The day had been grey - both in weather and heart. One of those quiet days where nothing is exactly wrong, but nothing feels right either.

Maya tucked herself into her usual corner at the bookstore, a half-read poetry book in one hand and her favorite mug in the other empty.

She sighed.

Out of tea. Again.

Grabbing her phone, she texted the cozy little tea shop she often ordered from:

"Hi! Can I get a jasmine green tea with honey? Same address. Thanks ☕"

She hit send and returned to her book, expecting nothing more than a warm delivery in 20 minutes.

Instead, her phone buzzed instantly.

Unknown Number:

That sounds lovely. But I’m more of a cardamom with milk person.

Also… who is this?

Maya blinked.

Wait, what?

She rechecked the number.

Oh.

Wrong number.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She debated ignoring it. But something about the message made her smile.

Without overthinking, she replied:

Maya:

Oops! Wrong text. Sorry about that.

Unknown:

No worries.

You just made me crave tea I don’t have.

Maya:

At least you’re not out of tea entirely.

Tragic, really.

Unknown:

Now that would be criminal.

What’s your name, accidental tea fairy?

She hesitated. Talking to a stranger wasn’t really her thing.

But this didn’t feel like a stranger. His words felt... like a warm drink on a heavy day.

Maya:

Just Maya.

Bookstore girl with a tea addiction.

Unknown:

Nice to meet you, Bookstore Maya.

I’m Ayaan. Architecture with a poetry habit.

Shall we make this a ritual?

One wrong tea text a day?

She laughed, out loud this time.

Maybe today wasn’t so grey after all.

Maya:

Same time tomorrow, Ayaan the tea poet?

Ayaan:

With cardamom in hand. Deal. ☕

✍ Author's Note:

Their tea preferences reveal a little about who they are:

Maya – Jasmine green tea with honey: calming, thoughtful

Ayaan – Cardamom milk tea: bold, rich, grounded

(Who knows? Maybe their preferences and hearts will change too...)

💬 Your Turn!

☕ What's your go to tea?

👀 Tag someone who gives you tea (verbally or otherwise 😉)

💚 Want Maya’s jasmine green tea recipe? Comment below! It'll be shared in the next episode.

🧡 Let me know your thoughts on Maya & Ayaan!