Cooking has been Alisha’s first love since she has remembered. It started with joining the cooking without fire club at school at the age of 10. And it's been 15 years since then and she had two diplomas, one of baking class and another of culinary class, on her name.

Alisha is a professional chef and was working as a chef in one of the famous restaurants of the state. Until two months back.

The restaurant decided to lay off a few employees because it wasn't able to earn enough profits to retain all of them. Unfortunately, Alisha happened to be one of those.

She didn't understand why people have reduced going to restaurants. Why were they becoming such fitness freaks? Did birthdays and anniversaries not excite them anymore? Truthfully, after COVID, people have started to make even the most time consuming and difficult dishes at home.

But she had to do something. She had to find some work. It's been two months already and she is still unemployed. She couldn't survive on her savings much longer. Plus, her parents had started to get worried.

Her finger hovered over the button. She was going to do something she never wanted to. But times were desperate. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the key and looked at the ad being posted.

She'd done it. Posted an online ad for a personal professional chef. She never wanted to be a personal chef for anyone. That came with a lot of risks. Risks of getting molested or raped became higher. But these risks were present even in prestigious workplaces. Moreover, she had no other option.

It was almost 10 days after the ad was posted that Alisha received a call from an unknown number. She was usually the person that never attended unknown calls. But something in her told her to pick this one. What she didn't know was how this call was going to change her entire life.

“Hello?”

She answered the call and heard a sweet, feminine voice from the other end.

“Hello. Am I speaking to Miss Alisha Ahuja?”

“Yes. How may I help you?”

“Good morning Miss Ahuja. I am Kavita Malhotra. I saw your ad for the personal professional chef. Are you comfortable to talk right now? I would like to discuss about it.”

Alisha made sure she was hearing right and quickly answered.

“Yes! Yes I am free. I mean I am comfortable to talk right now.”

“Great! So I would first confirm from you if you really are willing to work as a personal chef. To my son?”

Alisha pondered for a moment and then realised she didn't have much choice.

“Yes mam. I am fine with it.”

“Perfect. Will it be ok if we meet somewhere to discuss the specifics?”

“Sure. Wherever you're comfortable.”

“Does tomorrow at lunch sound good?”

Alisha was free the next day.

“Sure.”

“Great! I'll text you the address. See you tomorrow Ms. Ahuja.”

Alisha disconnected the call and sighed. Wow! She was really going to do it.

Alisha was already waiting at the scheduled spot the next day. She saw a woman who seemed like she was in her 60s arrive.

“Ms. Ahuja?”

Alisha got up and smiled at the woman. She was classy and elegant. She had a warm aura around her. Alisha liked her.

“Mrs. Malhotra!”

Alisha greeted and the two women sat down. They gave their orders and then got down to business.

“Before we discuss any further, I think I should inform you that you'll be my son's chef if you agree go this. Will it be ok with you to be alone with him in his apartment? Will you be comfortable?”

When Alisha hesitated at the information, the woman continued.

“You don't have to worry about him invading your privacy or any of that stuff. He rarely comes out of his room. He works in his room most of the time.”

“That's fine mam. I have no problems. If you don’t mind me asking though, how old is your son?”

“He’s 29.”

The woman replied and Alisha nodded. Ok. She didn't understand why she was hiring her. A professional chef and not a normal cook.

The question might have become visible on her face because the woman asked.

“You have a question. Ask away!”

“Umm-I don't understand why you're hiring a professional chef. I obviously am going to demand a higher salary than a normal cook. So why not a normal cook?”

The woman smiled sadly and said.

“My son has a rare condition. It's called dermographism. He is allergic to human touch. And he has other allergies as a consequence. So I can't have a normal cook around him. I need someone who is skilled enough to prepare meals which are nutritious as well as mindful of his allergies.”

She's heard about this condition but she could never imagine someone actually having it. What would life be for them? Not being able to touch anyone. No friends, no love relationships, no hugs and cuddles from parents.

“I understand mam. But I'll need more information about his allergic reactions to prepare a meal chart.”

“I’ll send it to you right away. Isme uski allergies and what foods not to used, sabki details hai.”

Alisha thanked the woman. She smiled and continued.

“Let’s discuss about your salary now. My initial quote is Rs. 1,00,000 per month + travel expenses and any other expenses you incur during the course of your employment. Is that fine?”

Alisha was stumped. 1 lakh? That was way more than what she earned in thar restaurant.

“Yes! Yes mam, that’s alright.”

“Perfect! When can I expect you to join?”

“Whenever you want me to mam. I am available on all days.”

“Great! So let’s start from tomorrow. I’ll see you at my son’s place only. I’ll text you the address. Thank you so much Ms. Ahuja. Have a great day!”

Alisha came back home and slumped on the couch. She couldn’t believe it. 1 freaking lakh! That would leave plenty of savings even after she spent lavishly according to her.
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