Chapter 2 : It just doesn't feel right.

I stood behind the grumpy pastry chef, cradling yet another box, this time a black one with golden calligraphy on it, filled with an assortment of different flavoured macaroons and finely decorated sugar cookies, waiting for him to finish his latest experiment for his next great masterpiece.

"What do you want?" he grunted. I smiled at his ever present grumpiness. He can act grouchy all he wants, but I know for a fact that there was a big softie somewhere in there.

"So Chef, thank you for the experience. It was a wonderful week! I'm heading out now." I said to his back. He put down the bowl and the whisker, and turned around to face me, "very well then, goodbye. I wouldn't say wonderful, but you weren't as bad as I thought you would be," he said giving me a nod, and I could even detect a teeny tiny smile on his lips.

Understanding that it was the best I was going to get, I gave him one last smile and headed for the door. Once at the door, I turned around to find him already back at work, "Chef, if you are ever understaffed, feel free to give me a call," I felt the need to add. It would be good to work here from time to time. It was fun to decorate the cakes and I also got to learn so much from the dessert mastermind.

His only response was a nonchalant, "yeah, yeah, now run along and let me work in peace," and that is exactly what I did, left the fancy bakery, a satisfied woman, ready to enjoy the weekend in the good company of her friends after a productive and exciting week of work.

~~~×~~~

I entered through the doors of 'PIZZAzz', this friday's chosen location for hangout. Though the pizzas were great here, I have a hunch that this place was chosen by my idiotic male friends, not for its amazing Italian bread, but for the new bar attached to the establishment. It was going to be  a long night.

I immediately spotted my rowdy group of friends by their booming voices and carefree laughter, and headed their way. As soon as they saw me approach, I received five different types of greetings and settled down in between Shradda and Deepak.

"So, what troubles have you been up to this week?" Deepak asked with amusement in his eyes. "Oh please! She just tries new things, but she is no troublemaker, in fact, she is more of the 'cleaning up the mess' type," my best friend, Gautam argued with an exaggerated expression of exasperation. Always with the theatrics.

"Well, what can I say, I like things to go in order, that way, you have room to try all the other amazing things in the world!" I countered back.

"How you do so many things is beyond me, I can barely keep up with my boring bank job and weekend bursts of rebellion," Shradda complained, already with a wine glass in hand.

"If you keep drinking that, you'll definitely not survive the next phase of rebellion, the hangover," Trisha, always on the lookout for her best friend, tried to reason with her.

"Chill Trish, let her be, in fact, we should all join her," was Deepak, ever the wildest ones, brilliant idea.
Beside him, Rajiv groaned, "You are a terrible influence on my innocent friends! Why did I let you tag along again?" he questioned his rowdy neighbour, and the banter continued on among the table.

So, let me introduce to you, my diverse group of friends here. Firstly there are Gautam and Trisha, my oldest friends. We have known each other since our primary school days, though I was always kind of the third wheel to the lovely couple. Gautam was an Indian television drama actor, he was currently on the cast of one of the most popular dramas, as the male protagonist's brother, where as, his fiancee and live-in partner, Trisha was an assistant director on another soap drama.

Then there is their neighbour, Shradda, the newest addition to our odd group, a successful good girl from a conservative south Indian family on weekdays and a party animal on the weekends. If her parents found out she drinks, she'd be disowned the next instant, and so her double life is a secret we get the privilege to keep.

Then there was Rajiv, my dear friend from culinary school I attended after my graduation with fashion design degree. He owns his own restaurant. Though it's a little new, it has no problem filling up each day. I sometimes assist him when he is understaffed and I have no other engagements. And lastly there is Deepak, Rajiv's next door neighbour. He is a successful celebrity manager and is often busy or travelling. He joins our weekly reunion occasionally, and is definitely the wildest one among us.

"So guys," I start, drawing the group's attention back to me, "this last week I've been working at David's," I say. Though I have spoken to most of them during the week, I decided to keep this bit of information to myself, so as to surprise them now, and their reactions were as good as I anticipated.

"Wait, what? You mean at the fancy 'David's Dessert Delicacies'?" Trisha asked in disbelief, where as, "What did you do? Man the counter and took down orders? Isn't that a step down for a design school graduate chef?" Deepak jabbed chuckling, while the others just waited wide eyed for me to continue.

"No you idiot, I was decorating cakes and few occasional cupcakes and cookies. I went to the 'all things dessert' workshop in Paris few years back, remember?" I explained, proud at the amazed looks I was getting. Everytime I see the look on people's faces when I achieve one more thing, it fills me with so much energy each time.

"But how?" Gautam questioned. And so, the next hour is spent in me explaining how I got the job and all the different things I did at the job, all the while teasing and talking and eating and just enjoying each other's company.

Just as we wiped of the last bits of pizza and fries remaining at the table, I announced, "So gang, though David was all tough and grouchy about not taking the desserts just because I worked there, he seemed to have liked me a little, so as I was leaving, he told me to take anything I wanted," I took out the black box and placed it on the table, and the excited eyes of my friends immediately fell on it, "so, desserts on me today!" I announced with a laugh as they immediately pounced on the macaroons and cookies even before I finished my sentence.

An hour later, at nearly midnight, with satisfied stomachs and the guys and Shradda a little tipsy we left the place. I called a cab for Rajiv and Deepak, who kept insisting on being sober enough to drive. Though I didn't let them, and waited to ride with them as our homes fell in the same route.

Trisha, also the sober one, like myself, drove Gautam and Shradda home in Gautam's car. Trisha and I are the only two people in our group who don't drink. Why get buzzed in booze when I can enjoy as much, if not more, sober?

As we waited for the cab to arrive, we stood beside my scooty outside the Pizza place. Rajiv, who seemed to be frantically typing on his phone, lifts his head and looks directly at me, "Dia, do you have plans next weekend? Madan is going to his in-laws for the weekend with his family. Will you be able to cover friday evening, and full days on saturday and sunday?" he asked, giving me a hopeful look.

I mentally check my schedule, well the art camp ends at 6 in the evening on friday, which I can alter and cut some time, then I'll be free till monday. I do have Ms. Rahane's dress to finish, though. I can probably do that before then. Plus, we aren't hanging out next weekend since Gautam and Trisha are both going to be working. Guess I'm free then. "Guess it's your lucky day Rajiv, I'm free, but I can only come after 5:30 on Friday," I answer him. His face immediately brightens, "thanks Dia, you are the best!" he happily exclaims and immediately goes back to typing away on his phone.

While Rajiv got busy handling his business again, Deepak inched a little closer to me, and I immediately tensed, already knowing what was coming.

"So, changed your mind yet?" he asked, giving me a small smile. "You know my answer Deepak. I really don't think that we'd work, I just don't see you that way," I said softly, I hate to reject him so many times, but the guy is persistent. He is a good guy, despite him rowdiness and flirtatious behavior, but he just doesn't feel right for me.

"Why don't we give it at least a try?" he tried again. I immediately shake my head, "no, it'll just be awkward when it ends between our friends," I argued. "How are you so sure that it'll end?" he asked, crossing his arms across his chest. I let out a sigh, I guess it's best if I just tell him firmly once, instead of softly rejecting him again and again, "listen Deepak, I'm really flattered that you are interested in me, but I'm really sorry, I don't think I can ever see you that way. It just doesn't feel right, you know? And I don't think it ever will," I finished, all the while holding eye contact.

He let out a defeated sigh, "you're never gonna change your mind, are you?" he asked with a sad smile, already knowing the answer. I return my own sad smile, "I'm afraid not," I answer.

Luckily, the cab arrives at the exact moment and I'm saved from any further awkwardness. I hug both of them, with an extra little whispered "I'm sorry" to Deepak, and tell my goodnight and farewell, before getting on my own scooty and ride alongside them towards my own home.

Well, that was a fun night!