Originally posted by: Ps143
Part 01: Ek Nayi Shuruat
Standing at the doorstep of the Tripathi Household, she took a deep breath to calm herself down. She was nervous as well as hopeful of the job here. A job here meant good salary which inturn meant enough money to support her daughter's needs and give her a proper life. And so she needed this job really much.
As much as she had learnt from Sundar, this household was a decent one. He was the cook here but had to leave for some reasons and she happened to meet him, when she had just arrived from Pagdandiya with her 1 year old daughter. It wasn't easy to trust him after what had happened with her but his mother played a role in getting her to agree to take help from them and also building her trust in him. In Sundar and his mother, she had found the family she had lost. He was the one who had provided her a house and in him she had found the brother she never had. And thus from him she had learnt a lot about the family and their ways of life. He had spoken to the family and today was the day she had been called by them to meet to fix her job.
Calming herself, she pulled out her locket which had her gudiya's photo and a smile formed on her face immediately. Placing the locket back, she rang the bell and waited. The sound of approaching footsteps could be heard which made her pull her breath again and the door opened to reveal a lady in her mid 50s. She smiled warmly reducing all her nervousness. Imlie smiled back at her as warmly.
"Come in" the lady said gently and Imlie nodded and stepped in.
The lady moved towards the kitchen and Imlie followed, simultaneously observing her surroundings. The hall was really huge and everything looked classy. Yet the entire ambience radiated a homely warmth of a different sort, in an instant reminding her of her mother's lap. Home for Imlie had always been her Amma's lap where she would rest her head after all the happenings of the day or whenever she felt low or dejected. Tears formed in her eyes which she immediately rubbed and just as the lady turned, she composed herself.
"So Sundar has told everything about you Imlie and we need no more information. This is the kitchen and I'll show you the ingredients. You'll have to make a dish now. It's just a small test, just to know your capability."
"Yes I know Memsaab. Sundar had told me. Just let me know what I should make"
"Firstly, you don't have to call me Memsaab. Secondly, you can make anything that you want."
"What else can I call you Memsaab? And if you don't mind, may I know your name?"
"My name is Aparna Tripathi and instead of Memsaab you can call me Kaki" Aparna said with a warm smile. When she had heard from Sundar that Imlie was a single mother, she felt an instant connection with her because she was a single mother too. So she knew what struggles and pains a single mother had to go through. But she belonging to an upper strata had been able to manage as difficulties were slightly less. But Imlie belonged to a village and she very well knew just how much she might have had to struggle.
"Okay K-Kaki!" Imlie said with a smile but it dint go unnoticed by Aparna that it did not reach her eyes. Imlie's eyes held a streak of pain along with warmth, gratitude and respect and Aparna could recognise it for this very shade had been a frequent sight in her eyes. Patting her head, she signalled Imlie to see where the ingredients were kept as she went on to point and explain where what was kept. After explaining everything, she moved out of the kitchen to the hall.
Imlie gathered the ingredients she needed and tied her dupatta around her waist, bringing it from the top. Pushing her hairs back, she washed her hands in the sink and set to prepare a meal of Chapati- Kurma and Kheer.
As Imlie got busy in preparing the dishes, Aparna was sitting in the hall and observing her through the CCTV. She was really impressed with her hygiene and her way of working. She smiled and shut the iPod.
30 mins later
Imlie walked out of the kitchen with a tray of filled containers and neatly arranged them on the table. Placing the needed cutlery and a glass of water, she called out to Aparna.
"Done? What have you made? " Aparna asked with a smile even as she settled on the dinning chair.
"Yes Kaki, it's done. I have made Chapati-Kurma and Kheer"
"Nice choice." Aparna said and Imlie smiled. It was indeed a good choice. Considering the time, Chapati-Kurma was proper and light with Kheer as a dessert.
Imlie served everything neatly and Aparna tasted the food.
"Wow Imlie! This is so delicious!!" Aparna exclaimed making Imlie smile widely.
"Thank you Kaki!" she said with a wide smile.
" Take and plate and you also have some"
"No! No Kaki! I just had my food and came." Imlie politely refused.
"How is your daughter? What's her name?"
"She's fine Kaki. And her name is Meghna" Imlie said nervously, hoping she wouldn't be questioned about Meghna's father's name.
"Meghna, it's a really nice name. How old is she?"
"She's six now Kaki" Imlie said
"Oh okay. So Imlie, you're hired. You can start coming from tomorrow. Your timings shall be from 7 in the morning to 6 in the evening. Incase your daughter needs something or there's any emergency , you can talk to me about it. I'll see in what way I can help. You'll have to cook all three meals of the day and in between would have to cater to beverage demands. In between whatever time you get, you can come to me and I'll assign you certain tasks. Regarding your salary, I'll be paying you cash at the end of each month. So this much is clear? Is there something you might want to ask?"
"N-no nothing Kaki! T-thank you s-so much" Imlie said with a wide smile and tears in her eyes. Aparna patted her head and Imlie then left.
Things would be getting better! They already are!
Love,
PSR
CID
