The 7 to 9 Chef/ Chapter 15/Chicken Parcels

Author’s note: 1 month! CAn you believe it? It has been a month since my last Fiction in the Kitchen post. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter. With this chapter I have actually hit half a century. Awesome!! Btw I’m taking this to Fiesta Friday

Chicken Parcels and The Story Of Some Makeovers

I don’t remember sleeping properly for even a minute last night. Every half an hour I was checking my phone for a reply from..you’ll know whom. My phone suddenly beeps as I stuffed another spoonful of cornflakes into my mouth. I immediately drop my spoon into the bowl, splashing milk everywhere and pick up the phone.
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What the hell! I feel like smashing my phone. Just when I am about to, Vicky says, “Chill Cass, don’t get so anxious..give people some time.” My life is practically on the verge of destruction and she is telling me to calm down…seriously?
“I am not anxious..I am just checking my texts,” I say casually as i grip my phone harder.
“Then why were you gonna to break your phone?”
“I am running late for work, I’ll catch you later……”
“Cass..Cas….”
I runaway paying no heed to her.

My sister calls me, as I start the car. I decline and drive off..

I sometimes wonder if my life could get anything better than this. Who else apart from me would have the person she can’t meet eyes with in the same elevator?

He doesn’t seem to care. Has he got over me or something? Come on, not so fast!..But really he doesn’t care. He is texting in a very very very normal way, absolutely ignoring the presence of his girlfriend, yeah ok ex-girlfriend. This guy is freaking me out!!!

He gets out of the lift and walks off. With a heavy heart, I walk towards my cabinet. On seeing me, Ananya comes rushing towards me.

“Cassieeeeee..I know you are heartbroken and stuff but you shouldn’t make it so obvious.” Seriously I am not in the mood for this. Whatever this girl is upto!

“Anan..”

“Cass, I know you’ll were really cute together, but you can’t do this to yourself..” Of course she won’t let me talk.

“I am totally fine Ananya..and for your info we haven’t actually broken up..k?”

“Then why have you lined only one of your eye?”

“Wha..What?” OMG!! No!!!NOOOOOO! Ray would have seen it..He is probably thinking..Errghhh..Why me!!!!!!

I check my texts from Vicky in horror.

Cass you have lined only one eye….Idk y u don’t have even little amounts of patience to hear smone out completely..

My stupid sis..

As I turn to rush to the washroom, I run into Mrs. Harshini. Just the right person I had to meet to make my day better.

“Hello Cassie dear. How are you feeling today and congratulations on your promotion?” She asks me and touches my forehead as I try to cover my eye. Probably Ananya told her I had a fever.

“Yeah my fever has come down and thank you.”

“But Ananya said you had food poisoning.” WHY THE HECK DID SHE TOUCH MY FOREHEAD THEN??

“Yeah and a fever too. the fever was because of the food poisoning.”

“Oh I see..” She gives me a funny glare and whispers to me, “…the whole office knows about the breakup dear..don’t worry child, you’ll be over it..” Telling this, she walks off. She just created another reason for me to kill her. Rumours sure do spread fast. But this isn’t a rumour, is it? I haave to accept realities I guess. But I am not interested. Suddenly I just want to cry, actually wail. I have been wanting to cry since yesterday. Now that I am the official loser of the office, I have all the more reason to cry.
It is almost 12. Ananya shuts down her PC and calls me for lunch. Just then a beautiful girl probably around 24 comes over. She is wearing a peach high wasted formal skirt and a bright orange frilled top tucked in. She has a pretty figure, long hair, manicured nails, etc etc.
“May I please know where can I find Mr. Raymond Matthews..”

Ananya barges in before I could reply, “And may I know why do you want to meet him?”

“I am the new intern. I’ll be assisting him for a while.”

“Straight, then left. First cabin to your right.”

“Thank you. Mia BTW.”

“Ananya and Cassie.” She smiles and walks off.

Ananya collapses on the chair with great shock.

“Poor you Cass. Just now you had a terrible break up and now this..NO! That’s so depressing.”

“What?..I am lost..and for the ten thousandth time we didn’t have a breakup.”

“Then what did you all have?”

“Well..we..we are..we are just on a..a…”,Oh god I can’t think of another word for ‘break’, “….an inyerval..”

“Cassie, Cassie, my poor innocent Cass! Did you just see that girl? She is perfect! And look at you..dark circles cause of crying all night, unlined eye, terrible dressing sense, split end….” She is freaking me out now.

“Ananya, what rubbish are you talking? Is this the way you console your friend or is this some ‘let’s put your confidence down lecture’?”

“But I am telling you the truth. When was the last time you had a haircut?”

“Hmm..2 years i guess.”

“Ewwwww..Are you even human?”

“Bye. I have work.” Seriously I am not in the mood for Ananya’s lectures..

“Cass you should also stop wearing those ugly pastel colour clothes of yours. Come let’s go shopping and then for a haircut.” She will just turn a deaf year to anything I say now.Ergghhhh!

“Sir, When I first heard your name, I thought you were going to be old…But you are just too cool sir!”, says Mia, laughing like an hyena, walking beside Ray.

“I know my name always makes me sound old I guess,” he laughs back.

“Let’s go Ananya.”

“That’s my girl.” She hugs me.

****************************************************************************

6 hours..Yes 6 hours believe me or not. Ananya is crazy. Half of my monthly salary is over. Like half of it. And on top of this my lovely friend has sheduled a second session for my cupboard makeover. Oh how can I forget? I don’t know what nonsense she told the stylist at the salon but seriously I forget it’s me everytime I look at the mirror. It’s been ages since I had a good hairdo. I sometimes wonder how I became this dull Cassie. Back at college, I was this bright, happy Cassie whose cupboard looked like a rainbow. She would have never had this type of cupboard i have right now. I used to change my hairstyle every six months. I remember stealing cash from Mama’s grocery boxes, Vicky’s piggy bank(she was the only one who maintained one, probably she still has one..XD), Dad’s wallet sometimes. I suddenly start giggling like school girl. I don’t even remember the last time I felt like this.

“Cass…is that you?” Vicky walks into my room, surprised.

“OMG is that my Cass?” Is she crying? Please!

“You know when was the last time you looked so happy? you wore such pretty clothes?”

“Stop acting like that VIcky. I’ll return these clothes right away.”

“Okay..okay..I won’t say another word. Just know that I am happy for you.”

I just had a break up and my sis is happy for me. What a family I have! Anyways time for my date with my kitchen. After dinner Vicky, Jer, and I have decided to search for clues about Papa. Yes, I am sticking to my previous plan.

Ingredients:

For the filling:

Boil 1/2 cup/150g of chicken with turmeric, salt and ginger garlic paste. Shred this chicken with your hands.
1 medium sized onion- chopped
1 green chilli chopped
freshly ground ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp
salt to taste
garam masala- 1/2 tsp
oregano- 1 1/2tsp
kashmiri paprika powder- 1 tsp
1/2 tsp lemon juice.

Method:

Add 1 tbsp oil to a pan. Add the ginger garlic paste and chopped green chillis. Roast on meduim flame for a minute. Add the onions and saute until translucent .

Add rest of the ingredients and stir fry for 2 minutes. switch off the stove and add the lemon juice

For the crust:

200g of maida/flour
75g salted butter
1 to 2 tbsp warm water

Method:

Add the butter in form of cubes to the flour. Mix until it resembles crumbs.

Now add water little my little and mix well until it resembles a dough.

Divide into four equal parts. Roll out into a 6 inch circle. Be very gentle with the dough as it is delicate. Oil your finger and the rolling pin. In case holes appear, adjust with the ball of your fingers. Towards one half of the circle add little of the stuffing. Join both the sides to make semicircles.