at first you were shy. Later we learned you worked here and mostly stayed behind the scenes. That's okay."
The man beside her nodded supportively, letting the woman speak for them both.
She continued, "We're offering you the chance to compose music with us. You don't have to reveal your identity. You compose, and we'll handle the rest. We want your melodies, not your face. If you ever feel ready, give us a call. No pressure."
Anaya stared at the card. "Music composer..."
Her heart trembled slightly. It was something she never considered seriously before. Playing music was her way of breathing quietly in a loud world. She'd always seen it as her own space. A secret part of her. Not something meant for crowds, applause, or companies.
"I… I have other plans in life," she said softly, the words hesitant. "But I'll think about it. Thank you."
The woman smiled, as if she already expected this response. "That's all we ask."
Then, the man stepped forward politely, placing a gentle hand behind the woman as he pulled the chair for her. She sat down with grace, the candles flickering beside her.
But just as she settled...
Anaya started playing her violin, the song which one the woman want to hear it. The song named Long distance love.
As she playing the notes went well..
They both enjoyed it pretty well.., and swinged with the tone of the strings of the violin.
As she finished playing it..
Then suddenly, everything went dark.
The hum of electricity vanished. The soft lights dimmed and disappeared. The city's noise became muffled behind the sudden silence inside the restaurant.
A collective gasp echoed through the room.
"What just happened?" someone whispered.
"It's a power cut!" a staff member called out, rushing toward the back. Another went to start the generator.. but unfortunately, it didn't respond.
"The generator's battery is dead too!" someone shouted in panic.
A thick hush settled over the space. The romantic ambiance was swallowed by shadows. But the candles, they were still burning. Their gentle, warm light flickered in the center of the tables, casting dreamy golden patterns on the walls.
Anaya looked around. The man seemed concerned. The woman leaned toward him, whispering something softly to calm him.
But Anaya stood quietly, the business card still in her hand.
The soft crackle of candle flames filled the restaurant as darkness swallowed the rest of the room. Yet amid the glow, a silent unease spread like smoke.
The man stood frozen, his hand still resting on the chair he had just pulled out. The light had gone out at the worst possible moment.
His heart thudded in his chest.
The man, murmured himself, "This was supposed to be it.
Today.
Here.
With her."
He turned slightly, casting a quick glance at the woman beside him. the one he loved, the one he had brought all the way here with a carefully planned heart and trembling hope. She was still seated gracefully, her face softly lit by candlelight, unaware of the storm rising inside him.
He clenched his hands behind his back.
The restaurant had been decorated since morning. Flowers on every table, tiny fairy lights strung above the windows, and a soft violin melody scheduled to play just before he knelt down and spoke the words he'd rehearsed a hundred times in the mirror.
Now, all of that was swallowed by the dark.
One by one, staff members peeked out from behind curtains and the kitchen. Some exchanged nervous glances. One whispered, "What if we ruined it…?"
"We worked all morning for this proposal," another muttered under their breath. "He came in three times to check every detail. Flowers, timing, music, everything had been settled."
A young waiter clutched the edge of the counter. "He said he wanted this day to be remembered forever."
And it would be.
But not in the way he hoped.
The man's shoulders dropped a little. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. How do I propose in the dark? he wondered. How do I make someone feel the light inside my heart when the whole place has gone dim?
He looked at the ring box hidden inside his coat pocket. It felt heavier now.
"I guess… today's not the day," he whispered under his breath.