Kumuda is employed as a UDC in the Revenue Division and her husband Manimaran is with the Police Supdt 's office. as an Inspector. A house where both the civil and criminal powers were well balanced. They have two children, Ritu and Ravi, and live in a modest house in a posh area of the city.
Office clients or their agents visit them on weekends or holidays to obtain favors. Though costly, transactions with pleasure are often considered at home, and either of them are happy.
The routine is almost the same for Kumuda. Get up early, enter the kitchen add mixed powders proportionately, and give a name to it before packing for the children and Maran and herself to their respective places. If time permits, she goes for a wash, rushes to nearby Pillaiyar Kovil, and submits to him with small demands. To buy a coconut will be a luxury as an offering which anyway will be handed over back half split by the Pujari, though the next day it will add spice to lunch, with chutney, pachadi, kichadi, or Fish curry immersed in coconut milk!
When one such day she casually happened to read the column on’ Cooking Styles’ in Women’s Day Magazine and laughed to read that in the olden days, women spent more than 15 hours in the kitchen and the taste of the food remained for a fortnight and more. Why not possible for the present-day generation, thought Kumuda since they have a Piped gas connection and four burner stove. It requires only 3 hours!
The next day, she announced to her family that she may not go to the office. DM may be angry but not bothered, the Deputy is on her side. She packed bread, butter, and jam as a standby and boarded the children on the school bus and her husband on his route bus. Later she took an auto and went to market, collected fresh vegetables, and returned in the same vehicle. In no time she changed to a cooking girls’ attire from a working women’s dress and fired all the burners.
When the feast was ready with all the items, she had her bath, and took full meals and the time was already 12.30. Now there should be no further delay to reach the office before lunch break. She transhipped the special menu to a deck carrier and kept the plantain leaf across the carrier. Dressed up to a working girl, locked the house, and was ready on the road to catch the regular auto of Murugan. Without waiting much in the hot sun and pitying the poor folk sweating, reached the office by Lunch break.
‘‘Oh Kumuda Mam, what is special in the carrier and the bag? Are there any confidential papers? Any promotion list for us? “
She cut short the subordinates from their questions and rushed to DM’s Chamber. On seeing her with the baggage, Mishra, a handsome, bachelor officer is curious to know what is in the carrier? ‘Sir, it is my birthday today, and have brought the Special lunch for you.” said Kumuda without waiting for his next word and prying eyes. Kumuda cleared the desk, sending the files to the record room. She spread the plantain leaf and served the dishes one by one slowly smiling. DM was so pleased to see the spread and aura of the food, that no words came out while enjoying the food with both hands and eyes!
No desserts, Kumuda?’ came the voice from the officer.
Kumuda immersed herself in the thoughts of the man in front of her suddenly woke up and took a piece of jaggery from beneath her pajama pocket and gave it to him, saying ‘Dessert… sweet sir”.
'Was it all prepared by you, It's all too good. Oh you took leave today, isn’t it ?', said DM.
‘No sir, I was about to tell you….”
‘Don’t tell anything. Not to take leave also. Bring me on all working days a carrier like this..and err..know add-ons too.
Kumuda was too happy to hear what he wanted and ready to pass on the cover the next day to DM. Some of the Clients are waiting to come home to honor their commitments with more requests and she was too glad to serve them and her citizen that way!
Very nice. Good sequence and nice presentation sir.
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