Chicken ya Mutton

My maid had started coming everyday (almost!) since April and I was happy and sad at the same time. Why sad? Because she could not cook non-vegetarian! Her core compentencies were vegetarian food and she showed outstanding performance with Paneer. 

Now me being a hardcore Bengali guy (means I could swim the English Channel in search for Hilsa!), and a non-vegetarian by heart, body and soul could manage paneer only if it came free or if it was a complimentary starter in a buffet dinner. But circumstances saw me buying paneer from a nearby dairy and yes I did also try the evergreen 'Rajma' (An orgasmic dish for north Indians). Yet the inner me (outer one as well) was dying to dig my hands in some chicken, mutton or fish (nicknamed bliss). 

In came the infamous shop in Mayur Vihar who delivered raw chicken at home 'Chik Plaza'. 

I called them up one day once I knew they are open and also delivering.

A perfect gentleman picked up the call and without listening anything just spoke like marathon for a minute. I was getting on my nerves because everytime I called someone the utterly disgusting corona lady spoke up in her sweet voice! Sermonising us about the causes, effects and the precautions of corona virus. Trust me all my knowledge about this virus only came from her. 

He said "Chick Plaza! Chicken ya mutton. Home delivery available. Fixed slots morning 10-12 and evening 4-7. Minimum order 200 rupees. Cash, paytm both accepted." His tone at times went in a sing song way while ending the half constructed sentences. 

I held on to myself because that was yet another lot of valid information. And ordered "1 kg of whole chicken and do you have fish?"

"No sir fish not available only chicken ya mutton" the mutton was sing song here.

Fine! Lets settle for chicken then. I told him my address and he promised the delivery time at 6 PM. Ample time for me to cook the entire dish and savour it with rice and some salad. I was on cloud 99. Chicken after a month! That's not your stomach saying, that's your heart!

The promised chicken arrived way before time at 5:30. I was just about to shut the flap of my laptop after another day of slogging when the doorbell rang. Surprised is something which I really was at that time. Who is calling upon me in such a time? Now your brain functions in quick accordance and approval from the heart in some cases. I had not seen my best half for more than a month now (Trust me! Thats way too long a time, 30 seconds was a high enough figure for me) and I thought maybe its her giving me a surprise! How unrealistic the heart is? 

I opened the door and all my excitement just flushed out like a perfect toilet flush. A figure stood before me clad in a black jeans, a black T-shirt, a black face mask and a black cap! The all white section were his eyes peeking at me.

"Sir! Aapka chicken. 235 hua hai." 

I send him the money on paytm and he left saying "OK Sir very thank"

I recognised the voice! It was the same sing song tone I heard on the phone. And I realised (later verified) that he is the only staff working in that shop and hence he had fixed the delivery slots! Can you call it dedication? Or what? Maybe just an Act of Random Kindness!