"Wot tHe hAel is tAaT RakVill kid doin' here?" The fat kid mumbled to himself with his mouth full of sugary sticky snacks.
Abhi got the chair and as he walked towards Mike's cubicle, he saw Mike trying to slide his membership card into a slot of a machine box similar to the one at the entrance door which was attached to the computer.
After Mike saw Abhi come in he held the card with his whole hand, possibly to avoid embarrassing himself by not being able to simply put the card inside the machine slot. He hid what he was doing with his fingers but finally gave up trying to hide as Abhi was too close. Then he decided to use both of his hands.
After some difficulty, Mike was finally able to insert it. Abhi took in this experience and sat beside Principal Mike.
"You have to put that card inside the computer too?" Abhi asked with a smile exuding curiosity.
"Yeah, the computer analyzes the card and grants appropriate time to play games. For example, I have the lowest level card, my playtime is only 10 hours per week at max. but it isn't a problem for me as I only come here once or twice a week. In fact, most of my time is often left over. These restrictions are mostly placed to prevent kids from spending too much time in gaming, the cost of the lowest and the highest level card is not much different either."." Mike replied while not moving his eyes from the screen
"Very interesting…" Abhi paused for a few seconds and slightly creased his eyebrows before asking "But I have a question, can I ask?"
"Go ahead cuh." Mike replied blankly.
After being startled again by the principal's sudden lingo, Abhi said "I used to think people have computers at home, I just assumed the principal of the biggest school will surely have one too. Is that not the case?"
Principal Mike was silent for a few seconds before saying "You are pretty perceptive aren't you."
"Ha-ha maybe." Abhi slightly laughed while waiting for an explanation.
"Well, I do have a computer at home, But it's strictly for work now. In the past, I did have many games on it, but got too addicted and spent the time I should've been working on some stupid games. Hence I decided to rather buy a membership at a gaming cafe at the edge of the city instead of playing games on my personal computer. This way I wouldn't waste too much time on games." Mike turned to look at Abhi and smiled while explaining.
"Oh, makes a lot more sense now, also I just saw someone eat a whole lot of food and the room beside the hallway had a lot of food presented on a few tables, is that the buffet?" Asked Abhi while looking down and stuttering appearing a bit introverted yet excited.
"Oh yeah, and go get the complimentary snacks. Go get two packets of Gays Chips for me, and get something for yourself too." Said Mike while turning back to the monitor.
"Oh, I can just take it for free right? And how much can I take?" Abhi's eyes shone with happiness and his smile illuminated brighter than the sun.
"Yup, and you can take all that you can eat, it's a buffet after all." Replied Mike blankly.
"WHAT! That's so much are you sure?" Asked the nervous yet excited-looking Abhi.
"Yuhuh, Go enjoy cuh."
"Thank you so much, sir," Abhi replied pretty much getting used to Principal Mike's sudden change to a slangish language.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Abhi went to the buffet, he was amazed to see so many different types of snacks. He first got the two packets of Rays Chips, then he took a plate and cup, then some random chips, a few Gulab Jamuns, a few Jalebis, Ras-malai, etc. he took those and returned to Mike's cubicle.
As Abhi was walking he saw that alongside Mike another man was standing beside Mike in the cubicle. They were talking about something but stopped as soon as Abhi returned.
///
"Sir, I have received a complaint from one of the other members that you have brought a non-member into the café. I should tell you that is not allowed, though as a member yourself, you could've purchased the 1 day 100 rupees pass for an additional guest." Asked the man with a manager badge on his shirt pocket.
///
Abhi walks in not having heard the previous conversation…
"Hey, sir I bought your chips and stuff for me, thanks again." Said Abhi while handing the two packets back to Mike.
"Thanks to you for bringing my chips, cheers!" Said Mike as both of them clicked their packets against each other like people do with glasses of wine.
"By the way, can I pack some stuff for my mom too? I feel kinda bad enjoying everything on my own, and not sharing with her." Said Abhi as he put down his plate.
The unknown man and Mike exchanged looks with each other for a second after hearing that and then principal Mike said:
"Yuhuh, go ahead don' worry 'bout it. Though take the dry and packed goods only or else you might make your backpack dirty with other unpacked snacks." Said Mike, looking at Abhi with a smile.
"Thanks!" Abhi went back to bring some dry and packed snacks
///
"Alright, I apologise I didn't know about the one-day pass, I'll buy it right now." Said mike a bit flustered.
"Mr. Mike, usually sneaking in a non-member will lead to the consequences of membership cancellation, but I can let that slide as this is the first time, and also because I know the principal of Kolar won't need to sneak someone in." Said the manager with a smile.
"Wel… thanks I guess."
///
Abhi walked back without realizing what was going on and kept all the dry and packed snacks in his bag, upon fiddling in his bag he suddenly stumbled upon something… It was a tiffin.
"Wait… did I accidentally pack Veer's tiffin with me?" Abhi creased his brows while looking down at his bag.
Abhi suddenly looked up and his eyes shone like a light bulb just turned on inside his brain.
"Sir, I think I accidentally brought a friend- I mean fellow student's tiffin, I think I can take some of the unpacked stuff with me using this as a container, is that ok?" Asked Abhi.
This time the unknown man stared at Mike with piercing eyes but Mike didn't look back at him and just sighed… "Alright go ahead."
Abhi seemed to have noticed the man's change in expression this time and asked:
"Is there a problem sir? I'm sorry I won't take anything if it's a problem." Abhi said a slight twitch in his lips.
"Nah you good homie go get it," Mike replied with a smile.
"Thanks again!" Abhi turned his frown upside down.
The overjoyed Abhi hopped towards the buffet room.
///
"Sir, I think you know that only taking dry and packed snacks home is allowed right? I just explained the rules a few minutes ago I can't just let this slide for nothing" The Manager said with a serious.
"Yeah, but I couldn't tell him no."
"Sorry sir but we can't just ignore the rules even if it's for you. We built this establishment on the promise that we won't break the rules and stay strict with our conduct.
"That is why so many parents of the students of your school entrust their kids to us, they trust us not to let their kids spend too much time on their hobbies and discipline them if necessary."
"Alright, you are completely right in this situation, but just let this matter go one time, it's not like the kid is going to be a regular visit. I know you started from the Low City and built yourself up to now have a company in the High City. This kid is a bit like you, I suspect he is from Low City too. Just let him enjoy this one evening." Mike grabbed something in his pocket.
The manager looked at Mike with droopy eyes and said:
"If I didn't know any better, I would think you are treating your son."
"Ha-ha too young for that I fear." Replied Mike with a chuckle.
///
Abhi took a few of all the sweets in there and then took quite a bit of some scrumptious Gulab Jamuns, his mom's favourite dessert, and filled up the tiffin box to the brim…
After closing the tiffin box full of snacks, Abhi walked back to the cubicle and saw that Mike was giving something to the unknown man.
Principal Mike was giving the manager a note of 500 rupees. The manager subtly stored that money in his pocket. As the man went on his way to leave the cubicle, he saw Abhi, the man subtly smiled at him, and walked away without looking back.
...….