Quadruple trouble

CH-3: In the Francophone

Ray's POV:-

So,  come back to India and travel 8436 miles from NYC to India's most beautiful city "Pondicherry" to meet this book's third character, who is a clumsy girl in her mid-teens, that is me. Well, I am just telling you this first 'cause I just want to warn you guys about me! 

I think during my early years my parents just put a board outside our home, BEWARE OF RAY instead of that customary BEWARE OF DOGS sign that you see outside every Indian household which possesses a dog. Lol, I am full-on-lets-roast-myself-mode right now. Jokes apart. 

Let's exchange some greetings and do intros or else this author will kill me for rambling nonsense, logically it's no-nonsense, it's important info but whatever (p.s. this author is stupid or I must say illogical), AND, we are sidetracking again.

Howdy everyone my name is Raynisha or you can call me Ray as everyone calls me that. 

So, I am a pretty educated girl and know broadly about French culture. As Pondicherry was amongst France's important trading centres back in the British era, it's also called francophone- a place where most of the population speak French or where French is the first language.

My summer holiday commenced a week ago, and I work in a well-known traditional French café "delicious nourriture" which literally means delicious food for which I receive 50 rupees per day. I also work part-time when my school is open.(If you ever come to Pondicherry, do pay me a visit, and I will give you an employee discount *winky face*)

I come from a well-to-do family and my father or P as I call him, is a businessman, I work in the café because of my passion to be a French cook and want to learn traditional French cuisine and the café the most suitable place to learn it. Usually, I work for half a month in April, as we always go on a family trip to Daman and after returning I recommence my work.

So, today was my last day at the café and the day after tomorrow we will depart for the trip for which I was kinda half excited which means I do not crave it but also don't want to miss it. I get bored of this as I am also a teenager but I also don't wanna miss this trip. This shows someone like an obedient teenage child who respects her parents.

 *cough* self-appreciation *cough*

Today, I woke up early and went to the café. I opened it, wiped the tables and then. 

"Good morning Ray"

"Good morning mére D'Souza"

Customers start to come to the café, so I guess I have to start giving my service. Sigh.

"Ray, serve this coffee to table 3 to Ms Ruby", mére D gave me the cup, I noticed there was no croissant, so I quickly took Ms Ruby's favourite 'simple croissant' as she calls it reason being she wanna keep it simple, her words, not mine.

"Yes, mére D"

"Good morning, Ms Ruby!! How's your work going on?"

"Morning Ray and the job? it's always the same, neutral" Ms Ruby answered with a smile. 

"Hey Ray"

"Yeah?"

"Just take the croissant," she said passing me a tight-lipped smile. That is weird, she never misses croissants with coffee.
"Everything okay?" I said and sat opposite her. She nodded and I rolled my eyes. 

"and I am the best french cook in this city," I said sarcasm dripping from my voice as ice cream drips from melting when kept in the sun, boy, that was so bad, whatever. Focus Ray. I scrutinised her with my eyes. She finally gave up.

"There are some problems at my house...again" I nodded with my mouth shaped like an egg. "Don't worry, if you wanna talk, go to mére D not me because I am bad at these things" I joked to lighten the mood and it succeeded, and she chuckled.

 I got up and said, "It's on the house" and went away by giving her a smile which she returned

There are no new customers in the café but the number of regular customers is consistent. They visit the café once every day. So, I now know what does ms Ruby needs or what Mr Bannerjee's coffee should be like.

So, I am working in this café for two years, so now I also help mére D in the kitchen, learn new tricks and serve the customers. Due to that, I manage to make most of the dishes, so when mére D is sick or out of town then I'm in charge of the kitchen.

 Ms D'Souza adores me very much and treats me like her own granddaughter likewise Ms D'Souza, I also think of her as my grandmother and fondly call her mére D as everyone calls her by that name.

Now we reach the end of my shift, the day was well spent and there was a call for me from the kitchen. It was Mére D. she called me for giving my salary and to my astonishment instead of 750/-, I got 1500/- double the amount.

 I said to mére D surprisingly. "There is some mistake mére D. My salary is 50/- per day and according to the calculation for 15 days it is 750/- and you gave me double" 

Ms D'Souza gave a lively laugh.

"There is no mistake dear. I have raised your salary from 50/- to 100/- for your honesty, hard work and discipline"

"Thanks, mére D" I replied with tears in my eyes. I gave Mrs D'Souza my prominent bear hug which she gladly returned.

"Oh it's okay and, do not forget to bring souvenirs from Daman, we will meet after your trip in May"

"Yes mére D. have a good day! Bye!!"

And I went home dancing like a peacock in rain, happy and appeased about the salary. "Mum, P. I got a salary increment from 50/- to 100/-. I am ecstatic. I am feeling like I am on top of the world"

"Oh, that's great" answered P and gave me a bone-crushing hug

"Congratulations. By the way, we want to talk to you about something" mum ended on a serious note.

"What's that mum?" I asked with a straight face and recall all my shenanigans of 15 years. My smile now dropped into a frown.

Hey, y'all I want to know your view on this chapter (constructive criticism is welcomed) and don't forget to fill in the colour orange in the star.

-Tanishi