The Awesomely made Paneer

Work from home had become a habit by then for most people amidst this lockdown, yet everyone had their daily routines set for the long haul to office and back. Hence, the advent of few people in your life was irreversible and they did stick to their timelines. 

For us corporate honchos, all we ever need is a laptop and an internet connection and we can slave our asses for eternity towards all typical non transactional stuff which gave no meaning to life. But for some wfh was never an option, cause that would mean no-pay! I am not talking of daily wage earners here there has been lots of posts regarding the same. In my blogs I am just going to touch upon a few softer aspects of my life amidst this pandemic and the people who surrounded me without whom survival would have come at a premium.

I had a typical corporate job, wake up at 7:30 and off to work at 9 am and back late evening at 8 pm. I had recently shifted to an unfurnished 1 BHK apartment in East Delhi, while my office was in the far end of Noida off the expressway. It had been just a week since I had appointed a new maid for cleaning and cooking and she had agreed for the early morning slot of 7:30 am. Which ideally meant, that I had a human alarm clock and someone who would also cook my lunch for office. We had the agreement that the time would remain constant throughout the week except Sunday! 

And she arrived as promised every day and cooked decent meals (the paneer she makes is awesome!). Then all of a sudden we witnessed an event called Janta Curfew followed by total lockdown and I had to cook for myself the rest of the month of March as my apartment had restricted the entry of maids. Nevertheless, I loved to cook hence that was never an issue for me, yes doing the dishes certainly were but I got used to it over a period of time. 

She again started coming April onwards, when lockdown and wfh was at its peak and hence waking up at 7:30 was certainly an impossible task. Being at home everyday without any physical activity was really getting into me, I had difficulty sleeping at night. I got some sleep in the wee hours of the morning and she came at her designated time and most of the days I missed opening the door. Later on I switched to the alarm again, so she was no more the human alarm clock for me unfortunately. 

I remember her story in bits and patches as that time I just had enough muscle power to just open the door for her and tell her what to cook for the day.

One fine morning while I was busy sleeping with my laptop open in front of me. She was trying to tell me something but all that registered in my mind was nothing! Even the same happened next day. Finally on the 3rd day I really wanted to know what she was saying to me all along. I woke up early that day and waited for her to come. I tried speaking to her and she told me that there was not a single morsel to eat at her home and that she and her husband had not eaten anything for the past 2 days, all their savings were only to feed their 2 year old daughter! Her husband had a 'Kulfi ka thela' which had seen no business because of the lockdown, she had been working in 2-3 other homes but they refused to pay her the salary for the full month! I was ashamed at myself that even I had done the same. But I knew that mending a mistake is better than repenting one. I immediately took to my wallet and gave her 300 rupees (that's all the cash I had) and also told her to take some rice, pulses and potatoes onions for her home from my kitchen. She was overwhelmed at the gesture but said no to any groceries but yes she took the 300 rupees. I could feel that she was not feeling good about it and it was equivalent to begging for her because she had already got the money for her hard work! I could sense the tears in her eyes yet could not muster the courage of looking straight at them. I knew I was yet looking at the condition of the larger part of the country, how the poor were affected by all this fiasco. Its not just the poor, everyone was affected in some way or the other. 

What I did for her did not nullify the problems in her life but at least she forgot about them maybe for a minute while having a meal after 2 days and sleeping with her stomach full. That feeling is enough for me to have a good nights sleep. All I did was nothing but an Act of Random Kindness. Something which the world needs to do often.

These are all real life incidents, and I intend to cover up few of these during my days in Quarantine. I did meet up with typical folks during this time and she is one such. She still comes to clean and cook, yet we have never spoken except telling her what to do. But somehow I feel she is doing better now. How I can feel that? By the taste of the paneer that she makes. I know she is doing well when the paneer tastes super awesome, and I know she is not doing well when the salt is less. I simply know, because a persons mood reflects on the work that you do. I just pray that she and her family stay well.