Namood-e-Saher نمود سحر

Areej and Zaman

"We'll start by using a small knife and cutting the downwards portion of the fish in a horizontal fashion, like so..." The head chef very expertly demonstrated.

" Then we take a paper towel and wipe down the edges of the fish and try not to touch the gut..." His eyes were focused on the insides of the Spanish Mackerel.

" We'll now go up to the gills and snap it off with a pair of sharp scissors, cut it out neatly and add a bit of force to it so that you get it all out in one piece" he looked up to maintain an eye contact with his apprentice chefs who were intently taking down notes, some more furiously than others.

" The gills and the gut are in one line and you can now safely remove it all in a single piece and you already have a clean fish" he picked up the fish and showed off its clean insides which was immaculate.

" This membrane inside is where the blood is and if I remove it in one piece there will be a lot less spillage and if I do manage to puncture it then it would be arduous and I'll have to scrub it clean it with a toothbrush. This Spanish mackerel is good to go up on the hook now and will taste absolutely amazing on the fourth and fifth day not that it will taste any less spectacular if we cook it now..." He was interrupted by the loud clank of a vessel falling down on the floor and that made him look up in irritation.

" Was my demonstration missing background music that you felt the need to add to it? Miss..." Zaman threw his question at the already trembling form of the new girl who barely looked more than twenty.

" I asked you a question Little Miss" Zaman didn't mean to yell at the girl who looked ready to cry any moment now.

Such a faint heart had no place in a professional kitchen especially one of their reputation.

" I'm sorry Chef" she mumbled as she shed silent tears and Zaman decided that was enough.

It was a mistake on her part but the girl looked ready to faint.

" Moving on..." He started with his Master Class again, the girl taking a backseat in his mind for the time being.

Zaman left the kitchen when he was summoned for an urgent matter that required his attention. On his way out he spotted the girl again and slowed down his long strides to approach her.

" If you want to make it in this cutthroat kitchen business, you need to steel your heart. Aise har chotti baat par aansu bahaane se kuch nahi hoga, Little Miss" Zaman advised the girl who was startled at being given attention by the head chef himself.

" Yes Chef" she mumbled in trepidation.

Authority always scared her.

Zaman nodded his head and strode off towards his destination not knowing that he had affected a tender heart in his wake.

Shah Zaman Hamdaani had shifted base to Kuwait and taken over his Daadajaan's restaurant, one that he had built with his best friend Mehmet. He was the Executive Chef at ZATAAR and also the business head and CEO.

Zaman was living his best life at the moment. He had a loving family, a well established career and was set to marry Mehmet Uncle's youngest granddaughter Fadwaa who was also on the chair committee on behalf of her family.

Fadwaa was a beautiful woman and only a year younger to Zaman's twenty seven. She was a splendid negotiator and had a clear head on her shoulders. She was smart and confident and would make an excellent partner for Zaman both personally and professionally.

It was a convenient arrangement, one that their family had suggested and since neither of them had any interest in anyone else they too agreed for the alliance. There was no reason to deny it seeing as they had to settle down one day and a known poison is always better than an unknown nectar.