EGGHEAD AND NOODLES (Part-01)
With his current salary the pair moved into an old stinky apartment with a night-owl party hack on their upper floor and a noise-sensitive lonely grandmother next door. Elevator was always broken. Only good thing in this tragedy was their nurturing love for each other. Which compensated suitably for the cable being out after 07:00 A.M. even after 4 years into marriage. In the spring of next year they heavens send them a gift of roly-poly angelic child wrapped-up in soft baby skin weighing XXL.
Both parents were overjoyed with the arrival of a new guest, in their apartment next door because the noise sensitive grandmother had passed away a few months ago and another couple was now renting the place and also their healthy cute angel boy. Both agreed that the boy is very lucky for them because Mr. Teaam Kulcha finally got the promotion he was waiting for at work. Now a proud father and a regional manager of the fancy international restaurant “Double Deep Fried” he could not be merrier.
The 13th birthday of Asher Kulcha was celebrated grandly at his well-furnished and gorgeous home, where the small family had moved 6 years ago and this place does not stink with the exception of his own room. All the kids from schools and next door were invited to watch Asher make a wish, cut and eat his cake, so they can salvage the scraps later. Asher maybe a chubby kid but he was popular enough in school, had many friends and more importantly maintained top grades as his mother Mrs. Neeli Kulcha never forgets to boast about at her tea parties and social gatherings. He was a well-adjusted tyke overall, not to mention also the most VISIBLY happy one in all group photos.
Being an only child never really bothered Asher or his parents even though finding the time, energy and money to maintain a happy family of three in this day and age without being criticized by society is mission impossible. All those juvenile memories seems like a distant fantasy tale today as Asher reflects over a steaming cup of coffee fitted into his office chair, how he crossed the thresholds of infancy, teenage and adolescence without ever getting stuck luckily. Now walking in the shoes of an extraordinary young man of 32 with a customary college degree and deputy QC manager position at HQ of “Double Deep Fried” at his father’s recommendation.
Life at DDF was fulfilling, they had reached the end of another profiting fiscal year and were about to have performance appraisals ceremony. A formal meet-and-greet for a chance to rub shoulders with and shine the boots of company’s heavy hitters. Asher was looking forward to bag the chance because his family had great expectations from his career. He made a good impression rather fluently with his good humor, sharp personality and networking skills, always knowing when to laugh outwards and when to grin inwardly only. Finally at the end of event he was invited to pose in the picture with the upper crust of management which was a great indicator for early promotion and balding. Until he nudged the relatively frail president aside for wanting to fit into the frame.
Thankfully no one was knocked off of the stage. However a great disruption was caused by all managers assembling to inquire after the well-being of the president, as they struggled to make sure that they express their grave concerns personally. In the end a picture was taken with Asher blushing desperately and looking like an inflated balloon trying to inhale his extended stomach inwards. Thus far his plush exposition had been connected to the zenith of dietary richness at DDF in general. However now that the iron throne of the QC manager was in question, office politics ran deep and no degree of shallowness was deemed below the belt. The haters were grateful enough to jump at the scraps like a pack of starved vermins and rewind the incident on repeat.
Of course there was now a gentleman with an alleged bloody injury, someone heroically having sprained his armbands whilst trying to save the president and senior managers from crashing down, another courageous entry with providing timely instructions to everyone during the moment of distress. In short, with the rise of every new hero the status of the alleged villain who set out to knock-off good, decent company laws upholding employees off the stage crimsoned darker and darker. These types of allergic breakouts are normal in office routine but Asher had always been secretly conscious of his weight and was unable to cover-up his blushes and flushes. He could not face his own round belly and yet felt it getting rounder in front of everyone else.
This was the potential month which he had planned with crispiest wardrobe choices and resolve to develop a respect for office admins by following the entry roaster to a Tee for the time being. Despite all his good natured intentions, he found himself chewed out. Once he started to feel panicked, he let good luck slip out of his hands. All this anxiety and panic led him in the opposite direction and en route to faster obesity by way of eating his troubles. Within a week after the meet and greet Asher’s office altered into a meat and grease perfumery with more chicken bones lodged in corners than missing ball-pens and a place where reminiscences of every item from the menu of DDF’s excessive nutritional array can be found in butchered state. This only added to his misery, weight and inches. So much so that the promise of the prospect promotion seemed like an added burden rather than a chance to celebrate.
(To be continued….)
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