"Is this how you slice a cucumber, does it all look same to you?"
Ian looked down at the sliced arrangement in front of him, and it looked okay to him. But, now after numerous failed attempts to land a job he knows the drill.
He is not ready to hear another no, he turned around, untied his apron and placed it on the counter before walking out, and he didn't forget to take his resume from the reception.
Everything is just so tiring.
When he graduated from his school as top of his class some childish part of him expected multiple head chefs position lining up for him to choose from.
But culinary is not a profession that is so accepting of new arrivals or outsiders. He saw his batch mates getting placed through family ties or opening their own shops, while he was stuck applying and getting rejected over and over again.
At this point he has stopped applying for head Chef position or sous Chef, but apparently he is not good enough to even stand in a kitchen according to industrial standards.
Maybe he should start a shop himself, but he don't have that much capital. So, maybe a cart.
He walked slowly to his house, shoulders slouching and steps dragging as if he was trying to delay going back to the dreadfully empty place.
But delaying doesn't mean that he could avoid it for ever. He searched his pockets pulling out the keys unlocking the door and walked in.
He pulled out a packet of instant noodles and added an egg to make it as healthy as he can. He could feel his passion for food and cooking both dying as the days pass by. He placed the pot on the only table in this cramped apartment and sat down to finally eat something after going whole day on iced coffee.
*ding-ding*
Ian looked up at the wall clock that shows 9:45 pm, who could it be, at this time? He placed his cutlery down going up to the peep hole to check and couldn't see anyone.
He tentatively opened the door looking left and then right but didn't see anyone and then as he was going to close the door back again his eyes finally landed on a neatly placed courier packet on the floor.
To,
Ian Miller
Subject: Offer of Employment – Head Chef Position
Dear Ian,
Congratulations!
We are pleased to extend to you an offer to join our team as the Head Chef at our diner. After reviewing your resume and qualifications, we found your experience and culinary vision to be an excellent match with the values and goals of our establishment.
As part of your employment, we are happy to provide accommodation, and your salary is open for discussion based on mutual agreement.
Our location is:
XX Street, Shop No. 00
We look forward to the creativity and leadership you will bring to our kitchen. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule a time to discuss the terms further.
Warm Regards
Dimensional Diner
_______
Did he ever applied in any diner with a name like that? But then, he did upload his resume in various online sites. Then again does any shop have 00 as their shop number.
He came back to his seat, now the overcooked soggy instant noodles suddenly taste way better than it did a little earlier. He has a job not as a kitchen staff or even a sous Chef. He finally has a job as a head chef.
He quickly gulped down the remaining noodles, and then picked his phone searching for Dimensional Diner, but what came to his phone was blank.
No mention, No reviews, No images as if this place doesn't even exist. Is this some kind of prank?
He picked up the courier packet again and took out the apron and uniform sent with the letter.
In bold words Dimensional Diner written on it with his name sewn in delicate calligraphy on his pocket. This looks expensive.
No one was interested in him enough to spend so much money to prank him. Well, whatever it's not like he will be loosing anything, maybe it is an expensive place so rich people don't write reviews or maybe it's a small hole in the wall restaurant. Who knows?
__________
The night passed way too quickly, the next day Ian woke up even before sun has fully risen and started preparing for his joining.
He reached the given street after changing two bus and then taking a cab, it's good thing that they provide accommodation otherwise he would burn most of his salary in commutation.
Shop no 15
.
Shop no 14
.
Shop no 13
.
.
.
Shop no 02
.
Shop no 01
.
.
There is no Shop no 00, is this really a prank. It was so early in the morning that there weren't much people on the street whome he could ask.
maybe it's in an alley?
He don't even know where that thought came in his mind? But the possibility form a pit in his stomach and he felt like if he don't go and check for himself, he will actually go crazy.
Let's just check! If it's not there, what is there to loose.
He walked slowly inside the sketchy looking alley, and maybe three steps in he came face to face with big ancient looking wooden door, with DIMENSIONAL DINER written in bold letters on it.
He felt his heart beating so loud, it feels that it might just jump out of his chest. He will work hard.
It's still so early, he might be the first person to arrive and probably have to wait for the diner to open.
He infact didn't have to wait, as before he can process the door flew open and the view that greeted him was a bustling diner, fully packed with customers.
He looked down at his watch, so many people... this early?
But as he looked down, his watch was stuck on 7:30am, a time before he entered the alley.
Maybe it needs cells replaced....
.
.
Or Maybe not.....