Chapter 11
Vihaan
It's been days since we returned to the human world. The government had provided us with an apartment, but now it was time to find work.
I kept thinking about all the possible jobs, wondering where someone like me could even fit in. It wasn't exactly easy for Returned to find employment.
"Dude... what are you thinking about so hard?" Neil's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Your eyes look scary... so wide. Don't forget your past. If you stand in the middle of the road this quietly, people are going to think you're about to attack them again." He chuckled. "Hehe."
Sometimes I really wondered why I had agreed to let him live with me.
"I was thinking about finding a job," I replied. "But I don't know where to start. We've already tried a few places."
Neil's expression lost some of its usual amusement.
"Yeah. They don't exactly welcome us with open arms."
I looked ahead.
"Most of them don't even let us finish the interview once they know we're Returned."
"Can't blame them," Neil muttered. "We're apparently bad for business."
I glanced at him.
"You got rejected from a bookstore."
"Exactly. I could've been an excellent book guy."
"You don't read."
"That's a technicality."
We continued walking side by side.
Then Neil suddenly pointed ahead.
"Look."
A WANTED HELP board stood outside a small restaurant.
We both stopped.
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
It wasn't much.
Just a handwritten notice stuck against a window.
But after weeks of doors closing in our faces...
it felt like a sign.
Neil grinned.
"Well?"
I looked at the restaurant.
"Let's try."
Without wasting another second, we walked towards it.
I pushed the door open.
And suddenly...
I couldn't remember why I had walked in.
Curly black hair framed her face as she looked up from behind the counter. Curious dark eyes met mine for the briefest moment.
Everything else simply disappeared.
Then I heard someone calling my name.
I turned...
And remembered who was standing beside me.
Neil.
I slowly closed my eyes.
Great.
I was never going to hear the end of this.
"What?" Neil asked innocently.
I looked at him with the most expressionless face I could manage.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Dude..."
I already knew where this was going.
"What?"
"Did you just get electrocuted?"
I stared at him.
"I've never seen your neck this fucking straight in our entire friendship."
I rubbed my forehead.
"Neil..."
"What?" He shrugged dramatically. "I'm just making an observation."
Before I could think of a comeback, the girl behind the counter smiled politely.
"Yes? What can I do for you guys?"
Her voice was soft... smooth as warm honey.
For the second time in less than a minute...
My brain stopped working.
Neil looked at me.
Then at her.
Then back at me.
A knowing smile slowly spread across his face.
"Oh..."
He folded his arms.
"So this is the reason."
I shot him a glare that clearly meant Shut up.
Thankfully, he understood.
"We're here because of the hiring notice," I said.
She smiled.
"I'm Ananya."
"I'm Vihaan."
"And unfortunately, I'm Neil," Neil added.
She laughed softly.
"So... Vihaan."
She picked up a small form.
"Do you have any previous work experience?"
"No."
She nodded.
"I understand."
Before she could continue, I added,
"But I learn fast."
She looked up at me for a moment.
Then her eyes shifted to the government identity card lying beside the application form.
Her expression changed slightly.
"...You're Returned?"
There it was.
The question I had been expecting.
"Yes."
For a brief second, neither of us spoke.
Just then,
The kitchen door burst open.
"Tara!"
A young woman walked out balancing two heavily loaded trays.
Before she could even reach the dining area, another voice came from inside the kitchen.
"Tara! These two are ready too!"
She stopped mid-step.
Looked at the fresh trays.
Then towards the ceiling.
"Oh, come on!"
She muttered under her breath.
"One day I'm seriously going to collapse in this restaurant."
Neil leaned towards me.
"She's about five minutes away from throwing a tray at someone."
Ignoring the universe's obvious hatred for her, Tara somehow tried picking up the other two trays as well.
One of them slipped.
Before I even realised it, my body had already moved.
I caught the tray before it could fall.
Then took the remaining ones from her.
Four trays.
Balanced effortlessly.
Years as a Zombie had changed the way my body moved.
Some habits never really disappeared.
My joints bent at angles that would've looked uncomfortable on anyone else, but for me...
It was normal.
Tara blinked.
Then blinked again.
"...Okay."
Neil folded his arms proudly.
"Told you. Useful."
I ignored him and carefully placed the food on the tables.
When I came back, Tara was already looking at Ananya.
"See?"
She pointed towards me.
"This is exactly what I've been saying."
"We need another employee."
She crossed her arms.
"Come on, Ananya."
"Hire him already."
Ananya smiled.
"I think I just did."
Tara grinned.
"Finally."
She turned back towards the kitchen.
"And maybe now I can die one hour later than usual."
Neil nodded thoughtfully.
"Good. We'd have to carry your trays otherwise."
Tara slowly turned around.
"Get out."
Neil raised both hands innocently.
"I'm just looking out for workplace safety."
I shook my head.
Some people simply couldn't survive without annoying others.
Tara disappeared into the kitchen.
Ananya turned back to me.
"I'll just prepare the paperwork."
She walked behind the counter and began searching through a drawer.
With nothing left to do...
Neil started looking around the restaurant.
His attention stopped at the small wooden platform near the window.
A microphone.
A stool.
And a guitar resting quietly on its stand.
He walked over.
Picked it up gently.
Checked the strings.
Ananya noticed.
"You play?"
Neil looked up.
"A little."
I raised an eyebrow.
"A little?"
That idiot had never once mentioned he could sing...
...until now.
"And... do you sing?" Ananya asked.
Neil scratched the back of his neck.
"Yeah."
"Would you mind singing something?"
He looked around.
There weren't many customers.
Just enough to make him uncomfortable.
He adjusted the microphone.
Closed his eyes.
And began.
They say I came back...
Sometimes I wonder... did I?
Everyone moved on,
while I'm still learning how to begin.
But somehow, I'm still here...
still breathing, still alive,
still chasing the morning light,
still waiting for the sunrise.
The restaurant fell silent.
Even the clinking of plates faded away.
For the first time...
Neil wasn't trying to make anyone laugh.
When he opened his eyes again, Ananya smiled.
"We've actually been looking for someone to perform here every evening."
Neil blinked.
"...Seriously?"
She nodded.
"If you're interested..."
A slow smile spread across Neil's face.
"I'd love to."
Ananya looked between the two of us.
"I guess..."
She smiled.
"I just hired both of you."
