~Merry Christmas everyone~
I know I am late, so here is a Christmas gift from me to you all.
"We need to change this," I say, lifting my head and stepping back as the malfunctioning oven demands our attention once again.
"This is the second oven we've dealt with in a year," Priti remarks, tapping her finger on the sleek black surface. "Perhaps we should check the electrical wires in this section."
I reach for the switchboard, toggling buttons, "Priti, call the electrician. If that doesn't work, we'll replace the oven." She nods in agreement.
"Is the order ready?" I inquire, glancing at the chef, who shakes his head. My finger massages my forehead as I realize the gravity of the situation. "Any unoccupied ovens?"
"No ma'am. Others are booked for another hour. The white forest cake was a special order," the chef explains.
"The cake will take two hours," I mutter. "We have no choice but to give a substitute of the order." Pretti agrees.
"Which table ordered it?" I ask the waitress, squinting my eyes.
"It was on the first floor," she replies, checking her notepad. Once reassured, she nods. Dealing with customers has always been a challenge, especially on the first floor.
Rayer boasts three floors: the ground floor for tourists and the middle to upper class, and the first floor with private cabins filled with sophisticated individuals. Customer satisfaction is crucial, but after everything I've been through, I've become a ticking bomb. A derogatory comment is enough to trigger me; I don't take any nonsense. Life has given me plenty of reasons to be disinterested in dealing with more.
"Prepare the rice cake; they will like it," I instruct, and they nod before heading to work on the dessert.
Turning towards the kitchen exit, Priti follows me. "Which room number are these customers?"
"1B," she answers, lifting her head from her phone. "Are you personally visiting them?"
I shrug, "I will go if there is a problem," and she nods, returning to her tasks.
"I'll be on the first floor to check with the receptionist. She didn't send me the list of today's customers." We enter the elevator, and I press the buttons for the first and second floors for her.
"I'll send it to you," she offers, but I decline. "You call the electrician."
Exiting the lift, my heels click against the cold floor. The floor-to-ceiling glass window overlooks the sea, with the balcony transformed into a cozy seating area. Some seats are occupied, and others are abandoned, bathed in the warmth of winter rays.
The reception desk is empty and unattended. I find the computer crashed.
"Good afternoon, ma'am," a young girl greets me.
"Where were you, Ms. Jaiswal?" I inquire, and she stammers, "Ma'am, I went to attend a call."
"I pay you for attending calls, making reservations, and keeping me updated. Nowhere did I mention you can be away for personal calls," I assert.
"I am sorry, ma'am," she mumbles.
"Update the computer and send me the list of reservations," I instruct. "Next time, stand here for personal calls. You work alone; that's enough privacy for you."
"Sorry, ma'am," she apologizes, and I nod.
Walking halfway towards the stairs to reach my office on the second floor, my attention is drawn to a rolling tray beside the door, the table covered with a dish.
"Ms. Jaiswal, why is this tray outside?" Anushka walks towards me, looking at the tray, masking my expression.
"I don't know."
"How would you? You got calls to attend." I taunt her. She avoids making eye contact, her gaze darting everywhere but at me.
"I will check it out, ma'am," she scurries away to call the ground team. I wait to know the issue.
If you want to run your business, be present there, rule over the employees. You don't pay them for free.
He has always told me, bringing his fisted hand before me, telling me, if you want to rule, grip the minds, grip the loyalty, grip the emotions. No will stop you from flourishing. He was true, and he has to be for he ruled the underworld. I learned from the king of divine violence. Who will stop me from conquering?
Anushka rushes towards me, saying softly, "Ma'am, the waitress is needed in the other room. I will take it."
I stop her, "Be on reception. I will handle it."
Her eyes enlarged, making me enlarge mine too, which makes her shrink back.
"You don't have to worry. Your boss will be on her best behavior." I gave her a sarcastic smile, curling my fingers on the cold handles of the rolling tray.
I have a history of reacting strongly to disrespect, often involving tea, water, or soup finding its way onto customers' dresses. Knocking on the door, I push it ajar, feeling the cold air-conditioned breeze on my skin.
I roll it inside the room, closing the door behind me, "Good evening," but my words remained in my mouth. My voice grabbed the attention, but the after silence remained heavy. My eyes meeting a pair of brown, the nostalgic bringing the unspoken sadness. For they belonged to Amaira Aharya. My once best friend, my once sweet buddy.
"Amaira," I whisper, almost to myself. I once desired this reunion, ten years ago-not now, not in the future. The familiar eyes hold no compassion, only blankness. The shadows deepen, the blank brightness pricking my sensitive eyes.
"Who do we have here?" Amaira's voice is full of mockery. She's different now, or perhaps the person before me is who she truly is. Maybe the girl who wove memories with me was an illusion, crafted to keep me compassionate in my teenage years.
I blink out of the daze, the curtains of memories tied by frail threads breaking away, leaving me in reality.
I blink away sticky tears when another shock hits me. The lingering gazes that I was trying to ignore belong to familiar faces-Vedansh, Vedant, Kritika stare at me.
I realize I'm being looked at with a mix of hate and bewilderment. My fingers shake against my skirt, and my mind is hazy. Should I run or face it?
My heart pounds in my chest, echoing in my ears. Amidst the two options, one thing echoes louder-Reyansh. I scan the room, my lungs constricted.
"He is not here," Vedansh states, his glares piercing into me.
I should be relieved that Reyansh isn't here, yet a lingering disappointment holds my heart in its grip.
I lick my dry lips, blowing a breath, ignoring the lump in my throat. "I was not searching for him," my voice feeble, the same way my life was.
And then both the brothers chuckle out coating my cheeks on fire. As they detect my lie straight through my posture. They look at me, still laughing, when Vedansh somber quick, looking at me, whispering in his deep vocal, "You shouldn't be." he smirks.
I dig my teeth on my lips to stop their trembling.
"Here is your order." I say, concentrating on my work. My shivering fingers taking the fine China placing it on the table. I turn around to rush out of the suffocating air.
"Serve us." Amaira demands.
"Sure." I try to stretch my lips, but it hardly curved up. Clenching my hands in fist, I take the plates in my hand.
"Yess." Amaira sounded more jolly which irked my skin. Puffing a deep breath, I know I am going to cry buckets of tears once I am outside this room. Although others need not have to know about the plan.
I take a clean plate, rounding the table and placing each before them.
"So, what are you up to in your life?" Amaira asks.
I stay quiet concentrating on doing my work. You will be good.
"Do not say you become a waitress." She mocks me.
I clench my fist. Ignore her.
"Did your parents also throwed you out?"
My hands halt. I momentarily close my eyes. It's okay.
"If they did, I am glad. One must not keep a snake closer to themselves. I kept I regretted. Reyansh bhai did, he regretted." She waves her perfect manicured fingers in the air, staring at me with hatred. Sheer rage filled inside me.
I place the plates on the table, the sound echoing.
"The snake can bite pretty well. Wanna have a taste of my venom." I look down at her.
"Like the way you made my sister taste it." Her pink tinted lips curve up at the side.
I click my tongue, my eyes crinkling, "Just like the way I made your sister taste it." I repeat her words.
"Finally, you confessed."
I feign a fake furrow of my eyebrow. "I pity you, Amaira," shaking my head subtly, "God gave you such beautiful eyes, but he forgot to remove your blindfolds. Ten years back you ignored the truth, and now you've built yourself on the lies."
The smile on her face drops, the glint wiping away.
"You got a lot of attitude there, considering your position." She spats out, pushing back her chair.
"Amaira, calm down," Vedant intervenes, placing his palm on her shoulder.
The revelation hits me: the Amaira they talked about was none other than my ex-best friend. Now, it's my turn to laugh, catching the attention of everyone.
"Karma is a bitch," I pause, "one who called another a killer got tied to a killer."
"What did you say?" Vedansh gets up, anger evident on his face.
"Oops! Did I point at you? It was unintentional," I mockingly smile.
"Bhai, let's go," Vedant whispers in his brother's ears, hugging an agitated wife in his arms. I feel sympathy for the poor guy.
"Will you do the payment by cash or card?" I smile, though I try to hide my teeth, they still peak out.
Tucking my unruly red strand behind my ears, I say, "Rayer is on a discount period. We give customers a 5% discount. Since we all share a history, I can give you 10%." whilst fluttering my eyelashes at them.
Vedansh takes out his wallet, throwing out the black card which lands near my feet. I gaze at the shiny card, then at Vedansh. He expects me to lift it up.
"Do it fast," he urges.
I lift my black heels, keeping it on the card, stomping on it. "Your brother told me, 'Kiraz, remember an insult for an insult', and those words are engraved in my mind." I lift my heel, kicking the card back to its owner. Humiliation courses on his face.
"Call your manager," Amaira shouts.
"Her cabin is on the second floor," I reply, and with that, Vedansh and Amaira dash out. Vedant follows them, passing me a glare that softens immediately. Kritika takes her purse, picking up the scraped card from the floor.
"You've changed so much," she sighs, a glint of pride in her eyes as she looks at me.
"You remained the same," I reply, her being the same dutiful wife, and her smile drops, eyes cascading down. She moves past me, but I hold her hand, stopping her. She turns her head over her shoulder, looking at my fingers wrapped around her wrist. I let it go, watching it fall beside her.
Avoiding eye contact, I manage to utter the words my throat begged to voice out. "Is... is he also here?"
"Why?" She challenges me with a look. If only I knew the answer to that question.
I exhale, shaking my head. "Leave it."
I expect her to walk away, but she stands there, studying me, trying to decipher my thoughts. I close my eyes before opening them, walking away from her.
"He is here," her words halt me. "Make sure he doesn't meet you."
"I'd long ago quit running."
She walks in front of me, her presence intense. "You're in trouble, then. Make sure to hide those emotions; he will use them against you this time."
I was wrong, Kritika changed. When people don't act how you want them to act, we all get change before each other eyes. I follow her through the stairs, the loud shouting audible, even from the first floor.
"Sir, please calm down," Priti tries to calm the raging bull. I had rarely seen Vedansh lose his calm. Looks like I had pushed him enough to bring this side out of him. Vedant stands by his brother's side, attempting to pacify the situation. Five years, and the characteristics have seeped into the brothers.
I stand at the corner, leaning my shoulder against the wall, where I can witness all the drama unfold.
"Your employee humiliated us, and you want us to calm down," Amaira throws her victim card, as expected.
"I apologize on her behalf. I will look into the matter. We can talk about this in my cabin. There are other customers who are getting disturbed by this. Please cooperate," Priti pleads before the obnoxious humans.
"You must have thought about it before sending that mannerless waitress to us," scoffs Amaira.
"I am sorry on her behalf. Tell me her name."
Amaira scans the room before her eyes land on me. Her smirk holds a hint of mischief, and I shoot her the same. I had been quiet, and she brought it upon herself.
Her finger points at me. Priti looks at me, her eyes widening, leaving her mouth agape.
I straighten my posture, walking towards them. Pulling my features into a pained expression, I speak out in a small voice, "I am sorry, ma'am," bowing at Preeti.
Keeping my head down, my hairs curtaining half of my face.
"I lost my calm. I shouldn't have behaved that way with you." I should've done worse.
She looks more astonished, trying to figure out what I was doing. I secretly wink at her, signaling to keep her mouth sealed.
I turn to face a heavily breathing Amaira and a red-faced, angry Vedansh. Internally grimacing, one blow to their ego, and it turned out like this.
"I am so sorry, sir and madam," I do a deep bow, rolling my eyes secretly.
Amaira scoffs, "Now you found your brain." Her lips draw back in a snarl.
I stand quietly fidgeting with my fingers, listening to her blabbering. I wish I had my ear pods tucked behind the curtains of my hairs.
"We apologize from her side." Both Priti and me sync a bow.
"I want her terminated from her position." Amaira orders my employee. Princess thinks she got a castle, her pretty eyes again lying behind the blind fold, taking the sand castle as her real one.
"As you say ma'am." Even after ten years, how did she managed to hold so much hatred for someone who has only prayed for her goodness. I remember all those time I have prayed the heaven on her birthday's to bless her with all happiness. My eye meets her, a sense of accomplishment taking over it. She still sees me as her sister killer. Not only her, Vedansh also held the similar look, the snatcher of her brother happiness.
The world just seems ignorant of your pains, and at some point, it really doesn't matter. You are never good for someone even if you cut out your heart to them.
"Amira lets go." Vedant takes her hand dragging the wild cat away.
Vedansh stops before me, grind through his teeth, "Had you remember an insult for an insult, wish you had also remembered that how much my brother loved you. Before betraying him." Kritika places her palm on his biceps, taking him with her, not before passing me a lip-tied smile.
"Leave your reviews sir." I shout out, before squirming in my place, when the family turns to shoot me a glare.
Once they were out of our site, Preeti turns to me, asking the one question she wanted to voice out, "What was that ma'am?"
I bring my palm infront of me, smiling the women before me, "My husband told me, if you want to fight a war, you have to loose some silly fights."
Bewilderment washes on her face, her eyes sparkling, "Your husband means Veer's father?"
My lover. I nod my head.
I am aware of the power the Rathore holds, just because of some grudges, I can't put Rayer on line when it held the thread of livelihood of many people connected to it.
•~•~•~•~•
Yeah, I reserved the meet up for this.
Hope you liked it? Do vote and comment. It really makes my day.
Many people on Wattpad have been nagging me to update twice a week, which I've already cleared the reason for it. But still you know.
After thinking about this, I have came to a decision that I will be posting two updates on two weeks and one on two week. For instance, the first week of January, I will post one Chapter on Monday. The next week I will be posting two(Monday and Saturday). The third week one chapter and the fourth week I will update two.
And this update pattern will be from January.
Published: 25December, 2023.