From Service to Success: My Journey to Self-Worth

The café buzzed with the usual clatter of dishes and the hum of late-night conversations. Under the warm golden lights, Pooja moved swiftly, her black full-sleeved shirt neatly tucked in, her hair secured in a tight bun. She had memorized the entire menu—both food and drinks—down to the smallest detail. Every night, she served guests with precision and grace, never once complaining about the exhausting hours.

But no amount of dedication could shield her from the sharp words of her seniors. They found reasons to scold her, to belittle her, despite knowing that she handled the outlet better than anyone. She had earned the highest upselling record, the best customer reviews, and not a single complaint had ever been raised against her.

That night, at 1 AM, as she rushed to clear the last few tables, a guest had smiled at her kindness and pressed a ₹200 note into her palm. In the urgency of the moment, she slipped it into her pocket, intending to place it in the tip box later. But by the time she reached for it, the money was gone. And the security cameras had already captured what they needed.

The next day, standing in front of her manager—a man with cold eyes and a neatly tied pagdi—she listened as he accused her of stealing.

“I am suspending you for seven days,” he said, his voice final, uncaring of her protests, of her years of dedication.

Pooja felt something inside her break—not from guilt, but from the weight of unrecognized effort.

She had given everything to this place.

And yet, it had given her nothing in return.

---