*On Hiatus*
"So? Do you like me?" He didn't look at me. His eyes fixed on his mobile screen which was blank and had nothing on it.
"What?" I was extremely shocked by his words. Me? I like him? I mean I do but as friends.
"What?" He looked at me. His...
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Exactly at ten, I left for my two-hour part-time job. Originally it is four to six hours for a college student but since everything is not ready yet, they gave me a concession. Once, I join classes, they will make me work for four hours minimum.
The cafe is just two streets away from my home but I prefer going there early. I walked to the smallest cafe house in the whole Kandivali with a limited amount of customers and the one that pays rupees 500 per day if I worked for at least five hours. Which means just 100 rupees per hour.
I opened the door and the bell on the door rang. Just two customers and the cashier stared at me. His eyes were bright. Maybe they thought I was a customer but unfortunately, I am not. I went to the counter.
"Hii! Today is my joining day. My name is Aman Gupta." I said.
Without replying to me the guy started at his old computer. After a few minutes, he nodded and pointed to the door in the right corner. I entered the room. A locker room.
"Change into your uniform and then follow me." He said. A stiff voice, hard expression.
I started changing and he stood there staring at his phone. "What is my work by the way?" I asked out of curiosity. I just simply joined without asking about my work.
"My work." He said without moving his attention from his phone, on which he was busy typing something.
"Your work? Like sitting at the counter?"
"Yes and serving, taking orders. Basically everything except cooking and cleaning. You see I am resigning and you will take my place from now on."
"Oh." That's all I had to say. He took me to the kitchen through the door inside the locker room. The kitchen looked like any other posh hotel kitchen. Just a bit shrank and having only three people playing on their phones.
The well-built counter guy clapped. "Guys, your new part-time counter person is here. " Everyone looked behind, scanned me with their eyes, and then got back to playing with their mobile except for one.
" You look very young. College? " He asked. He looked very friendly when talking. Taller than me, dark black hair and eyes, deep blue. " Yes, first year. " I replied to him.
" Well, then you have to manage a lot boy. See ya, I have a game."
The counter guy pulled him through the other door in the kitchen which opened directly inside the counter. The doorbell rang.
" A customer. " He slapped on my back.
"Come, boy, note down how to talk and whatever else you want to."
He is very rough. I wonder how he talks to the customers.
"Hello, I need a latte." One of the two customers said.
"Sure. When?" What?
"When? Now."
"Oh no. It will take time. Can't give it now." My eyes widened in disbelief. Just what the hell is he doing.
The customers just simply turned back out without saying a word. It was obvious. They must have thought this guy was weird. I wonder how those two customers are still sitting there.
I got out of the counter and looked around. The tables are not clean, some lights don't work, and two out of four air conditioners don't work. The walls are old-fashioned and damaged. Nothing is in good condition here. Who the hell is the manager.
"Who is the manager?" I just had to ask. The reason why the customers are low is because of no management.
"None. The cashier is the manager." He replied, yawning.
Management is not good either. I sat on the table next to the glass window and pulled out my journal.
Problems: • no management • no maintenance • rough talking • wrong questions
What about the food? Yes, I should ask the customers ahead.
"Hello, excuse me. Sorry to disturb you. May I ask how the food is?" They looked confused. Did I say something wrong?
"They are employees. Cleaners. Not customers." The counter guy said.
I want to hit my head somewhere. These cleaners don't even clean properly. This cafe is in a big crisis. My god. I don't know what I will be dealing with in the future.
"What's your name?" I finally asked the counter guy.
"Roy. You can call me that."
"So, when can I start working?"
"Tomorrow after learning work today." Yeah, right. I've grasped almost the whole situation here.
"So I can do anything after I become the cashier for half of the day, right?"
"Yeah?"
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