Her Destiny

Three

“Ekta I am getting late, I need to hurry, I’ll see you in the evening.” I blurted out this so fastly, then gave her a tight side hug and got out of our apartment bidding her goodbye.

I can't get late for work. I need to have a good impression on my boss so that he can allow me a week holiday. I know he won't. But still, I will give it a try. I desperately need that break for getting recharged. I work in Home cafe, which is owned and maintained by Mrs Smith. She is an easy-going person who loves her staff members. But currently due to some health complications, her grandson holds her position in the cafe as our boss.

Mr Jackson, who is a pain in the neck of every staff member, he is quite the opposite of Mrs Smith. As per him, the person who takes a few days off, or if someone gets late due to some unavoidable reasons. This pig-headed person instead of considering and understanding their point, he will call them as a lazy person or shout out all his frustrations over them. My job is at the counter to take orders and make bills of our customer. I loved those days when Mrs Smith was there because she used to encourage me and help me whenever I made a mistake. Now, things are pretty different because of our new boss.

“Hey Navya, as always on time, huh.” Rose greeted me hugging tightly. I love her because of her only I can survive this ruthless boss of ours. She is the most beautiful girl in our whole staff members. Many of the boys have a secret crush on her. She is Scottish with pale skin, long straight jet black hair which reaches up to her waist, ocean blue eyes with a tint of green colour. She is one of the examples to define beauty.

“ Yeah, you know right, I need to take a week off. So getting late for work was not the option.” She smiled at me. Then she looked at her wristwatch which she got as a gift from her boyfriend Ash.

“Okay, I think we should get changed to our uniform and start our day before Mr Jackson arrives.” Only she is the one who addresses him with respect.

Then we both got inside our cafe greeting other members and then got changed to our uniforms and went to our assigned place. Rose works as a waitress and sometimes handles the counter in my absences or when I need help.

I started my day like always there is nothing special today, except this news which lucy gave me a few minutes ago, that today our boss will come to the shop after my working hours. My working hours are from eight in the morning up to three in the afternoon every day except Sunday. Everything was usual in the cafe. Daily, we get enough customers who are mainly teenagers, college students, office employees and couples.

Suddenly I heard a loud horn, a big branded car parked in front of our cafe. I don’t have any knowledge to which brand or company it belongs. I never got curious to know about them, because I belong to that rare group of peoples who never were that interested in cars. Then a man wearing an expensive formal dress came out from the front seat of the car and went to open the back seat. A girl of approximately five feet and five inches came out. I am not able to see her clearly because suddenly a group of girls came to the counter placing their orders. I got busy taking their orders. Then that man in the formal dress came towards our cafe and opened the door wide making enough space for the lady to enter. She is wearing a huge hat which covers a maximum of her face. She is wearing a beautiful yellow turtleneck, sleeveless sundress which reaches up to her knees. She made her way towards me. I mean the counter. I already completed taking the orders of the girl group. So now the only customer standing in my counter was this girl wearing this big hat. Which is a bit irritating cause I can't have a clear view of her face and her vibes are making me anxious. As if I have seen this girl before, but I can't recall it now.

“ I’ll take pancake and a bottle of mineral water please.” The lady says.

I have heard this voice before. I am sure about this, but I can’t remember the name of its owner.

“ Sure mam.” I took her order and was making the bill. She spoke slowly removing her hat.

“I didn’t know I will see this day of you addressing me with respect.” Now her face is visible to me. I can never forget this face. Oval shaped face with a pointed nose, pale skin, big hazel brown eyes and dark brownish wavy hair.  This face is also one of the reasons for my sorrows. I can't express how much I loathe this face and can’t forget her. My happiness is sore in her eyes. I know she is still not satisfied with the amount of pain she has given me until now. So here she is to gift me some of her tantrums mainly showing how much superior, lucky and gorgeous she is.

“ What? Are you not going to say anything to your dear friend. Who came herself to meet you in this small cafe.” She spoke, looking around the cafe as if she is standing in some filthy and smelly place.  Dear friend huhhhh, my foot. I can make Mr Jackson one of my dear friends but not her. The moment she entered the cafe. I got the feeling that something is not right about her. I hate everything about her. I think it's better not to reply. I finished making her bill and handed it to her.

“ Thank you so much, Navya. Why don’t you sit with me? We have many things to catch up. It's been a long time we meet each other.” She says taking a few steps back from where she stood initially, through her hands showing me the direction towards her car.

“No thanks, I am busy.” I cut off her offer directly, not trying to sound good to her. Cause I don’t give a s**t how she feels. I came out of the counter and made my way towards the kitchen area. When a person blocked my way, I think he is her bodyguard or personal secretary.

“ Madam, I don’t think you would like to create a scene here, in your working place.” He said which sounded more like a threat. I was about to reply when my phone rang and there was a call from Ekta. I ignored it.

 “ Navya, he is right. Now come out. We need to talk.” After saying she went outside. I didn’t show any movement which I guess annoyed her bodyguard. Right now, he is giving me a threatening look. Like he will strangle me right now if I didn’t move.

I can't handle her and this person anymore. So better put it to end soon. I marched outside the cafe.

“ What do you want to talk about, Richa.” I asked her crossing my arms.

“See this.” She says showing me a beautiful ring which she is wearing in her ring finger of her left hand. Okay, I got this. What she is trying to show me now.

“Isn't it beautiful Navya. You know I love this.” She says, admiring her ring.

“I..” I got interrupted because of another incoming call on my phone. This time it was Kartik. What are these guys up to, why are they calling continuously in this time?

“Navya.” Richa called me out because she was not getting the attention which acts as oxygen for her.

“ Oh, congratulations Richa for getting engaged, Now I need to leave. My friends are calling me. I think there is something urgent.” I say taking a few steps back and was about to leave.

“ I hope Navya you will forget about Siddhartha and move on in your life.” She said with an arrogant smirk plastered in her face.

I didn’t say anything.

She took something from her car, which looked like some big card and came towards me. She handed that card in my hand.

“ Here, this is my wedding card. I hope you will attend it.” I stared at her wedding card in which beautifully the name of bride and groom were written.

“I don’t have time, so I don’t think I would be able to attend.” I say to her in the same way in which she was talking to me. She didn’t reply. So I started to leave.

“You better stay away from my brother Navya because you don’t deserve Siddhartha.” She shouted at me.

“ Well, I will think about it.” I said this very cheerfully wearing a bright smile in my face. Then dashed inside the cafe cause I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of hurting me.