Love In The Time Of Pandemic

Chapter 15

I knew that most people thought of me as a pompous old buffoon, who loved food, and was a little demanding in that area. But I refused to compromise on that regard.

That's why when fools like this came to me and complained about my food, I got this uncontrollable desire to punch them in the face. I had been lucky enough in my life to experience everything that I wanted to experience. I was old enough now that I had nothing to worry about. Even if I died now, I would die without any regrets.

It was rare for a fool like me to reach the age of 50, healthy and well. That's why I took each day as it came. I imagined that this life had been given to me as a gift, and I was going to utilize it to the max, until I died. I didn't know how long I had, but I was sure I didn't have that much time left. Even though the pandemic didn't get me, I was sure one of these days, a foolish altercation with a food Nazi would get me.

As I stood there, ready to throw a punch at the man in front of me, I wondered if this was it. If this was my last day on the planet.

Thankfully, Red came charging in, looking very much like the fiery Goddess that she was, and grabbed him by the arms, before he could plunge that sharp knife into my belly.

My heart was pounding, but I wasn't afraid. It was the adrenaline rushing through my veins. I picked up the cup of mint tea that I had always by my side, and gulped it all down.

A few deep belly breaths and I was back to my calm self.

"What in God's name is going on here?" Red said, as she cuffed the man with the knife.

"You are asking the wrong person, Red. If I knew, would I not have raised hell? I was just standing there, minding my own business, cooking up the batch of hot sauce that I am going to use for today's lunch, which is going to be hot fried okra with... well, that's beside the point. Either way, I was standing there and ready to sauté the okra, to get rid of its sliminess, when this man comes into the tent and starts demanding to see the terrible chef. He said the breakfast was inedible, and I should be fired."

I was in horror that a person could even say such a thing to me. My food was never inedible. I should know, I have eaten it for the last forty-odd years. And I have been serving it to people for the past twenty-odd years. If there was anything inedible about my food, then why did I get raving reviews about it every single day. I had so much more to say to this rude asshole, but Red was taking over the questioning now and telling me with her body language to get out of the tent and grab help.

Ugh. I hated being involved in such drama. All I really cared about was food. Cooking it and serving it. If I could just do this for the rest of my life, I would be happy. But living in such a chaotic time means that I don't even get to spend all of my time doing just that.

I rushed over to the office, and saw Yash standing there, with Irfan.

"Red just apprehended someone and is calling for backup." I said, in between huffs and puffs. I was really out of shape, I realized, but I knew I wasn't going to do anything about that. Life was too short to spend it in the gym. I wanted to spend the few days that I had left on this planet, cooking, eating, and feeding other people.

"What?" Yash said, even as he started running out of there, with Irfan in tow.

They reached the kitchen area, and saw Red struggling with the idiot, the knife far away from both of them. Even though Red was a warrior, she was still half the size of this man who had attacked me. I really wanted a chance to question him properly, but I didn't want to get in the way of their more important investigation.

I hung back and watched Yash and Irfan grab the man from Red.

She was breathing hard, and her beautiful red hair was all over the place, but she looked triumphant.