Saturday, July 20, 2024

Adventure story. 667. Dream job

                                      Dream job

Aparna was carefully watching out of window. She could see wonderful garden. Her father was working in this restaurant for long time. His job was of waiter but due to that many times she get chance to visit it. She didn’t demand anything. She just took in chair which was in corner. Sometimes she even helped by assisting other waiters. So she worked without payment just since she wanted to sit in that corner. She kept reading some books & looking down towards garden. It was so wonderful. On that day she noticed some people came in big car. She began to observe them. They were looking so beautiful. They had perfect faces. Their dresses were perfect too. They were looking so nice. She kept watching them carefully. Her each item had beautiful look. She felt so obsessed. She immediately took her book & went behind counter to hide. She would sit on chair which was behind. This way she didn’t come in way. She didn’t want to upset anyone. She thought they were customers. She immediately informed her father. Her father ordered her to go out of hotel. Her father “ Just go out of hotel or I will lose job.” “ Where?” “ Anywhere! You know where to spend time? Come on! Go somewhere in garden..or school library.” “ Dad I am not in school anymore. I just got in college & I don’t like to sit in college. You know..” “ Just go out.” Her Dad gave angry look & she ran out of back door. She didn’t understand what went wrong. She had not done any thing to harm hotel. But she went away. She began to look for place to go. She decided better to return home. She came in her house. Her grandparents were sitting in hall watching TV. Her Mom was cooking in kitchen. She didn’t want to go before her grandmother. She knew that her grandmother should immediately start to lecture her on something. According to her Grandmother she needed to stay perfect. Her Grandmother was just concerned about her marriage other things didn’t matter in eyes of her grandparents. Her Grand Pa always supported her grandmother. She wanted to feel happy in her mind. But when they began to tell her what she was doing would be useless in future. She didn’t like it. She didn’t claim that she would be some great useful person but she was not so bad. She kept telling it to herself & they kept pointing towards her. She decided that she would slowly go in kitchen & sat there. But then she saw drama on TV. She sensed that her grandparents were too involved in watching TV. She slowly sat there. Soon she began to get involved in TV too. She forgot entire world & started to listen to those words. She knew that now her entire world was going to depend on TV. She knew that hotel was no longer going to remain option for her. Her Mom came out. Mom gave her shocked look. “ Why did you come back so early?” “ I don’t want to stay in that hotel.” “ Why?!” “ Because Dad don’t want me..now let me watch TV.” “ Come on. You must not spend too much time on TV.” Her Grandmother “ Let me hear stop talking. Do your cooking in kitchen?” Her Mom felt so angry. They always treated like some servant. Normally Aparna should have objected but now she wanted to see TV. She was not interested In helping Mom. Her Mom didn’t have much option so she went back in kitchen. Aparna kept watching TV with full attention. She didn’t want to remember anything. She just wanted to watch TV & remain involved in it. That world was so unique. She kept telling herself that this was her world now. She couldn’t return to hotel. She began to remember those people. She suddenly started to dislike them. They threw her out of hotel. She was not harming hotel. That hotel who called Restaurant wild was her dream. She wanted to stay there. She was ready to do anything for it. Sometimes she cleared tables. She served food. She cleaned windows. She didn’t remember how many things she did there. She never broken anything except once when she broke one flower vase. She was so scared but soon hotel manager declared that it was not much costly. He was planning to replace it any way. If someone had thrown her out of Restaurant wild on that day she should have understood but they didn’t. They permitted her to say. She learnt so many things. She used to run whenever any customer get angry. She used to talk sweetly with angry customers for hours sometimes. How much tantrum they might throw she used to convince them. She used to serve them with affection. Somewhere in her heart she began to feel that they needed her. Then her Mom screamed “ Time to study Aparna.” She nodded. She went in bedroom. They had just one small bedroom created in Balcony. It was so small. Just one bed & computer managed to fill it so much that there was no place to walk. She sat on her bed then took out her notebooks. She started her computer too. She needed both to complete her project. She needed to submit it. She began to read different books which had different types of information for her college work. She felt so sad. She was expecting group of friends in life. But in her college she didn’t find any. She spent her time just in studies. She wanted to think hopefully about entire project. She needed to arrange all properly as per her needs. She wanted to impress teacher. She needed good marks. She must get degree after it she could get job or get married. She preferred job in hotel like restaurant wild before marriage if possible. But marriage was most important for her. She wanted a boy who would love her. She looked towards mirror. She was proud of her looks some might taunt some of her looks but she knew that she was great looking. She wanted to happily settle in her life. But today when they threw her out of hotel which was her favourite so she was no longer sure about it. She needed to think positively. She began to think she needed to concentrate on her studies. She wanted to forget that hotel. But that hotel kept coming in her mind. She didn’t understand what was her mistake in life. She was not getting any happiness in life. She told herself to just forget that hotel.

      Aparna kept waiting for her father. She wanted to ask him about hotel. She planned to forget hotel but she already forgotten that decision. She started to look out of window on street. She began to watch outside. Her Mom came from behind & asked “ So what are you watching?” Aparna smiled nervously & said “ Ohh nothing special. I just want to talk with Dad about hotel.” Her Mom gave her tense look. Mom “ Why did you come early from Hotel?” “ Dad forced me.” Then she told all. Mom “ Ohh they are new owners of Hotel. Now it will be called Blue Duck.” Aparna didn’t like that name at all. Her heart skipped. “ Duck? Why duck?” Dad said“ They are bringing some cook who prepare Duck dishes.” Her Mom was shocked. “ You mean actual Ducks.” “ Of course!” They didn’t cross examine further Dad. Mom asked him about dinner. Her Dad said “ I will take bathe then go to sleep. I have eaten enough.” Her Dad pointed towards his round stomach. Her Dad was once slim. He was one handsome waiter. Many girls used to flirt with him according to Aparna’s Mom but now everything was changed. Her Dad was one overweight waiter. He was looking elderly too. His knees began to pain sometimes so he started to limp. He was so scared that new owner might fire him. He didn’t tell it to Aparna but when she ran out of hotel. She stood to take breath for sometimes. Gatekeepers were discussing this. Since they had weight issue too. They were counting person out of staff who looked old & elderly instead of energetic & young. She didn’t know about name on that point but they were discussing gardener told to clean pond for ducks. She knew one thing that now she couldn’t go in hotel & her Dad might lose job too. She didn’t say anything until her Dad didn’t went inside. She slowly began to tell her Mom all. Her Mom sounded nervous. Her Mom “ We have much a big family we need money.” She was only daughter but still their daily expenses were large. Her grandfather didn’t provide much money for daily expenses. Her father handled it. House belonged to her grandparents. They would get it one day. At least her parents could stay there. She looked towards Mom with questioning look. “ Mom maybe I should try to get job in hotel?” Her Mom immediately nodded negatively. “ Your Dad will not like it.” “ Why?” “ You must concentrate on your studies.” But she didn’t feel convinced. On that point her Dad came out she asked him without second thought “ Can I take job in hotel?” Her Dad gave her angry look & began to scream on her. “ So you feel they will throw me out & take you on job? Why? Because you are better than me? You are not smart. In fact you are ugly in look due to your extra weight. Look at yourself! No will like you. They need waiter who is appealing in my young days girls use to dance around me. If only I had rich parents by now I will become famous. These parents were  obstacles.” Her Grandparents were listening to him now. Her Grand pa gave angry look & said “ You were born as our son by your destiny I never demanded son like you. I never desired money but I always wanted a child who would respect me & my wife. But you are not like that. You are just burden on world.” Her Dad was so angry. “ I feed you for such long time still you talk in such a way.” Her Grandmother “ It’s your duty. You have not done anything great in it. Look towards other sons how much they earn?” “ & they threw away their parents like garbage bags. I stayed with you. I done a great favour on you.” She didn’t want to hear further so she decided to just go out in night. Her Dad kept screaming. She put earphones in her ears to avoid listening to him. It was so painful to imagine. She didn’t want to think about her grandparents & their reactions. It was so upsetting. She decided to concentrate on her project again. After that day she avoided her Dad but her Dad always kept coming after her time to time. She felt so nervous. She was not even talking to him but he began to talk. “ I wanted some nice daughter other girls were so smart. Do you know how much marks her cousin got?” She didn’t say anything. She was not planning to argue. She began to get stressed by all. She felt lucky when her Dad was not around. Her Grandparents were very nice & supportive to her after her Dad changed. Then one day her Dad suddenly came with one boy. He told her Mom “ This is Amar. Son from my first marriage.” Her Mom looked so shocked. But then her Mom came forward that boy touched her feet & she gave blessings. Then Amar touched feet of her grandparents. All blessed him with smile. She stood nervously in corner. Her Dad immediately told her “ Come on touch his feet. He is your elder brother!” She nodded. She went to touch his feet but he had different look in his eyes. It was clearly not look of brotherly love. She sensed it & she just kept away from him. Amar clearly enjoyed her fear. She slowly went in bedroom. She took out on mattress spread it & sat in corner. She took out books. She began to study & read book. She started to understand different chapters which were with meanings. She soon sensed Amar was important & precious. She was useless. She managed to complete her college. By that time her Dad started to bring something in home. She didn’t understand how much but she soon sensed that her Dad was not entirely honest. They were doing something wrong in that hotel. It was not right. But every one kept boosting Dad for bringing money & those things. Slowly he started to get admiration for his attitude. She got few things too. At beginning she was happy but then after sometime she sensed that her Dad was giving her gifts but continuously abusing her as good for nothing. She needed to those things. Soon Amar found one job. It was due to introduction by her grandfather. But they didn’t say it. They declared him great. He was arrogant sometimes but her Mom was step mother so she never argued with him. Her Mom just argued with her Dad for money whenever Aparna needed some. Mostly her Mom found it hard to get but still her Mom managed to get some. These new owner of Hotel managed to make their life worst. Aparna no longer admired hotel much. She preferred to entertain herself in book & she tried her best to stay out of everyone’s way.

     Aparna was sleeping when she suddenly felt wonderful smell. It was smell of cooking her Mom was cooking. She was so happy. She started to smile but then slowly she came out of her dream. She looked towards watch. It was midnight her Mom didn’t cook at that time. She slowly moved. Her bedroom was totally packed. She wanted a space. She was feeling so suffocated. She didn’t understand if Amar had so much money why didn’t he move in his house? But she didn’t dare to say it. That house belonged to him too, In fact her Dad kept telling her that this house belonged to just Amar. She needed to get married & forget all. She felt so tense. She suddenly began to feel so hungry. She looked around in that crowd it was so hard to reach to kitchen but she loved that smell so she wanted to go in kitchen. She began to feel positive. She didn’t even remember that her Mom was sleeping beside. Her Mom was still snoring slowly. She felt so happy that she ran towards kitchen. She looked around. She didn’t see anything. Her kitchen was totally empty. She began to check pots. She saw different vegetables but none of them fitted to smell she knew this was smell of cucumber specially grown in garden. In hotel they grew it for their special dish. In hotel all needed to be carefully cleaned & fresh. She also started smelling desserts. She began to check in kitchen. She started shifting all objects. She knew that someone was cooking. She could smell it. She began to get restless when she sensed no one was there. She saw that cook was not there. But she could smell it. She started to cry. She didn’t understand what was wrong with her. She felt so sad. She knew that someone was cooking. She began to feel so nervous. She started to think about state of her mind. She was sad & nervous. She wanted to return to old memories desperate. She began to feel that she might be recreating them. She was so sad. Then she suddenly noticed smoke. She looked towards it. She slowly went near window. She saw smoke was there. Someone was cooking in their garden. She suddenly sensed that old stove of kitchen was missing. She slowly walked towards it. But then she turned behind. She knew that she was mentally unsound. Her father told it many times. She turned towards her place on mattress to sleep. On that point her Mom came in kitchen her eyes were totally sleepy. Her Mom couldn’t even keep her eyes open. Mom asked “ What are you cooking in midnight?” She was so happy. Aparna “ Mom you smell too. Don’t you?” “ Yes. Of course.” “ I thought I am imagining.” “ Why you thought that? You never hallucinated anything.” She nodded. But her Dad always kept telling her. That she was mentally weak. Something was wrong with her brain. She decided to tell it to Mom. “ Mom Dad says I am not normal.” Her Mom looked so angry. Her Mom took hold of hand. Then she slowly took her towards back door. She slowly began to go out in backyard. Aparna didn’t want it. But she felt nervous in her mind. She wanted to object Mom. But her Mom had strong hold of her hand. Then they came out in backyard. She saw that one man was cooking. That man had one cap on head & was screaming. She looked carefully. It was her father. She didn’t understand what was going on. Then suddenly her father screamed “ Come here.” She was so nervous. She couldn’t dare to disobey so she went where he pointed. She slowly sat on one rock. It was hurting her to sit on it. She wasn’t getting hurt but she was so scared of him that she sat. She kept telling herself that she needed to disobey but she couldn’t. It was so upsetting. She needed to suffer pain. She looked towards eyes of her father. He was not in trance. He was doing all with intention. Her Dad “ I purchased all that stuff since I must practice all hotel cooking here.” Her Mom asked loudly “ Why you need to waste money?” “ You are a stupid woman. You don’t understand what is needed. I worked. I earned. I know all. Do you know how much hotel respects me?” Her Mom always gave respect to her father but today she was changed.” Yes I know within month they are replacing you.” Her Dad started throwing things. Her Mom took hold of her & said “ Let’s go inside.” Her Mom turned to her. “ Your Dad is mad person from beginning. I tolerated all. His first wife left him due to his madness. I always wished to do same but I don’t have any support from family so I stayed. You are not mad. He is.” Mom pointed towards her father. No doubt he was mad person. Mom “ He ran away from half treatment. He was mentally unsound but no one declared it.” Then her Mom took hold of shoulder & said “ Listen to me. Tomorrow they will call you in hotel. Go there. Give interview. Don’t back out. You need to fight back against this man. You must not give up so easily.” Aparna nodded. She was scared but she was happy to go back to hotel. Next morning she woke up & got ready. When she began to go in Hotel, her Dad screamed “ Where are you going?” She answered “ In hotel.” Her Dad started abusing her & telling her she wouldn’t get it. But she didn’t care. She entered in Hotel. Nothing was changed. Name was same. Her Dad lied. She told herself that she needed to go back in hotel again. She went inside with determination. She knew her father was mad. She needed to accept it & move ahead. She went inside with smile. Soon she managed to get job & she started working as waitress officially. It was her dream. Some might consider it stupid but she didn’t care. She just wanted to become Waitress of “ Restaurant Wild”. She didn’t demand more from life. If it gave her then she would enjoy it but if it didn’t she wouldn’t dying to get it.

                                         The End

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