This man gave the 17-year-old me a chance, and that changed everything:
I had a pretty rough start to my late teens, working as a security guard day in and day out. I wanted to do something else, but nothing really panned out even after walking up to almost all the stores at Bishop Jerome Nagar in Kollam, I ended up at what was my last option: Restaurant ‘Chef King’.
Wearing my worn-out slippers and a weak smile plastered to my face, I walked up to the reception to ask for a job, ANY job for that matter.
-that’s when I met Mani Sir.
He looked at me, sized up this weak-looking 17-year-old kid and asked: “What jobs can you do?” I replied – “I have worked at a small tea shop once”.
“We don’t need anyone right now —— but let me see”.
He went in, and came back after a bit, and told me 3 words that changed my life:
“You can join”.
-and I finally had a real job, with a monthly salary of ₹450!
Later on, I realised that there actually was never a vacancy there. Mani Sir had given me the job, out of the concern and care he had for a young boy.
As time passed, I started getting into the kitchen, helping the cooks with any menial tasks – like a bit of vegetable prep, washing, cleaning, etc – and with time, that led to my passion for cooking.
Last week, we had the inauguration of our new restaurant chain ‘Sanchari’ in Palakkad – and I invited Mani Sir to bless us with his presence and to light the lamp. He told me he had retired and was now enjoying family time at home.
When he was about to leave, I asked him:
“Sir, you are as energetic as I remember you to be – why don’t you give this a shot?”
He was silent for a bit, looked at me and held me close in a hug.
He said nothing, but I heard it loud and clear.
Last week, Mani Sir joined Sanchari, Palakkad as our Public Relations Manager.
The warmth of his hug?
That’s why I do what I do – and that’s what all of us at RCP value.
As always,
Keep Spreading happiness!
(-and do say hi to Mani Sir if you’re ever in Palakkad)
-Chef Pillai
