Same Morning.
Café Butterscotch.
The cozy café was filled with the warm scent of freshly brewed coffee, melted chocolate, and soft, buttery pastries. Buns baked golden behind the glass counter. More than just a café, this place had witnessed the most beautiful bond shared between four women; Zaria and her closest friends.
Ding.
Zaria tugged the little bell hanging at the entrance.
"Oi, madam! Over here! We've been waiting for ages!" A familiar voice called from inside.
Zaria smiled, her steps automatically speeding up as she headed toward a small round table placed near the open kitchen. Their table.
"Slow down, baby Ria," Megan said in her calm, grounded tone.
Megan, the eldest among them, carried the aura of a woman carved from experience. Self-made. Strong-willed with a backbone of steel. She was a big-sister figure to all three of them, especially Zaria, the youngest of the group. Megan is an orphan by birth and now one of the top journalists under AZTech, Megan had an entire network of confidential correspondents and informants working under her. Bold,sassy, hardworking and fiercely protective of Ria.
"I am not a baby anymore, Meg!" Zaria whined, pouting.
"Yeah, our Ria is a big girl now," the one sitting opposite Megan chimed in with a chuckle before standing to hug her.
"Yup, my Nidhi darling is right," Zaria said as she wrapped her arms around her.
Nidhi Parker; the sweetest pediatrician at RN Hospital. Adored by children. Gentle - hearted. Soft smile. A quiet warmth.
"Where is our café owner? I'm starving!" Zaria huffed.
Megan shook her head with a helpless smile.
"Right here," came a voice from behind.
Isabella or 'Bella', walked in with a tray full of pastries, while a staff member followed with four drinks. After placing everything neatly, the staff quietly stepped away.
"My butterscotch smoothieee," Zaria yelped, grabbing her drink the moment it touched the table.
Bella chuckled.
"Chocolate smoothie for Nidhi…"
"Thank you, Bella darling," Nidhi cooed.
"Coffee latte for mama Meg, and strawberry smoothie for me," Bella announced with a grin.
"Hey, don't call me that," Megan huffed with a small frown.
The rest burst into soft giggles.
"Alright ladies, let's dig in," Bella said.
Bella was the mysterious one in their circle, sweet, kind, and fiercely loyal, yet she never spoke about her family or past. The others never pushed. Love didn't need explanations.She was theirs, and that was enough.
Amid the comforting chatter and soft music, four friends enjoyed their sweet little reunion.
"Baby Ria, are you going to the military camp tomorrow?" Meg asked casually, stirring her
drink.
Bella frowned. "What for?"
Ria let out a small sigh. "Yeah… for a check-up session."
"I'm going too!" Nidhi chirped.
Both Meg and Bella turned to her in surprise.
"What is a pediatrician going to do there?" Bella exclaimed.
Nidhi shrugged. "No idea."
"As per the HR notice," Ria said, "they requested doctors from every department."
"Maybe to check up on their kids?" Nidhi guessed doubtfully.
Bella playfully flicked her forehead. "Did you leave your brain somewhere? It's a military camp, not a community health drive."
Nidhi only gave an "oh" in response.
"Anyway," Meg said, leaning forward, "I was about to tell you, I'm going too."
"You're also part of the check-up?" Bella asked, eyes wide. Meg facepalmed dramatically. "God! No. I have a documentary shoot there, 'The Life of a Soldier'."
Ria looked at her suspiciously. "Seems like someone's following me again." She narrowed her eyes at Meg, who quickly looked away.
Ria sighed. "You don't have to follow me everywhere, Meg. I'm a big girl now. I can protect myself."
"Says the clumsiest person I know," Bella giggled.
Ria pouted. "No, I'm not!"
"I'm not following you, baby. It's just… my work happens to be on the same day," Meg said gently.
"Aww, looks like Mamma Meg enrolled in a lying course," Nidhi teased.
Meg smiled faintly. "I owe you my life, Ria. I'll do anything to keep you safe."
"Stop right there! You make it sound like I'm in some kind of danger. I'm just an ordinary
doctor," Ria whined.
The girls exchanged quick glances.
"Alright, alright, you win," Meg said. "But I can't help it. It's already scheduled for tomorrow."
To lighten the mood, Nidhi grinned. "Don't worry, Mamma Meg. I'll be with Baby Ria, you
know!"
"Ha! Says Miss Always Late for Work," Bella quipped.
Ria giggled.
"But it's nice. We three are going together," Nidhi said brightly. "Bella, why don't you join us?"
"Yeah, you could be my camera assistant," Meg added.
"Guys," Bella stressed, "we're talking about the military camp, not a picnic spot. And besides, I'm busy tomorrow."
Meg shrugged. "Alright, your loss."
Just then, Ria's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. "Oh, it's from the hospital."
She answered quickly, murmured a few "okays," and stood up. "There's an emergency. I have to go."
"Okay, Baby Ria. Be careful on your way," Meg said.
"I'll come too. It's time for my rounds anyway," Nidhi said, rising to her feet.
"See you later, guys," Bella waved. Both doctors nodded and hurried off.
"I should get going too," Meg said, giving Bella a side hug. "Take care."
Bella smiled and nodded. And just like that, the four friends once again went their separate ways.