AEOTM Chapter 2
Purple Chime Cafe
Chime~
Ari pushed open the door of the café, mentally preparing herself for the busy Sunday evening.
Soft golden light spilled across the wooden floor, mingling with the hum of conversation and the faint sound of a guitar from the small stage in the corner. The cafe was already starting to fill up — regulars finding their favorite spots, new customers glancing around in appreciation of the pleasant ambience.
'Purple Chime Cafe', Ari's workplace, is a cozy hybrid of a restaurant and music cafe. Despite its name, it served more than just coffee; the menu was stacked with pizzas, burgers, and pasta that drew in the weekend crowd.
A long glass counter separated the kitchen from the dining area, giving customers a clear view of the chefs at work — dough flying, ovens glowing, pans sizzling. Ari worked behind that glass as one of 3 chefs of the Cafe, her little world framed by reflections of the stage and its golden lights.
Ari tied her apron tight and drifted into the routine of every other evening. The kitchen smelled of roasted coffee, butter, and freshly baked pizza — comforting and grounding. Behind the glass separating the serve area from the kitchen, she moved with practiced ease — chopping vegetables and stirring sauces — all while humming to the melodies drifting in from the main room.
A voice spoke from her right.
“Tina ditched us again today!” said Ravi, her co-chef and close friend, kneading dough, his forearms dusted with flour. “The café’s gonna start filling up in about half an hour. Just the two of us tonight. Sigh. Hopefully, the singers don’t turn this into another soap opera soundtrack.”
Ari laughed, sliding a tray into the oven. “If someone starts with ‘Tum Hi Ho’ again, I’m walking out, it’s already the fourth time this week, and the sixteenth time this month, if they start playing the song again.”
“Please don’t,” he said, grinning. “You’re the only one who remembers table numbers.”
She smirked, blowing a stray strand of hair from her face with a slight pout. “Guess we’ll survive, like always.”
Soon enough – “A regular Veg Pizza, Table Three.” Ari and Ravi exchanged a quick glance with resigned smiles before getting back to work. It was going to be a long night for them.
Sizzle~
-TBC-
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