[HARI'S POV]
I'm sitting outside my cafe Flute and Foam, taking in the scene with Kartik and Yash by my side. We're quietly eating cake, the sweet taste lingering in the air. The evening has already fallen, and the opening event is just around the corner. The café is decorated beautifully—balloons floating around, soft lights glowing warmly, creating an inviting atmosphere. A singer is performing a soulful melody not far from us, and the crowd outside is larger than I ever imagined.
The street in front of the café is packed. People keep coming, some buying drinks, others simply standing around, swaying gently to the music. The buzz of excitement is almost tangible. I never expected this many people to show up, but I guess the rumors about the place spread faster than we thought. That, and the marketing—we really worked hard to get the word out, but this… this is beyond what I envisioned.
Looking out at the rows of parked bikes and cars stretching along FC Road, I realize they're blocking most of the street. Normally, that would've been a headache, but thanks to Sidharth pulling some strings, we got permission from the police. No one's bothering us about it.
I've already met Nandini's parents, Lavanya's, and even Vishal's. He even introduced us to his girlfriend, Neha, though her presence here is something his family doesn't know about. All of them are kind people, welcoming in their own way. But it's not just our friends' families attending tonight. There are high-ranking officers, businessmen, and politicians mingling among the crowd—thanks to Sidharth. He invited them, and to my surprise, they came without hesitation. It wasn't because of Sidharth's current standing, of course. He doesn't have that kind of pull yet.
The real reason they're here is because of his grandfather, Dadasaheb Deshmukh. That man isn't just any ordinary person. His reputation, his influence—it stretches far beyond just political circles. People respect him, some even fear him.
Sidharth wanted to introduce me to these important people, probably thinking it would be good for me to make connections. But I refused, shaking my head at the idea.
"I'm not interested in meeting them," I said, leaning back in my chair. "Some of them are just fools who wouldn't even see me as worth their time. In their eyes, I'm just a kid. So why bother?"
Sidharth tried to argue, but eventually, he gave up, understanding my stance. Now we're just waiting for his grandfather to arrive. Apparently, his father isn't coming tonight. He's disappointed that Sidharth has chosen to focus on this "small business" instead of pursuing politics, which has caused some friction in their family. Because of that, even his mother decided to stay back.
It's just his grandparents, and of course, Swara.
As I quietly ate my slice of cake, my gaze drifted between the singer performing a soothing melody outside and the others—Parth, Sidharth, Vishal, Lavanya, and Nandini—busy welcoming guests and posing for photos. The soft chatter of the crowd filled the air, a hum of excitement around the café's grand opening.
Suddenly, Kartik's voice broke through my thoughts.
"Dada, I want more cake."
Before I could respond, Yash chimed in, "Yeah, Hari, let's get more. It's really good!"
A frown tugged at my forehead as I turned to them. "Are you two idiots? You've already eaten six plates of cake. Why are you still eating? Just because it's free?"
Kartik, with a sly grin, rested his hand on his chin as if in deep thought. "Dada, once a great person said, 'Never let go of free things.'"
I felt my eye twitch in irritation, though the absurdity of his statement made me hold back a laugh. "And who exactly is this 'great person'?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
With a wide smile, Kartik puffed out his chest and declared proudly, "Of course, it's your little brother—me, Kartik Gadkari the Great!"
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his self-proclaimed wisdom.
Hearing Kartik's over-the-top declaration, I couldn't resist. I lightly smacked the back of his head, earning an exaggerated yelp.
"Ouch! That hurt! Why did you do that?" Kartik complained, rubbing his head dramatically.
"Because you're spouting nonsense," I replied, deadpan.
Before Kartik could retort, Yash chimed in, backing him up. "But Hari, Kartik's not entirely wrong. Your friend is rich. It's not like a little extra cake is going to hurt anyone."
Kartik nodded enthusiastically, joining forces with Yash. "Exactly! Yash is right, dada!"
I rolled my eyes at their blatant teamwork. "You two… I'm starting to regret bringing you here."
I let out a sigh, though a faint smile tugged at my lips. As I glanced toward the counter, I noticed the crowd had grown even larger. The staff was bustling around, doing their best to manage the influx of customers. Among them, I spotted Aditi, our morning shift manager, efficiently handling the rush with calm precision.
Turning back to the two gluttons beside me, I pointed towards Aditi. "Alright, if you really want more, go to Aditi and take whatever cake or drink you want. But this is the last time, got it?"
Kartik and Yash's faces lit up as they scrambled to their feet. "Thanks" they chorused, grinning from ear to ear as they made a beeline for Aditi.
Watching them rush off, I couldn't help but shake my head and smile. Despite their antics, it felt good having them around, sharing this moment with the people closest to me. As the soft breeze of the evening stirred around us and the café buzzed with life, I leaned back, taking in the scene.
As I sat quietly, enjoying the brief moment of solitude, I noticed Sidharth and Parth approaching me. They both looked a bit uneasy, so I greeted them with a smile. "What's going on?"
They exchanged glances, and Parth, clearly nervous, finally spoke up. "Madhav, about the opening… who's going to cut the ribbon? We kind of... forgot to decide."
I let out a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair as I looked at them in disbelief. "You're serious, right? You're asking this now, just before the opening? I assumed you'd already figured that out."
They both stared at the ground, clearly embarrassed. Neither said a word.
Shaking my head, I leaned back in my chair. "Anyway, it's not a huge deal. You or your parents could do it, or better yet, there are plenty of influential people here—ask one of them."
Sidharth hesitated before suggesting, "Madhav… can't you do it?"
I waved my hand dismissively, almost laughing at the thought. "No way. What are you going to tell everyone? Why would an unknown kid like me be the one to cut the ribbon? It'd just be confusing."
Parth, who was fidgeting nervously, nodded in agreement. "You're right. It wouldn't make sense."
I thought for a moment before adding, "Didn't you say your grandparents are coming, Sidharth? They could handle it. They're well-respected, and it'd make the event feel more meaningful."
Sidharth nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah… okay, Madhav, you're right. I'll ask them."
I gave a small nod, watching as the tension eased from their faces. With a simple smile, I said, "Good. Now go handle it before we get more last-minute surprises."
They nodded, visibly relieved, and hurried off. I leaned back, letting out another sigh, but this time it was one of amusement.
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[3RD PERSON POV]
As Parth and Sidharth walked back toward the group, Lavanya quickly approached them, her expression a mix of curiosity and urgency. "What did Madhav say? Did you ask him if he's going to cut the ribbon?"
Sidharth shrugged, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Well, we asked him, but he said no. He's not doing it."
Vishal chimed in, raising an eyebrow. "Then who's going to cut the ribbon?"
Sidharth responded, "Madhav suggested it should be my grandparents."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Nandini smiled, adding, "That's a good idea."
As the conversation flowed, laughter and chatter filled the air. Suddenly, a loud commotion from the counter caught their attention. Curious, they turned to see a crowd of customers gathering, eagerly waiting to place their orders.
"Looks like the crowd is even bigger than we thought," Parth remarked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Without hesitation, the group walked toward the counter. There, Raghav, the café manager, stood at the helm, juggling orders with impressive speed and precision. His brow furrowed in concentration as he called out drink names and directed the bustling staff around him.
As the bustling energy of the cafe surged around him, Raghav stood behind the counter, fully immersed in the rhythm of the moment. He smiled at the customer, a middle-aged man with a hint of weariness in his eyes. "What can I get for you?"
"I'll have an Iced Latte," the customer replied, his voice warm yet casual.
Raghav nodded and swiftly tapped on the tablet, where Hari's carefully crafted software made the ordering process smooth and efficient. "One Iced Latte coming right up! Would you like to try any of our appetizers or desserts?"
The customer considered the menu briefly before his face lit up with an idea. "Sure! I'll take one Chai-Spiced Tiramisu."
Raghav smiled as he selected the dessert. "Great choice! That'll be one Iced Latte and one Chai-Spiced Tiramisu. Your total is 250."
The customer nodded, reaching for his wallet and paying the bill. Raghav printed out the receipt and handed it over with a friendly gesture. "Please wait for about five minutes; your order will be ready shortly."
The customer acknowledged the instruction with a grateful smile, turning to join the bustling crowd. Just then, another customer approached, this time with a lively group of friends.
"Give me four Vietnamese Iced Coffees, two Chocolate Shakes, and three Paneer Tikka Sandwiches," he ordered, excitement dancing in his eyes.
Raghav took a moment to jot down the order, the anticipation palpable. "Your total is 1,180," he said, keeping his tone professional yet warm.
The customer nodded, reaching into his pocket to pay. Raghav processed the transaction efficiently, handing over the printout with a confident flourish. "Thank you! Your order will be ready shortly," he said, watching as the customer turned to join his friends, their laughter blending with the hum of conversation around them.
As the flow of customers continued unabated, Parth, Sidharth, Vishal, Lavanya and Nandini made their way to the counter, where Raghav was taking orders with remarkable efficiency. Parth, grinning from ear to ear, asked, "How's it going? Any problems?"
Raghav looked up, his face beaming with satisfaction. "Everything is going great, sir! We've already crossed ten thousand in just three hours. People are loving the drinks, food, and desserts! They keep coming back—it's like they're becoming addicted to it! It's really weird," he chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.
Nandini, chimed in with a smile. "No wonder we're all hooked. After all, these recipes were created by Madhav, so it's not surprising at all!"
Raghav nodded, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Exactly! It's fascinating. If these sales keep up, there's no doubt this is going to be a successful business. I can already feel the energy in the air—the excitement is contagious!"
Hearing Raghav's cheerful report, everyone burst into laughter, their spirits lifted by the cafe's success. Just then, a voice came from behind them, drawing their attention.
"Which one do you want?" Aditi asked, smiling as she stood in front of the dessert fridge with Kartik and Yash.
Kartik's eyes lit up as he pointed excitedly at a cake. "I want the Gulab Jamun Cheesecake!"
Yash, never one to be left out, chimed in. "And I want the Coconut Barfi Brownies!"
Aditi nodded, her hands already moving to grab the requested desserts. As she worked, Sidharth strolled over, a teasing grin on his face. "Hey, kids, what are you doing?"
Yash and Kartik exchanged nervous glances, their eyes darting between the desserts and Sidharth, who stood with a serious expression that made them instinctively shrink back. Sidharth's built physique and stern demeanor certainly added to their apprehension.
"W-we're just taking some cake," Kartik stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "We already asked Dada, and he said it was okay. We're just… taking the last time."
Lavanya, noticing their discomfort, knelt down to their level and smiled warmly. "Hey, don't be nervous. Eat as much as you want! And don't worry about Sidharth—he looks scary, but he's really not," she reassured them, ruffling Kartik's hair affectionately.
Sidharth raised an eyebrow, a mock frown creeping onto his face. "What do you mean by that, Lavanya?"
Ignoring his playful indignation, Lavanya continued, "There's plenty of food outside for the guests too. You can eat that, alright?"
Kartik's face brightened with relief. "Okay, thanks, Didi!" he replied, his fear dissipating as he and Yash quickly grabbed their cakes and dashed off toward the food, laughter trailing behind them.
As everyone watched the two boys run off, laughter erupted among the group. Parth, still chuckling, looked at Raghav, Aditi, and the other staff members. "You guys, when the crowd thins out a bit, make sure to take a break and eat something, okay?"
They nodded, smiles on their faces as they returned to their duties, feeling the warm camaraderie that made this chaotic yet joyous opening truly special.
(Word's Count:-2234)