Have a sip.

Late nights in Marseille are usually pretty quiet. Most of the bars get closed by that time. A port of land in the beautiful country of France.

Gabriel wanted a drink desperately. Things were not looking good. Though he was sober for one year, tonight, he just wanted to let go of things. loosen up a bit. He needed solitude. He Left late from home and to his surprise, almost all bars were closed. The ones which weren't were filled with loud people and he wasn't looking for high decibels of human chattering. After striving a lot, he gave up on his motive and with low shoulders and a hanging head, proceeded towards his dwelling. On his way, Gabriel came across a poster which read 'nouveau bar en Ville, aidez-nous à grandir '. 

A new bar in the city! Maybe since it's new, it won't host many customers, Gabriel guessed with some likelihood. He cursed beneath his breath, 'Maudier' when he scanned the address. It was at the other end of the port. If he strode promptly and with some light-long steps, he might get one drink before this one too calls the day. With some effort, he reached there and was glad to notice the bar still displaying the 'open' sign. Most lights inside as well as outside we're switched off. No kidding, it wasn't the happy hours anymore. This bar was just the place he needed to be in. 

As he stepped in, Gabriel noticed that there were no customers inside. One glance here and another there. Yep. No one. He moved towards the bar counter and there was a man, sitting in his mammoth hoody kinda thing. Gabriel wasn't sure about the dress which the gentleman was wearing but it confirmed that this guy wasn't a French, like him. He tilted his head towards Gabriel. In front of this foreigner, there was a beautiful cup. This cup didn't belong to a pub. And it was just resting there. Devoid of any coaster or a saucer. So archaic and yet so delicate. How did this one survive for so long?! The finest element of porcelain Gabriel had ever witnessed. He moved his vision and surprisingly noticed that there was only seat to occupy in front of the bar counter which was occupied by this foreigner. No sign of any bartender or waitress. 

"Excuse me, is this spot also closed?" Asked Gabriel dejectedly. The foreigner stared at Gabriel, this time with squinted eyes and didn't let out anything. The stare was getting intense. Feeling this awkward stare, Gabriel flickered twice, looked left and right, with his mouth slightly open like a fish. But the foreigner didn't blink at all. His eyes we're squinting more and more with each expiring second. 

Anxiety crept in and Gabriel eventually blurted out "Sorry but do you understand English?"

"You crave the answer." asserted the foreigner. "I can feel it in your eyes." He continued. "Have a sip and tell me your story."

"I appreciate the concern but all I'm looking for is some solitary time. I have made quite an effort to uncover this place and if you permit, I would prefer to enjoy my drink in solitude." Said Gabriel.

"Very well then. I'll leave you to it." Said the foreigner as he got up from his seat and proceeded towards the exit. 

"But where's the staff?" Inquired Gabriel as the man was making his move. 

"You finish that cup and someone will come by then. I hope you get the answer for whatever you're seeking for." replied the foreigner as he departed without turning. Gabriel was stunned for a moment. 'what a weird guy' he thought. The place was off. He'd expected the place to be quiet and not flourishing with customers but the absence of staff never crisscrossed his thoughts. He took the seat which the foreigner had left(quite warm). Gazed around a bit and let the quietness instil in him. Of all the objects present there, his attention adhered on the magnificent cup which the foreigner was referring as if it pertained to him. To his wonderment, the cup was clean. So clean that it felt like there was nothing in it ever. "what was he having then?" wondered Gabriel. Curiously he dragged the cup towards him. Circled his finger through the rim of it, simultaneously trying to tackle the plethora of questions going through his mind. No more thinking tonight, all I need now is ONE DRINK.

"Hello sir", announced a voice from the other side of the counter. "What would you like to have?". A stunned Gabriel was now absorbed in noticing the distinguishing features of this man in front of him.

"I'm the bartender here, Bobby, sorry we don't expect many customers at this hour. So I was in the back cleaning up a bit. No hurry, if you want more time to decide. Just call me, I'm right here." Said the bartender Bobby. A sense of calm went through Gabriel knowing he isn't alone here and his effort wasn't a total waste. Bobby smiled at Gabriel whenever their eyes met. He was a tall black guy. Quite sturdy and was currently polishing the glasses with a fine linen cloth.  

"Would you mind if I let you know in 5 minutes?" asked Gabriel. 

"Take all the time you need, I'm here" said Bobby as politely as one could. So cheerful at this hour, must be quite good at his job, wondered Gabriel. He was getting a bit nervous now. Started having second thoughts. It's hard to give up on your efforts on which you have worked for almost a year. The tension was quite visible now in the form of forehead lines. Discerning this, Bobby said, " Is there anything in particular which you need and we don't serve it here?"

" No no that's not the case... It's just that... I hadn't had a drink for the past 12 months, so... you can say having a bit of a blockade. I'll get to you right away." explained Gabriel. 

"If it's not intruding may I ask what made you go for a drink at this time of the hour and that too in a new bar such as ours?" asked Bobby without any trace of prejudice in his voice. And maybe that's what he was looking for, someone who is not ready to jump to conclusions. 

"Oh I would've told you but I don't think there is anything that you can do or say that'll take the pinch-off. And if it makes you feel better, don't think there is anyone who can." said Gabriel. "Not even me" he whispered under his breath looking at the empty cup. His downheartedness was the most evident feeling in the bar right now. Bobby was arranging the half-empty vodka bottles in the rack now when he suddenly asked: "Why to make assumptions?".

"Sorry what!" exclaimed Gabriel in a mind-your-own-business kind of a voice. 

"Let's say you tell me your situation and I try to assist you out of it. If you don't find my solution of any worth, the poison's on the house. what say?" said Bobby while still arranging the vodka bottles but he kept looking at Gabriel who was clearly rattled by this proposition. 

"That's a funny way to do business won't you say?" laughed Gabriel. "It's early days, we are all about strengthening our customer base." said Bobby and they both shared a chuckle. Gabriel wanted to vent anyway. He was just not sure that anybody would've been interested in his doomed situation. "One thing I have learned in recent years is to never let an opportunity of free drinks go away." said Gabriel.

"Seems like we have a deal then." Said Bobby smilingly. 

"I have this family property which was built by my great-great-grandfather. The mansion is passed down generations. The last owner was my father and he never wanted me to have it. And I don't blame him, you know. I couldn't be the son he deserved. Wasted my better years in alcohol and gambling. He disowned me and very rightly so. Didn't want to have any relationship with me. Who could blame such a soul, constantly tormented by the miscreants of his son?! He risked saving me many times but I was unsalvagable. An honourable man, my father and during his last days, I came to live with him and my mother. I asked for his forgiveness but even in dire pain, he couldn't let go of the humiliation I had bought to his name. I gave up on all my addictions. Tried to be the son he deserved. Alteast he will die knowing I wasn't a complete failure. Eventually, he succumbed to old age. My mother knows I tried and that's the only thing that helps me sleep at night. Things were good for me and mother until we got a notice from the government officials that we have 1 week to present our ancestry documents, otherwise they'll auction our estate to some foreign delegates who were visiting our country. I somehow got hold of the manager who was handling my father's vault. He kept all his valuables in that vault. But I wasn't the nominee in his will. And the legal proceedings will take about 6 months even after his natural death. Tomorrow, the officials are gonna visit and I have nothing to show them. After I told the told manager how desperately I needed the documents. He said, he could give me access to the vault if I know the passcode to it but my father never disclosed it to anyone. Now my mother and I are dangling by a thread. Have no idea what we should do from here. After my father's death, I have been trying to rebuild my family but we seem to have hit the rock bottom. The pressure was getting huge and I couldn't deal with it anymore, as a result, you see me in front of you trying to decide which drink will take the edge off." Finished Gabriel. "Doesn't seem like a nice bet now, does it, Bobby?" 

"So you came to the other end of the port, just have a drink, Gabriel?" said Bobby.

"Yeah I know it isn't the cleverest idea. WAIT. How do you know where I came from? And how do you know my name? I remember I haven't told you that yet", questioned Gabriel astonishingly. 

"The vault's passcode is 'Martha', the name of your late grandmother", said Bobby in the most serene voice that Gabriel had ever heard of. "What's all this? Are you messing with me? Cause if you are then I warn you, DON'T!" said Gabriel angrily almost stumbling out of his seat. Confusion rushed his veins because Martha was really the name of his late grandmother. But there is no way Bobby could've known that. Bobby held his place, smiled at Gabriel ever so lightly. His broad shoulders cast a shadow in front but it wasn't resembling the figure which stood in the foreground. Then he was glowing. Illuminating a bright light. Slowly the body started to disintegrate and Bobby perished into thin air. Into a stream of glowing particles which quickly submerged in the forgotten cup at the counter.

Gabriel had witnessed the most horrifying incident of his life. In complete dismay, he ran from the place like his life depended on it. Pantingly he reached home, attempting to comprehend what he had just witnessed. "No, it can't be", he murmured to himself. He couldn't sleep that night, trying to find a logical explanation of the past few hours. The very morning he arrived at the vault, scanning for the manager with his sleep-deprived eyes. His body was fidgeting. Uncertainty hit him. Couldn't decide whether to use the password Bobby had told him or not. Was that even his real name, he wondered. Back to reality. He had no other recourse and the government officials could be on their way at any instant. He rushed the manager, who was slightly grumpy, to the vault and told him to try 'Martha' as the passcode. After 15 minutes the manager emerged out cheeringly and said, "Congratulations Gab, these are the documents you were looking for. Just make sure your mother signs the necessary document by the end of the day." finished the manager as he walked out with a relief that he won't be bothered by Gabriel anymore. Relief went through Gabriel. A sense of worthiness. A feeling which he was unfamiliar with. Wished his dad could see him at this moment. Now is the time to rush home, hoping they won't have proceeded with anything official. On his way out, He saw a man drinking tea at the table, dressed in this huge unfamiliar and yet familiar attire. On close inspection, he realized it was the foreigner from last night at the bar. He looked at Gabriel and gave him a slight smiling nod and then resumed sipping his tea, holding the same cup.