A few days passed, and we spoke to multiple people in search of a maid and a cook. Finally, we hired a maid named Nirisha. Her work was fast and efficient; the only issue was that she didn't understand Hindi, and we didn't know Telugu. To bridge this language gap, I often had to call Nirisha’s husband, Ramcharan, who also happened to be the security guard of our building.
My days became significantly easier once we also found a cook, an Odia man named Ramakant, who came in early every morning at 6:30 am. He had a vast knowledge of various dishes, making our meals both diverse and delicious.
Today, I got up early to open the door for Ramakant, as Ashwin was still asleep. "Hi Ramakant Bhai," I greeted him warmly as he stepped inside.
Ramakant replied humbly, "Namaste, Madam," as he stepped into the flat. He went straight to the kitchen, washed his hands, and began chopping vegetables. "Madam, what would you like for breakfast today?" he asked.
With a smile, I responded, "Bhai, please make rotis, dal, rice, potato gravy, and baingan bharta." Ramakant nodded and continued with his work.
I headed back to the bedroom, grabbed my clothes, and went into the washroom. When I returned, Ashwin was already awake. The poor guy had been working late the previous night. I suggested he get some more sleep, but he shook his head, indicating no. I didn't press the issue and left the room.
The enticing aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, making my stomach growl, but I knew I needed to complete my morning prayers first. Changing my path, I went to the prayer room. By the time I finished my prayers, I heard a knock at the door. It was Ramakant, informing me that Nirisha had arrived.
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Nirisha entered and immediately began her household chores with her usual efficiency. The presence of our dedicated help made our home run like a well-oiled machine.
Feeling a sense of satisfaction, I returned to the living room, where Ashwin was now sitting with a cup of tea. "Good morning again," I greeted him.
"Good morning," he replied, smiling. "It smells amazing in here. Ramakant is doing a great job."
"Yes, he is. We're really lucky to have him and Nirisha," I agreed, feeling grateful for the support we had.
We both enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, appreciating the delicious food and the smooth routine we were settling into. The day ahead seemed promising, filled with the comforting knowledge that our home was becoming a true haven of efficiency and warmth.
Ramakant had finished his task of cooking and left. I entered the kitchen and began transferring the food into casseroles and packing our lunch boxes. Ashwin, now ready for the day, joined me. I served breakfast for both of us. Ashwin ate while intermittently checking his phone for updates.
Eating in harmony, we both appreciated the help of our household staff. It allowed us to focus more on our work and spend quality time together. Ashwin broke the comfortable silence, "Dolly, your family is coming to visit next week."
Surprised, I replied, "They didn't mention anything to me."
Ashwin continued, "I invited them. I thought it would be nice since your brother has holidays. They can spend a few days here with us."
I nodded, feeling touched by his thoughtfulness. "That's a great idea, Ashwin. Thank you."
Meanwhile, Nirisha had completed her chores and quietly exited. We finished our breakfast, feeling grateful for the support that helped streamline our daily routine. After cleaning up, we both left for our respective destinations.
As we walked out together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Life was slowly falling into place, and I was excited about the upcoming visit from my family. It would be a wonderful opportunity to show them our new home and spend some quality time together.