Breakfast Until Morning.

Renu herself is a fussy eater, and so are the people in her house. Whether it’s her sons, her daughter, or even her grandson. Suman is a very simple and homely girl who does not like wasting food at all.

One day, Renu says to Suman, “Suman, for many days, I’ve been craving something different to eat. But I don’t say anything, lest your work increases.” “It’s nothing like that, Mummyji. I’ll make *something* for breakfast. I’ll make whatever you say.” “No, no, Bahu, you already do so much work. I don’t want to burden you further.”

“Hey, what kind of talk is that, Mummyji? Just tell me whenever you feel like eating something.” “Alright, fine. Listen, why don’t you make me some green moong dal cheelas with hot stuffing?” “Okay, Mummyji. Everyone likes cheelas a lot, so I’ll make a little extra. It will do for the afternoon too.”

Suman prepares everything for the moong dal cheelas. Then she prepares a nice stuffing for them with beans, carrots, cabbage, and paneer. After preparing the stuffing, Suman thinks, ‘Let me make coriander and garlic chutney to go with it. Then it will feel like we’re eating at a party. I’ll be free in the evening too. I’ll just have to cook the cheelas for everyone.’

Suman quickly makes the coriander and garlic chutney and calls everyone to the table for breakfast. “Bahu, it smells very good. The taste of cheelas with garlic chutney is something else, brother.” “I won’t eat these cheelas with garlic chutney, Bhabhi. You know I don’t eat garlic and onion.” “Hey, calm down, Nanaji. I know everything. That’s why I also made coriander-mint chutney. Now it’s okay, right?” “Yes, then it’s fine, I’ll eat. Actually, I don’t particularly like cheelas.” “Hey, it’s okay, right? Eating it once won’t hurt. Mummyji really wanted to eat moong dal cheelas, that’s why I made them.” “Always your favourite lachchas, what do you people call them? Chowmein. It’s much better than that. They just want to eat maida.” “Mom, I don’t eat chowmein. I like noodles.” “Hey, it’s the same thing.” “They are not the same, Mom. There’s a big difference between the two.” “Fine. Don’t tell me, Sir. Let me eat now.” “It’s made very tasty, Suman. I ate at a wedding yesterday, and this tastes even better.” “Yes, Mom, I really like it too.”

Everyone likes the cheelas very much, except Priyanka. Suman feeds everyone, eats herself, and then goes to her room to rest. Priyanka is going to a movie with her friends, and apart from her, everyone else liked the cheelas. ‘So today I can go to the kitty party comfortably.’

Suman rests and then serves lunch for everyone, saying, “I’m making cheelas, everyone come and eat.” “Hey, Babu, cheelas again? No, I can’t eat them now. Make me dal-rice.” “But, Papa, I made cheelas for everyone. There’s still a lot of batter left. Who will eat that then?” “I don’t know, Bahu. I’ll eat dal-rice. You feed it to the others and then make it for me. There’s no such hurry. Cheelas are very heavy anyway. Actually, I’m not even hungry now, Bhabhi. Now that you’re making dal-rice anyway, I’ll eat that too. I’m not asking for anything special, I’ll eat whatever you’re making.” “Bahu, you just make dal-rice for now. I might eat the cheelas, but what if my stomach gets upset later? I’m getting old too, you know. I feel like eating, but for now, I’ll just have dal-rice. Me too.”

Suman’s face falls. She made so much since morning, yet she has to cook separately now. ‘Everyone has ruined my life like this. Even if I eat for two days, it won’t finish. Let me do one thing, I’ll give everyone cheelas at night, and for now, everyone will eat dal-rice.’

Suman makes dal-rice and gives it to everyone. “With this, if there was potato-onion chokha, it would be even better. Will you make some?” “Yes, yes, I’ll make it.” “The taste of hot dal-rice in the afternoon is something else. That’s what your mother used to make always. Ever since the bahu came, the rules of this house have changed. Good thing. I also ate lightly, otherwise who knows what would happen.”

Everyone eats, drinks, and goes to rest, and Suman’s heart becomes sad. ‘My life is no less than a servant’s. Just keep doing for others, forgetting yourself. There’s so much batter left, I can’t even throw it away.’ Suman makes cheelas for herself and eats them.

In the evening, Suman goes to her team and gets late. “Dude, why are you always late?” “What to do, sister? Cook food at the in-laws’ all day. Don’t even ask, it’s like no one even wants to eat. But everyone has different demands. I’m fed up. That’s why I get late.” “Until my brother-in-law gets married, I won’t get peace.” “Watch, when your sister-in-law comes, these people will improve. No one tolerates as much as you.” “No, dude, my in-laws are a little different. They aren’t the type to change.” “Hey, girls these days can change anyone. What’s so special about your in-laws?”

Suman gets late returning from the kitty and serves everyone cheelas again. “Bhabhi, now what? Will you feed us this three times a day? I made a mistake by even saying it.” “Hey, I didn’t know, Bahu, that you’d feed this three times. Let it be, Bahu. I don’t even want to eat.” Lalit gets up and leaves, and the others also leave without eating. ‘What is this? I’ll have to cook again. These people are emotionally torturing me. Fine, do it. Until Sunil gets married. Then someone will come to support me in this house.’

Poor Suman, tired and exhausted, cooks food and gives it to everyone. She gets so tired that she doesn’t eat herself. ‘From tomorrow, I’ll make only as much as lasts until breakfast. Why should I be the one to suffer eating leftovers? What do I care about saving their money? Whatever is left, I’ll give to the cow, but I won’t save it for anyone.’

The next morning, Suman makes poha for breakfast and serves it to everyone. The poha is so liked by everyone that they all praise it. “Bhabhi, now teach Chandni to make poha too.” “Yes, it’s just a matter of a month now. Then she will also come into this house and help you.” “Yes, yes, I’ll teach her. I also wish I could sit and eat food like everyone else.”

Suman makes only enough poha to last until breakfast. At lunchtime, Suman makes dal-rice and chokha. ‘Now I’ll only make what these people eat.’ Suman serves everyone food. Seeing the food, Renu says, “Bahu, how much leftover will you eat? Do one thing, give me the morning poha.” “Mummyji, that finished in the morning.” “What, Bhabhi, you should have made a little more. You made it so tasty.” “It’s okay, I’ll make it some other day.” “Bhabhi, make it now. I feel like eating that.” “Hey, there’s already so much food, right?” “Hey, Bahu, make it, I’ll also take a little.”

Now, Suman, after making so much food, makes poha again for everyone and eats dal-rice herself until night. ‘There’s still so much rice left. I’ll give it to the cow. I can’t even eat this much alone.’

Days start passing like this. Poor Suman doesn’t understand what to do. She cooks food and gives the leftovers to the cow. One day, Aashish angrily says to Suman, “How did the ration bill get so high? It never used to be this much before. Run the house a little carefully. If the bill comes like this, it’s over.” “Now what should I do? Everyone wants to eat food of their own choice. Sometimes this, sometimes that. And I’m the one eating all the leftover food. And what will I do? Sometimes it has to be fed to the cow. I can’t do anything about the bill now.”

Suman and Aashish have an argument, and bitterness enters their relationship.

Meanwhile, the time for Sunil’s wedding arrives. Ten days before the wedding, a cook is hired for the house. No one has any problem with food, nor does Suman. Sunil and Chandni get married, and officially Chandni becomes Renu’s daughter-in-law and Suman’s sister-in-law. Suman feels a sense of relief that someone has come to support her.

It’s Chandni’s first time cooking, and Suman tells her, “Chandni, today is your first time cooking, make only as much as finishes right now, otherwise no one here eats leftovers.” “Bhabhi, it’s not like that, is it, that everything is measured? More is always made, and if someone asks for more, you make it again. It’s not like that, is it, Bhabhi? The cook will just keep cooking.” “In this house, that’s exactly how it is, brother.”

Chandni makes kadhai paneer, poori, and kheer and serves everyone. “The food smells very good, beta, but I can’t eat such oily food. You make upma for me.” “Yes, Bahu, we’ve been eating just dal-rice for so many days. We’re tired of eating. All this is upsetting our stomachs.” “Okay, I’ll make upma.”

Chandni makes upma, and meanwhile, Suman serves food to the rest. After feeding everyone, the two sisters-in-law sit down to eat. “There’s so much left, Bhabhi. Let’s do one thing, we’ll all eat this in the afternoon, and I’ll make something for Mummyji-Papa ji, whatever they say.” “Chandni, no one will eat this apart from the two of us. In the afternoon, these people prefer rice and chokha, that’s what they eat.” “So we two will eat all this?” “Yes, we’ll have to eat.” “Alright, okay. From tomorrow, I’ll make only as much as is enough for breakfast in the morning. Not a single grain extra.”

In the afternoon, Chandni makes rice and dal for everyone and serves it. Everyone eats and is very happy. Then Aashish says, “Chandni, make chowmein and Manchurian at night. Haven’t had homemade in a long time.” “Okay, Bhaiya. For Mom and Dad, I’ll make something else.” “Why something else, brother? I also want to eat chowmein. With chowmein, I’ll also eat roti.” “Okay. I’ll make it, Papa ji.”

Chandni makes both roti and chowmein at night and serves everyone. But the two sisters-in-law themselves eat the morning’s leftovers. “Now you must have understood, Chandni.” “Yes, Bhabhi, I understand very well. And what to do next? That too. Here, eat chowmein.” “I won’t, I can’t eat anything right now. The poori was too much. Now I can’t eat anything. We’ll eat tomorrow morning.” “Okay. Then I’ll also eat with you tomorrow.”

Chandni and Suman keep their share of chowmein aside.

The next day, the two sisters-in-law get busy making breakfast. Today, they make kachori and sabzi for breakfast and serve everyone. Seeing the breakfast, Priyanka says, “Bhabhi, is there chowmein? I found the chowmein and Manchurian very tasty.” Suman, who is straightforward, was about to say there is chowmein. But Chandni, pressing her hand to stop her, says, “No, Didi, the chowmein finished last night itself. We make only as much as finishes at that time.” “Bhabhi, will you make it now? I want to eat that.” “No, Didi, it won’t be possible now. There’s already this food, right? We have to finish this.” “Okay, you make it for me in the afternoon. Don’t make food for me at that time.” Priyanka leaves without eating breakfast. “Didi, who will eat this? So much will be wasted, right?” “Hey, nothing will be wasted. I won’t eat it. Suman Bhabhi will eat it for breakfast and lunch too.” “Didi, the thing is, now everyone will have to eat their own share of food. And until the person whose food is there eats it, more won’t be made. And if someone wants it made, they should make it themselves. We won’t make it.”

Priyanka leaves with a scowl, and everyone starts eating their food with their heads down in fear. “Mom, I also want to eat chowmein. But look, I finished my breakfast.” “Okay, beta. I’ll make chowmein for you.” “Yes.”

Everyone eats breakfast and gets busy with their work. Then Suman and Chandni sit down to eat with the chowmein and Manchurian. “Chandni, why did you say that to Didi? I would have made it. Poor thing left without eating.” “Bhabhi, you’re the one who spoiled these people. That’s why. Now see, they will get breakfast only until morning. Then they will understand the value of food and the one who cooks it. On one hand, eat leftovers because of them, and on the other, they don’t even respect us.” “Yes, you’re right.”

“Mayank, come, beta, eat some chowmein.” Mayank comes running. Priyanka, hearing the noise from her room, comes quietly and sees Suman giving chowmein to Mayank. Chandni and Suman are eating chowmein, laughing. Priyanka’s mind gets hot. ‘Here I am hungry, and these two are eating happily. Now where did the chowmein come from? Just now she was pretending and saying there isn’t any.’

“This is not right, Didi. You should just stay quiet. I’m talking to them. Speak, Chandni Bhabhi.” “Didi, first, talk to Bhabhi with respect. Second, I refused chowmein only because I heard you don’t eat leftovers. And third, this was our share that we didn’t eat yesterday because we ate leftovers the whole day yesterday.”

Everyone gathers there. Priyanka says, clapping, “Wow, will these Madams now set new rules in this house? Sunil Bhaiya, explain to her. In this house, whatever anyone says, that will be made. Don’t consider yourself the mistress.” Priyanka leaves, and Renu says, “Suman, she has just come. Why are you behaving like a child? Hey, you could have made chowmein for her. She is also like your child. You spoiled the morning atmosphere of the house over a small matter.”

Chandni gets very angry. After everyone leaves, Chandni says to Suman, “I will teach these people a lesson. It’s that simple. Do they think the bahu is a maid? Nothing will happen, Chandni. No one can make these people understand. It’s been 5 years since my marriage, but nothing happened.” “Bhabhi, this time I am here, not you.”

The next day, Chandni cooks only as much food as is enough for breakfast, one serving for everyone. Chandni makes idlis, counting exactly four for each person. The idlis were very tasty. “Bahu, give some more idli.” “Papa ji, we made only this much, counting for everyone.” “Beta, since when did all this start in our own house?” “Mummyji, from now on, this is how it will be. No one will eat more. And if you ask to make more, everyone will have to eat the leftovers. Breakfast will be available only until morning.” “But where is this ‘until morning’? Everyone eats only this much daily. If they are eating more today, what can we do? You eat your food. I don’t need it.” Priyanka starts to leave. Suman tries to stop her, but Chandni says, “Bhabhi, let her be. Anyway, she ate her share of four idlis. From now on, there’s no need for me to cook her food.”

Chandni tightens her belt. The atmosphere in the house also heats up. In the afternoon too, Chandni cooks food by measure. “Bahu, give some chokha.” “Papa ji, it’s finished. There was only that much. If I made more, it would have to be thrown away. I can’t bear so much waste.” Lalit’s mouth shuts.

Now Chandni makes only as much breakfast as lasts until morning. It won’t carry over from one mealtime to the next. She also stops making breakfast for Priyanka. A week passes like this.

One day, Renu says, “Bahu, I feel like eating moong dal cheelas with garlic chutney.” “Okay, Mummyji, I’ll make it tomorrow for breakfast.” “Come, beta, Mummyji, you tell me, how many will you eat? I mean, one cheela, two cheelas?” Chandni starts asking everyone how many cheelas they will eat and starts writing it down too. Renu says angrily, “You two have created a mess. Our food has become so burdensome. Now food will be cooked by counting? There’s no need for you two to cook. I’ve been watching for so many days. You two mind your own, we’ll manage our food.” “Okay, Mummyji.”

Now Chandni cooks food for herself, Suman, and Mayank, and Renu starts ordering food from outside for herself and the others. “Good thing, Mom, you ordered from outside. The airs of these two have become too much. Mom, give one more poori.” “Hey, it’s finished. We only ordered this much. I’ll order more in the afternoon.” “Oh, it’s okay, Mom.”

In the afternoon, Aashish orders food, and too much comes. While eating, Aashish says, “Let’s do one thing. Keep the leftover. We’ll heat it and eat it at night.” “I’m not going to eat it.” “Hey, money is spent. What do you care? It goes from my pocket, so I understand.” “That’s right. How will it work if we throw away so much?” “I’m not eating it.”

At night, Aashish and Renu eat the leftover food without heating it. This continues for two-three days. Aashish and Renu become unhappy eating cold food. Then Aashish says angrily, “Now I understand why Suman and Chandni didn’t do all this. How troubled those two must have been. Whoever wants to create drama, go ahead. I’ll eat whatever Suman gives. At least it’s better than outside food. My stomach got upset in two days. On top of that, I’m the one who has to eat the cold leftovers. Me too, brother, I’ll also eat with the bahus now.”

Aashish and Renu, admitting their mistake, go to Suman. “Bahu, from today, I’ll eat whatever you make.” “Me too.” Then, from behind, Priyanka, Lalit, and Sunil come and say, “Us too, us too, us too.” “Now the camel has come to the foot of the mountain. Priyanka, your airs are the most. These two also had problems which we couldn’t understand. We just kept looking after ourselves, and these people couldn’t even enjoy the food they cooked themselves. But after today, this won’t happen. Chandni, you did the right thing, otherwise my Suman is very simple. From now on, we will all eat together, whatever it is.”

Because of Chandni, Suman’s condition also improves.