Caroline sat on the bench outside the joint, feasting on the chocolate ice cream mercilessly as she tried her possible best not to shed tears. Not only was she accused of forcing food out of customers, she was also demoted to the first position she started with at this restaurant. She had struggled so much, received a lot of reprimanding just to get to where she was but in a blink of an eye, everything crumbled to the least bottom. She took a pause to wipe her eyes as the thought of quitting flash past her mind.
"My dear, a good gentleman said I should give you an extra and this paper." The ice cream seller man handed Caroline a bigger ice cream plate and a note on top of it before smiling to her a good bye.
"Hm?" Caroline who was so confused had an obviously confused expression. She looked back into the small joint and found no one suspicious. She opened the note and read through. Shortly, a smile formed on her face and she looked down at the newly brought ice cream with so much Love.
DON'T CHARGE YOUR ANGER UNTO THAT POOR ICE CREAM, MAYBE A FREE ONE WOULD SOOTH YOUR MIND... H.
"Whoever you are, Mr H, thank you." Caroline said loudly before taking her leave back to the restaurant.
Henry chuckled as he watched Caroline talk to the air before leaving. Jhon had called to say he has a surprise for him and Lucas so he too decided to get a bucket of ice cream to surprise them as well and upon getting to the joint, he noticed the weary familiar face, stuffing her small mouth with huge scoops of ice cream.
"Sir, here is your package." The ice cream attendant said to Henry who nodded and took the package.
"Can I ask? That lady who came here to order chocolate ice cream, does she work there?" Henry asked pointing to the restaurant opposite them.
"Yes, sir. She comes here to buy chocolate ice cream whenever she is emotional. Sad, Happy, Angry." The attendant said smiling sheepishly which irked Henry.
"Enough, enough." Henry said and walked out of the joint. He opened his car, got in and drove to meet his friends.
On getting to the hospital...
"I thought I've warned you both about bringing these stuffs to my office? Especially you, Henry." Lucas said frowning his face as he looked from Jhon to Henry.
"C'mon, Lucas." Henry coaxed.
"So you don't care about the chicken wing? And won't have a scoop of your favorite ice cream?" Jhon asked with a fetish smile on his face. Lucas looked at the chicken wrap on his table which would probably stain some important papers and then to the ice cream bucket on his couch which would definitely wet it.
"What flavour?" Lucas asked shyly, avoiding both Jhon and Henry's mockery filled face.
"I knew he would come around." Jhon commented after a short laugh.
"Chocolate." Henry replied smiling widely as he remembered the lady he met in front of the ice cream joint.
"Guess what guys?" He asked.
"What?!" Lucas and Jhon chorused as they unwrapped the chicken.
"I met the lady from yesterday."
"What lady? You meet ladies everyday, Playboy." Lucas mocked provoking resounding laughter from Jhon.
"Prrhh! The lady I told you guys I met at this hospital."
"The one I saved from your flirting?" Jhon teased.
"Yeah! No.... Hah! The one who I was talking to before you interrupted with your call, Yes! I met her at the ice cream store today. She's amusing." Henry said smiling while the other two looked in amusement.
"You like her?" Lucas asked.
"I don't know guys, I don't even know her name." Henry said shyly.
"Yeah! There's this girl I met yesterday at this hospital too, I also found her amusing do you know why?" Jhon said laughing as he talked.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"She wore a pretty old sandals.. hahahaha..." Jhon said laughing and Henry joined in laughing as well while Lucas just smiled happily at them. He also knew a lady who wore old sandals, Agapito Milano Leather for that matter. Lucas then frowned at the possibility that the girls Jhon and Henry talked about may also be the person he is thinking about.
"Ok, let's get to it guys. I have work." Lucas said coughing awkwardly.
"This chicken wing tastes the same as before, that's why I love it." Henry commented as he took a bite of the wing.
"Yeah! The consistency is intoxicating." Jhon added making the others chuckle.
"Ok, let's not chock on our food guys." Lucas added scooping a spoonful of Chocolate ice cream from the bucket.
"Yeah! Fried Chilis are the best at what they do." Jhon said refusing to drop the topic for no reason.
"Fried Chilis..hmm... Can we go there tomorrow?" Henry asked after recalling that he saw Caroline walk into that restaurant and when he asked the attendant, he also confirmed that she worked there.
"Guys..." Lucas warned. He hated eating Qand talking and plus the fact that they were eating a pepper sauced chicken wing.
"First agree that we would go to white chilis tomorrow." Henry proposed while Lucas scoffed.
"Just agree, man." Jhon coaxed Lucas who frowned at the idea. He didn't want to leave work and even if tomorrow was a Saturday, he still had work. Besides, who would look after the kids, especially Christopher and what if Caroline comes to visit or Madam Franka comes to see him?
"It's a Saturday, Lucas." Henry said pouting like a kid which disgusted both Lucas and Jhon.
"Hey.. use that on your multiple girlfriends, not us." Jhon commented slapping Henry's pouted mouth.
"Fine, I agree. Now stop being disgusting, eat quietly and happily leave my hospital."
"Hmmff! Flaunting his father's hospital on our face." Jhon scoffed.
~~~~
"What did you say?" Mrs Edna asked loudly as she looked at Caroline irritatedly.
"Yes, Ma'am. I want my three years working benefit added with my salary for this month." Caroline said fearlessly. She had taken a final decision and decided to quit this frustrating job even if she was a half percent sure she would not get a job easily.
"I hope you know what that means, Caroline Hathaway?" She asked seriously for the first time in a long time. Of course she knew what it meant, loosing her job and moving on.
Caroline inhaled and exhaled. "Yes, Mrs Edna."
Mrs Edna opened her inner table drawer and brought out some money. She counted and glanced back at Caroline for a while.
"Here, have it all. You were really a good girl Caroline so, I wish you the best in life. Be good as always, Caroline and take care of yourself. Good bye." Mrs Edna said nicely shocking the dead cells in Caroline, back to life. Caroline couldn't believe sweet words were coming from her.
"Good.. good bye, Mrs..Edna. Take care of yourself." Caroline managed to say and left the office without counting the money in her hands.
"Hey.. so what's up? Did she agree to give you the money?" Dhruv asked lowly.
"Yes.. and I also resigned." Caroline answered taking off her apron and gloves.
"What?!!!"