Hi, I'm Aashreya, just 22, and I proudly work at Sicily. But getting here wasn't exactly planned — it all started with a message I almost didn't send.

It was just a long text I sent to Diwas dai. I had no expectations. I didn't even think I would get a reply. I just knew one thing — I wanted to work at Sicily.

I used to order pastas and pizzas from Sicily with my friends. Always loved the food and dreamt of working here. And I also used to watch Diwas Dai’s videos on Instagram and felt inspired by him.

So one day, I just sent the message. And then I waited.

Dashain was going on, and I remember thinking, "When will Dashain end?" Not because of the festival, but because I was waiting for a reply. I kept checking my phone, not expecting anything but still hoping.

And then… I got a response. 

I was happy in a way I can't really explain. After Dashain, Diwas dai asked me to come for a trial. I was scared, like really scared. It wasn't just about getting the job. It felt like I had something to prove.

My father is a chef, on top of that an Italian chef but I didn't even tell him that I had chosen hotel management during my plus two admission. He wanted me to become a dentist. When he found out, he was disappointed. I think a part of him didn't believe I could do this.

So when I walked into that trial, I wasn't just trying to impress the team. I was trying to prove to myself that I belonged here. I made tiramisu and salad that day. My hands were nervous, but my mind was focused. I didn't overthink it. I just cooked the way I knew how.

And then, I got the job.

From the very beginning, I didn't feel like an outsider here.

The team and the owners didn't just tell me what to do, they guided me through everything. Even when I didn't know something, they didn't make me feel small. They helped me learn.

That kind of support changes how you work. It makes you want to do better, not out of fear, but because you don't want to let them down. Even on busy days, when the kitchen is loud and everyone is rushing, it still feels like we're working together, not alone.

And sometimes, it's the smallest things that stay with you the most.

On my birthday, they played Harry Styles songs the whole day — just because they know I love him. It wasn't something big or planned, but it meant everything to me. Moments like that make me feel like I belong here.

Honestly, working here was not easy.

When I started making pizza, it didn't feel like pizza at all. My dough didn't form properly. There were holes all over. And as a petite girl, even 280 grams of dough didn't fit properly in my hands.

But I kept trying.

Slowly, I moved from desserts to pasta and pizza. Now I make pasta and pizzas and actually request my team to make them myself. I want to learn more. I want to do more.

There are small moments that stay with me.

Outside the kitchen, my life is very different.

I have a five-year-old sister. When I go home, I play with her. She says she wants to be like me, and that makes me feel so special and proud. Being apart from my family for years has taught me to cherish every little moment I have with them. I’m also an avid coffee drinker. Five to six times a day at least and I alone end up finishing all the sachets at work. And yes, I spend most of my salary on inDrive rides, which I know I need to fix.

Once, a customer looked at me and said, "This small person is making pasta?"

I didn't say anything.

But I knew — one day, I want people to notice me for my work, not my height.

I want to be known for pasta. I want to create different varieties, maybe even something unique of my own. I even design menus in my free time, just for fun. One day, I want to work in France. I even tried learning French, though I don't remember much now. But that dream is still there, waiting.

Maybe one day, I'll have my own café. Somewhere cozy, with good food and good energy. A place that feels the way Sicily feels to me now.

Looking back, it still feels strange.

All of this started with one message.

A message I didn't think would get a reply. A message I almost didn't send.

But I did.

And now, I'm here — learning, cooking, growing, and slowly becoming the person I wanted to be. Not a dentist. Not just someone's daughter.

But someone who chose this path on her own. Someone who took a chance. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.