A Heart That Serves: From Food to Wisdom"

Here’s the continuation of my story, transitioning from the café to my new role as a Professor:

--

Pooja didn’t return to the café after those seven days.

She could have fought back, could have pleaded her case. But what was the point? If years of dedication meant nothing, if one mistake—born not of dishonesty but of exhaustion—was enough to erase all her hard work, then this place had never truly valued her.

She walked away, carrying nothing but the lessons life had forced upon her.

And then, as if fate had been waiting for her to step forward, a new door opened.

A prestigious college offered her a position as a professor for 12th Boards. They saw in her what the café never did—her confidence, her sharp communication skills, and her ability to connect with people. Unlike the cold indifference of her past managers, here, she was appreciated. Here, she was respected.

She stood at the front of the classroom, watching young faces eager to learn. But what struck her most was their silent struggle—their obsession with marks, their endless competition, their belief that their worth was tied to their grades.

The science students thought they were superior. The commerce students argued the same. The arts students, always overlooked, carried quiet resentment.

Pooja saw herself in them.

She had spent years proving herself, believing that if she just worked harder, she would finally be acknowledged. But she had learned the truth the hard way: success wasn’t about competition. It was about mindset.

And so, she taught them something beyond textbooks.

She told them that no stream was superior or inferior. That society needed balance, not division. That true intelligence was about connection, about lifting each other up rather than tearing each other down.

Slowly, something shifted.

The students started trying new things. Commerce students helped science students understand finance. Science students assisted arts students in research. Boys, once hesitant, discovered talent in cooking and decoration. Girls, often discouraged, excelled in physical activities. The invisible barriers between them dissolved.

Even those who had struggled academically began to improve.

Their bond grew stronger.

And for the first time in a long time, Pooja felt at peace.

She had lost a job, but she had found a purpose.

--