Chapter 4

"A job that you wish to do?" Arnav asked as he glared at the small waif like girl, standing in front of him in a too large apron "Just who the hell do you think you are to demand? And who gave you a job here?" he asked in a cold voice that sent shivers through Khushi's spine, making her tremble in fear.

She looked on dumbfounded, as the very very attractive man in front of her, stared down with barely concealed disdain and superiority in his eyes, as if she was some sort of scum on the floor, making Khushi's already frazzled nerves more haywire; Which was probably why she said the next thing...a classic case of speaking before thinking!

"Me? Who the hell are you? Kroor singh kahinke!" she said with her eyes narrowed [For those who don't know Kroor singh, check out Chandrakanta - a very old hindi soap which used to be televised years ago<giggle>]

"And how dare you speak to me to as if I'm some dirt! I too have dignity and self-respect and I will not stand for just anyone looking down on me" she said gaining more confidence as she rambled on "haan...also for your kind information, I work here, samjhe aap?" she said with fake bravado as the tall man suddenly looked more taller and menacing while approaching her, making Khushi walk backwards till she hit the wall behind her.

"Listen you little...whatever your name is...I want you out of this restaurant right now...you understand? I'm not sure which of my incompetent staff gave you a job in myrestaurant" he said as Khushi's eyes went wide in wonder and realization and abject fear...obviously he was The ASR Khushi! Who else would be standing in a chef's attire in this cabin! Idiot!! She thought to herself, as she felt a bit light headed from digesting the reality of the situation

"Now you know who I am, don't you? This is my restaurant and I want you out right now...GET OUT!" he screamed at her to get the message through her, while she stood there stiff and shocked, completed frozen...and then obviously she had to faint...because who in this world could stand and live to tell the tale of an absolutely vivid ASR!

***

Arnav looked at the girl who was now sprawled on the comfortable couch in his office, as payal tried to wake her up with some cut raw onion; As if that would work on her!  Just a few minutes back, he had caught her in the nick of time before she hit the ground due to her sudden bout of fainting. First he thought she was faking it, but looking at her closely he knew she really had fainted.

He watched on as Payal tried multiple things to bring her to consciousness and he could not help but notice the girls striking features. Her smooth as alabaster skin, high cheekbones and pouty plump lips. Her eyes as he recalled had been hazel and had then turned into a violent amber as she spoke back to him. 

Still...however beautiful she was, she had called him, what was that? Yes...'Kroor singh'!...How dare she! And for that he will never forgive her! He came to know from Akash, that she was hired, as a dishwasher by him but the girl seemed to be in some delusion that she was given a job of a chef...! He looked over at Akash, who seemed to be very concerned for the girl presently "ASR...why don't you go home? We'll take care of this" he said as Arnav nodded and moved his neck to get rid of cricks

"Fine, let me know in case she...NO! in fact don't bother me with anything! Take her to the hospital and call her family. And also terminate whatever job she was doing with us..." he said as Akash kept nodding, but both of them suddenly turned as Payal let out a squeal"Khushi? Are you ok?...thank God!" she said as Khushi opened her eyes and looked around, trying to figure out where she was

She tried to get up but fell back on the couch, as her head felt all woozy and the last thing she remembered came back splashing in front of her eyes. She did not have to look further to find the object of her distress still staring daggers at her. Thanking Payal, she got up slowly and faced the man who had scared the living daylights out of her

"So, you are awake! Great...now I can personally see you out!" Arnav said as Khushi blanched once again. Payal shook her head from behind Khushi to ask Arnav to let it go. She felt bad for the new girl who had to see this avatar' of ASR on the first day itself.

Khushi felt tears prick her eyes as she thought about once again being jobless, no she could not afford to loose this job, what would she tell her parents? Her mom who must have done the poojs...her dad who would be bragging about her to his friends...no!

She took a deep breath to reign in her tears and looked somewhere in the vicinity of the mighty ASR "I...i am ssorry sir...I ddid not know it was you and...I'm just sorry that I...uh I called you..." she started saying when Arnav suddenly saw Payal and Akash taking a keen interest in Khushi's apology

He stopped her before she could say anymore "I don't care miss..." he said as Akash piped in"Gupta" making Arnav turn back to her "Yes, Miss Gupta. I have no respect for someone who does not take their job seriously and especially people that mock jobs which they think are too beneath them! So if you'll excuse me" he said as Khushi stepped in front of him, blocking his way out

"I am really very sorry sir...I...I will do whatever job I am offered here, sacchi! it's a dream come true to work here and even if I don't get to cook, I know that I will learn a lot. I'll do any job that I'm given...just...please don't take this away from me" she said as the stupidity of her dreams came barging into her head.

How did she think, that a place like Perido will hire someone like her who had no formal training or experience to work in a professional kitchen! Even the salary they were offering was more or less the same as her earlier one...she should have expected a much bigger package if she was working here in a chef's capacity! Stupid stupid Khushi!!

She also realized that working in this restaurant, she would get to learn a lot in the kitchen...that too from ASR himself! However rude and akhdu he was, there was a reason he was the best in biz! And she had faith in herself...one day, she would cook in this very kitchen! She just knew it! And to prove herself, she had to remain here...even if it was as a Dishwasher.

"So now you know your place huh?" Arnav asked mockingly in the same cold but voice, as Khushi came out of her thoughts. She felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment, but quietly nodded and looked up to find a peculiar glint in ASR's eyes...as if he was disappointed in her about something

"Fine...you can stay, but it's on temporary basis only. If you don't do your work properly or I think you are not good enough, you be asked to leave right away...is that understood?" he asked her, as if wanting her to refuse and leave with her head held high, but she did no such thing and instead nodded slowly at him.

"I will not give you a reason to complain. Thank you...sir" she said as Arnav nodded absentmindedly while Khushi made her way out of his cabin followed by a bewildered Payal"Uh...ASR? How come you changed your mind? I'm sure we can get another dish washer if you don't..." Akash said as Arnav held up his hands

"No Akash...I want to see what this girl is made up of. She thinks too highly of herself right? So I want to bring her down a peg or two. Already her self-respect and dignity as she said it, has bowed down in front of me. Let's see how long she stays put in this job"he said before making his way out as well, leaving Akash to wonder on this unusual behavior of his boss.

***

"He's not all that bad you know. In fact, this is the first time I have seen him being so mean and rude to someone" Payal said as Khushi pulled the loose apron over her head, and folded it neatly at the end of her shift.

It was already past midnight and the private party was winding down, with the restaurant staff too closing up for the day. She timed the dishwashers as instructed by Emanuel and was now busy cracking her fingers as they both made their way out

"I may have said some stuff to him which probably no one else has. I mean the man's reputation as the meanest most accomplished chef precedes him! So I'm not surprised by his behavior. I'm just glad he let me keep the job. Though I wonder if he did it to only torture me more!" she said in slight fear, as Payal giggled

"Come on Khushi! ASR has better things to do. And he's really not bothered about all this. All he asks from us is efficiency and hard work. Maybe he saw that you were genuinely sorry for what you said" she said, as her eyes glinted in mischief "By the way...what did you say to him?" she asked with a smirk, as Khushi felt her cheeks flame up

"Uh...nothing...just stuff...anyways we should get going?" she said as Payal giggled and threw her arm around Khushi's shoulders "Fine, don't tell...let it be your little secret!" she said as Khushi rolled her eyes "Keep giving me lifts to the station and I shall think about it" she said as Payal continued to giggle.

As Payal lived near Churchgate station, Khushi had a free ride there instead of taking the bus. It was ideal for Khushi since it was anyways very difficult to get a bus this late, plus she would have great company and a free drop to the station everyday.

They met Akash and NK who were both getting ready to leave on the latter's bike "Khushi! You are my new hero! I don't know anyone who has been fired by ASR and then recruited again!" NK said as he winked at her, making her smile shyly.

"Shut up NK! ASR was considerate enough to let Khushi continue. And Khushi, you really need to prove yourself now...he is not the kind to forgive and forget" Akash said as Payal rolled her eyes while khushi bit her bottom lip in worry

"You Shut up Iyer!" she said as she pulled Khushi along with her, to the small Hyundai i10 "Stop scaring her! She was great today and will continue to be so...now Good night and bitter dreams!" she said as Khushi giggle at Payal's words. She really liked this girl and the rest of the staff too weren't bad...Now, if she just stayed out of ASR's path...everything would be fine...well, almost everything.