LIFE.... AS IT COMES (CHAPTER 13)

Sheila was in a good mood. She had a good feeling that this interview went pretty well. She was pretty impressed with the kitchen. When she had initially got down from the auto in front of the restaurant it looked impressive. But as a cook she knew that kitchen was the main criterion.

Her mouth had dropped open when she entered the kitchen. It was a cook’s paradise. It housed everything one could hope or even dream for in a kitchen. The manager, who was conducting the interview, was pretty cute, she noticed.

“So, Miss Sheila Kapur, could you for starters make a salad? The ingredients, whatever you require are kept on the right hand side.” He had said.

Hmmm, cute enough. And very impressive, she thought. But lacks the charm of Ryan. Oh god, she thought to herself, focus Sheila focus. She prepared a salad and served it. The manager liked it. But as a final test she was just given capsicum and asked to prepare an appetizer with that as the main ingredient.

She had prepared that stuffed capsicum for Ryan on the day he had had a bad day at work. It had worked wonders for his mood. She didn’t win his heart, though, but hoped that this dish this time would win her this job!

She was told that she would be informed in two days. The day had started out pretty well. So she thought she would start out by thanking Danny for giving her this offer. And maybe on the way she would find some clue of the mystery that had surrounded them yesterday.

She asked for directions to Danny’s office and the peon at the desk said that his office was housed in the interior of the building so that he wasn’t disturbed frequently by visitors.

Finding it difficult to conceal her surprise, Sheila walked over to the door that opened into the interior of the building. A guard was at the gate.

“Excuse me. I want to meet Mr. Dinesh.”

“Yes. Yes. Do you want to do?”

Sheila stood rooted to the spot.

“What?”

“Do you want do? Right here? Then I can let you enter!” explained the guard.

Sheila was a loss at what to say.

“Do you want to do here? Call him. Here. Right now. Then I can buzz you in.” he said.

“Oh yeah right! Hmmmm, no I want to surprise him. Am Sheila Kapur.” She shook her head, mortified at her previous thoughts before.

“Oh! Sheila Kapur. Yes. He told to buzz you in. But he wasn’t expecting you this early.” Mused the guard.

“It’s ok. Am his friend. You can buzz me in.” Sheila said with a smile.

Once inside she walked over to the wing that housed the offices of the honchos of the restaurant. Before coming over Ryan and Kunal had repeatedly told her to keep her eyes and ears open. Calling them right now and telling them how far she had reached might provide some help. She took out her cell phone.

Darn, she thought, no signal. Well, she had to use her own brains and go ahead to snoop and find out more about the guy who was fishy and with whom her best friend was in love.

As per the direction given by the guard outside, she reached Danny’s cabin. Instead of his real name, it was written ‘DANNY’ in gold and black.

Taking a deep breath she reached out her hand to open the door.

Surprisingly the door was not locked but was left ajar. Surprised she entered the room, a bit apprehensive. What she saw in the room remained in her mind, etched in her mind forever.

Danny was laid out in the couch on his back and some girl in a torn shattered gown was completely over him.

Danny was moaning out to the girl, urging her to indulge in all that she was doing earlier. And she did not seem like she was lacking any enthusiasm.

At first she thought it was Tam and was averting her eyes to go out. But then she heard something, which not only changed her mind but also her direction.

“Oh Julia! You are too good!”

Julia? That did not at all sound like Tam!

“Danny?”

Sheila could not stop herself.

Danny sat up in a hurry pushing that Julia, or whatever aside.

“Sheila! You? What are you doing here? Now?” he asked flustered adjusting his pants.

“Being a live witness to how you are fucking up my friends life!” Sheila spat out.