Revenge-I

Hans worked as a Chef at Vanilla End. His abrupt departure was unknown. One day, his assistant angrily taunted him, “Hans, your dog is really very nasty. Last night, he ate my Woodland shoe after the party at your house. You know, I am going to kill your Kutta one day.” Hans laughed and replied, “Kabi, you are just a moron, pets are like humans, they have their instinct like us. You must have harmed him so he avenged it. I pity the man who kept your name Kabi, so ironic. ” His face became reddish. As he tried to raise his hand to push him, a waiter whispered, “Hans Sir, the corner table lady is angry. How much time will it take?” Kabi replied, “These stylish ladies love to be in five-star restaurants, only to pass time. She sat talking over the phone for an hour without ordering, but once she had ordered, she would become impatient as if she hadn't eaten for months. Now, tell her, it will take another 20 minutes to prepare steamed paneer bhatta.” The waiter left the kitchen in a hurry. Kabi smilingly said, “Hans, you know, we are good friends because of our dislike for each other.” Hans wasn’t interested in his observation and continued swinging the pan to prepare the order.

His absence from the Vanilla End on the next day took the manager by surprise. Unexpectedly, he quit without any prior information. His resignation had only one sentence. ‘If the kurta-wearing lady stops coming to the Vanilla End, I will join back.’ The manager found the reason absurd. After a little inquiry, he found that the lady was the daughter of the city's mayor. She used to come alone at 9 pm every day and spent two hours there. He had no guts to stop her. 

It was a busy Sunday. Kabi dialled Hans many times after discovering the news but his phone was switched off. He wanted to meet him in the evening. The restaurant was crowded with people. Asking for an early departure was futile. So, he left under the pretext of meeting a friend. In the absence of the two main chefs, the manager had a tough time. Finally, he reported it to the owner. Harry, the owner, sent his men to trace the two chefs but it was of no use. A few visitors even quarrelled with the manager over the delay of food service and got their money refunded. In a way, it was the end of the Sunday business. The infuriated owner decided to teach both the chefs a lesson.

The owner himself visited the residence of Hans. He found only the dog lying on the floor. The door was open. Hans wasn’t there. The dog, sniffing something uneasy at the arrival of a stranger, barked at him and caught his jeans and tore them. In anger, he kicked it and asked his driver to kill it. The driver came with a heavy iron rod and hit it on the animal’s head. It died on the spot spilling blood all over the floor. 

Hans had been out of the city since last night. His ailing mother wanted to see him. He went to meet his mother but she was not there. She had gone to her friend’s house to attend a wedding party. Her illness and party weren’t unusual. Hans had no patience to wait until his mother’s return. The old house was not cleaned for months. He decided to clean the entire house. A full day’s physical work drained his body. He was not used to such physical work. So, he took a taxi to reach the city. He fell asleep while returning. The night’s light was like dancing with the angels.

The dead dog didn’t anger him. He knew it was the act of Kabi. He had never thought in his dreams that Kabi would mean what he said. The foul stench of blood took him to his childhood days. The injury mark of a dog bite on his left leg was still prominent. He opened his pants to check. There was no skin there. He shivered at the thought of seven injections after the bite. First, he thought about cleaning the floor but he was tired. He kept the bedroom door open and slept. He saw no dreams that day. The sleep was unbroken. He even forgot the night’s episode. While washing his face in the late morning, the reflection of the dead dog in the mirror nauseated him. He thought of calling a sweeper but gave up the idea. The dog lived with him for five years. So, he felt he owed some responsibility. The entire task took six hours. He dug a big pit in his backyard and buried it. He thought of placing a stone on the burial site but the shapes of the stones didn’t appeal to him. After an hour, he felt hungry. He ordered Idlis with Zomato. The smell of hot Idli brought some freshness to the afternoon. The foul stench smell was gone. In the evening, he finished the full cleaning. He was again very hungry. He drove to a roadside hotel and ate rice and mutton. After a heavy dinner, he lay in the park and gazed at the stars. He was feeling full. The security guards whistled to empty the park. He was the last visitor to empty the park. 

Hans drove slowly to his house. Kabi ‘s car was parked outside. He became very angry and decided to thrash Kabi to punish him. His anger vanished after he found Kabi unconscious on his lawn. He checked his pulse and nose. He appeared drunk but was fine. Then, he kicked him and opened his door. He was feeling dull and sleepy. Then, he slept within a few seconds.

At dawn, he found Kabi sleeping beside him. He pulled the bedsheet and covered him. Utter disbelief dominated his thoughts. How would Kabi be so normal after murdering his dog? He wanted to wake him to ask but disturbing his sleep appeared to be unwise. So, he waited till he woke up. He was feeling very cold, wore a jacket, and walked to a tea stall. The sun was over his head. It was 11. He asked for a cigarette. An old man sipping tea walked a few steps back. The smoke probably nauseated him. There was an annoyance in his face. Hans didn’t pay attention to him. The vendor’s revelation did not surprise him. He knew Harry very well. He could go to any extent for money. Two days’ business turned him into a demon. All Harry wanted was his resumption of work in his restaurant, only for money. He would have thought about it but after his dog’s death, it was unthinkable. So, he decided to join back for revenge. He wasn't sure what he would do but knew he would do something. After all, the dog was very dear to him. He didn’t like his mother's words about revenge, "Revengeful persons are equal to demons." Now, his mother is old. So, he wasn't obliged to follow her words. He stopped obeying her after his graduation. 

Kabi was in the bathroom when he returned. He could not control his urge and banged the door loudly. Kabi replied, “It will take another 10 minutes.” There was another toilet in the house. It was very dirty and unused for almost a year. He kicked its door and emptied his stomach. He even took a bath there. Kabi’s face was swollen. While narrating the night’s episode, he appeared very scared, “Hans, Harry’s men thrashed me badly yesterday. They were searching for you also. Now, what to do?” Hans smiled and replied,” We will join back.” Kabi was amused at his decision, “Then, why did you quit?” He opened the fridge and pulled a water bottle. Finding no reply, Kabi shook his hand and said,” Hans, your silence worries me more than your words. Now, answer me.” Hans repeated,” Kabi yaar, I am joining back, and that's it.” Kabi wasn't in a mood to drag the matter. He sarcastically said,” Where is your Kutta”. Hans couldn't control him. He held his neck, and shouted, “That idiot Harry killed it.” Kabi pushed him in disbelief, “Oh, no! What are you saying Hans? I couldn't believe it. Why did he kill innocent Jack?” His concern was genuine. Hans hugged him and said, “Kabi, I am in no mood to let it go.” He continued, “ Harry will pay for it. Just see, what am I going to do to him?” Kabi wanted to know but remained silent. Instead, he asked, “But, you are joining him.” Both came down and left for the restaurant.

The manager stopped them at the entrance and called Harry. The owner came in a few minutes. He wasn’t angry, and coolly said, “ I know, both of you would return.” Hans wanted to hit him on his face but he knew it was not possible. So, shamelessly he smiled and said, “Harry, who killed my Jack?” Harry asked them to sit and talk but Hans was not ready. Kabi sat with him. Hans repeated his question, “Harry, who killed my Jack?” Harry rose from the sofa and replied loudly, “Hans, your dog ate my pants.” He pulled his jeans and continued, “See the scratches on my leg. I had to get the rabies injection as a few drops of blood came out.” Hans kept quiet. He smiled at his silence, “Hans, I know, you liked the dog very much but it had gone rouge, therefore, I had to kill it.”He was satisfied by his reason, yet killing could have been avoided. Hans wondered how his revengeful thoughts slowly faded, and now he had no such feelings anymore. Harry called the manager and said, “Both of them will continue. Except for Sundays, they may go out without your permission. One thing, both of you must remember, no customer must go unfed, right.” The manager nodded his head in agreement. The offer slightly comforted Kabi but Hans found it disinteresting. 

Hans kept preparing food for the VIP lady daily despite his reluctance. In a few days, he didn’t find her long sitting strange. She was very calm and quiet. She ordered only steamed paneer bhatta every day. Hans found it okay to have one item every day but Kabi developed a dislike for the woman, not for her food, but Hans increasing interest in her. Hans became more sincere when the lady’s order came. His irritation for the lady was no more. Hans wanted to talk to the lady.

On the next day, Hans went to serve the food. She was on the phone. She gestured to him to wrap it in a parcel. Hans immediately called the waiter and asked him to pack it. He stood there. His presence discomforted the lady. She signalled him to go. He turned back and left the place in a hurry. The unpleasant first encounter with her was not unusual for Hans as he was just a stranger to her. Hans always tried to find meaning in his daily life. The evening encounter with the lady was meaningless. Then, why had he wanted to meet her, he didn't know? His phone started ringing. It was his mother calling. She inquired, “Hans, I heard, you visited my house. I wasn’t here, and a big thank you for cleaning my house.” He remained silent. She was expecting an answer, “Hans, I know, you must be thinking, Mummy is calling after one day. In fact, I forgot to call you yesterday. Now, the gardener informed me about your visit, I am calling you.” He answered, “Yes!”. The short reply was his usual way of replying. She was in a hurry, “Hans, I feel sleepy because of medicines. Next time when you visit, give me a call. Bye, bye.” The routine call was ordinary. His mother had a particular way of saying her mind. She had not changed a bit for the last 40 years. Even Hans never wanted his mother to change. He didn’t like change. 

Things dramatically started changing at the Vanilla End. Harry appeared with the lady and her father on the next day. He announced, "Friends, now, this restaurant belongs to Singh Sahib. All of you must be knowing him, he is our Mayor. I have released your salary for this month in advance. I am indebted to you for your support. Let's welcome Singh Sahib and his daughter Manpreet with a big hand." The small, usually silent place, filled with noises of clapping and chattering. Singh Saheb appeared humbler than Harry. He smiled and said, "Friends, I am a very busy man so my daughter Manu will look after this restaurant, and we have decided to change its name to 'Punjabi Tadka'. So, let's welcome my sweetheart Manu." All clapped for a second time. She didn't say anything. All the staff dispersed to their places.

Hans was not surprised at the new development. His purpose of joining back seemed to be meaningless now. Kabi was very happy with the change of the owner. He was the first person to wish Manu on her new venture. All met her at her office except Hans. He went to meet her when she called him. She was very cordial and politer than Harry. Her humility didn’t interest Hans. He was very formal to her. Like an obedient employee, he updated her on the actual status of the kitchen and suggested a few changes to attract more customers. Manu noted all his inputs and assured of immediate actions. 

The new name ‘Punjabi Tadka’ was an instant hit. All Punjabi menus were available. The city dwellers thronged in large numbers. The profit went up in a month. Manu’s hotel management education helped her business to grow faster than expected. She renovated the restaurant with her father’s money. One live DJ was brought to entertain the eaters. Loud music, dancing floor, and foot-tapping songs attracted mostly the youngsters. The atmosphere became eclectic and the place became famous as the most sought-after destination in the city.

The recent achievements were not meaningful for Hans. After he was promoted as Chief Chef of the chain of ‘Punjabi Tadka’ outlets, life became very hectic for him. The fast-growing business brought Hans closer to Manu. His devotion to work won her heart. She wanted to spend more time with him. He could know her intentions but he wasn’t interested in developing any relationship with her. He wanted to be formal with her instead. This angered Manu many times but she could read his thoughts. Everything was fine until one day when Manu brought her dog, Sweety, to the restaurant.