Flavors of the Heart

Chapter 2: The Encounter

Chapter 2: The Encounter

Years passed, and Ashi's journey led her to Chandigarh, a bustling city far from the peaceful hills of her childhood. Here, she joined a company, her culinary skills now honed and her confidence renewed. Among her new colleagues were Rafta Densi, the easy-going slacker; Oki Habi, the diligent worker; and Haari Kichiro, a approachable student from Chandigarh University.

"I'm exhausted... why does our company have so much work at the start of the year?" Haari said. He was sitting heavily on a wooden table in the hallway closest to the large glass window. He had his elbows propped up and was rubbing his eyes with his right hand, facing towards the window, which cast a long shadow across the floor. Around him were a few scattered documents and an empty coffee cup.

"Hey, here. Have some drink." Rafta said, coming from the vending machine situated in the corner of the hallway. Rafta was holding a bottle and extended it towards Haari. He was casually leaning against the vending machine, his relaxed posture contrasting with Haari's exhaustion.

"Thanks, I'll pay you back later." Haari said, grabbing the bottle with his left hand and starting to open it.

"Don't stress over it. Work is endless; you finish one task, and another will be ready for you ahead. Just chill and enjoy your life." Rafta said, glancing out the window. He turned his body slightly to the right as he spoke, facing the window with a laid-back smile.

"You always say that, and that's why you haven't gotten promoted yet." Haari responded, his face showing a mix of amusement and slight annoyance.

Rafta, still facing the window, responded with a chuckle, "Standing on the second-top floor of the building really puts things into perspective, doesn't it?"

"How so?" Haari asked, now facing Rafta, curiosity evident in his expression.
"Looking down from here, it feels like the entire world is working under my feet." Rafta said, his gaze fixed on the city below.

"And I guarantee those feet aren't yours," Oki said, approaching the pair. Oki was walking briskly down the hallway, her expression serious and slightly irritated.

Rafta turned sharply towards Oki, a smile smugling on his lips. "Don't forget, you're the one working under someone else's feet. And if you keep up that imagination of yours, those feet might just kick your butt out of the building."

Haari chuckled at Rafta's comment, his face lighting up with a grin. "Oki, Habi, she's the most intelligent and disciplined worker in our group."

"We still have a lot of work to do, so stop whining and get back to it," Oki said sternly. Oki's hands were on her hips, and she was facing both Rafta and Haari with a no-nonsense expression.

"Alright, alright, stop it. Are you trying to make my ears bleed? I came to give him some manly advice to haari." Rafta said, his tone light but with a hint of irritation.

"What kind of advice can a lazy person give?" Oki said, her arms crossed and her face displaying a frown.

"You wanna know? It's would be something you can't handle. It's only for men," Rafta said, his tone more serious now, though his eyes still twinkled with mischief

Oki threw a punch toward Rafta, who deftly dodged it with a quick sidestep, laughing. Rafta's movement was smooth and carefree, and he looked over his shoulder with a playful grin.
"What a bummer," Rafta said, laughing energetically. cough. "Enough chit chat, now let's get back to the work."

"I won't let you go that easily, Rafta," Oki said, her tone firm as she handed over a bundle of files.

"I want you to arrange these files alphabetically in the system," Oki instructed.