On evening, as the chilly mountain air rolled in, Chahat, Prachi, and Tiya and jai sat together inside the shop, sipping on hot chai. The shop was still mostly empty, with a few shelves stacked neatly against the walls and a counter in place. The space felt small, but to them, it was full of possibilities.
"We need a seating arrangement," Chahat said, wrapping her hands around the warm cup. "People should have a place to sit and enjoy their food."
Prachi nodded. "Yeah, but there's no way we can fit proper tables and chairs inside. The space is already limited. If we put too much, it'll look cramped."
Tiya, who had been scrolling on her phone, suddenly spoke up. "What if we go for foldable furniture? Something we can put outside when needed and fold back inside when the shop closes?"
Chahat's eyes lit up. "That's actually a great idea! We can set up a few tables and chairs just outside, and when we're done for the day, we fold them and keep them inside. It won't take much space."
Prachi leaned forward, thinking. "That makes sense. But we need to choose something lightweight, so we don't struggle with moving them around every day. And they need to be sturdy too. The weather here can be unpredictable—sometimes it's sunny, and suddenly it starts drizzling."
Tiya started searching online. "There are a few options. Metal ones, wooden ones, and even plastic ones that look decent. Do we want something stylish or just something practical?"
Chahat shrugged. "A balance of both, I guess. It should look nice, but also be functional. People should feel comfortable sitting there."
Prachi took out a notebook and jotted down points. "Alright, we need to check for foldable tables and chairs—lightweight, durable, and weather-resistant. We should also measure how much space we have outside so we don't overbuy."
Tiya chuckled. "Good thing you're writing all this down, or we'd forget half of it later."
Chahat stretched and looked outside. The street wasn't too busy at this hour, but she could already imagine how it would be once the shop opened. Students chatting over snacks, elderly people sipping tea, travelers resting their feet before heading up the hill—it would be lively, warm, and welcoming.
She smiled. "This is going to work. It'll take some effort, but I can already picture it."
Prachi nodded. "Tomorrow, we'll visit some shops and see what's available. No need to rush—we'll pick the best option."
The next morning, the crisp mountain air carried the faint scent of pine and damp earth as Chahat, Prachi, and Tiya set out on their mission. The town's streets were still waking up, with shopkeepers rolling up their shutters and vendors setting up their stalls. The sky was a clear blue, but the coolness of the wind hinted at the unpredictability of mountain weather.
"We should check at least three or four places before deciding," Prachi said as they walked along the cobbled path. "It's better to compare options than buy the first thing we see."
"Agreed," Chahat nodded, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. "We need something practical, but it should also suit the aesthetic of our shop."
Jai, who had joined them at the last minute, stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets. "Just don't pick something so fancy that we go broke buying it," he joked.