A Plate Full of Gratitude

I woke up to a beautiful Saturday morning, with raindrops splashing onto my balcony. Sitting down with a hot cup of kadak chai, I started pondering on the age-old question: What to make for breakfast? This seemingly simple query can be the most challenging part of any household’s morning routine. While I was lost in my thoughts, the doorbell rang. It was my cook, who typically prepares our lunch and dinner.

To stay connected with basic cooking, I had continued with the responsibility of making breakfast every day and some special dishes over the weekends like the famous date palm jaggery kheer or my daughter's favourite- white pasta. I felt an emotional tug for my daughter, thinking about the special memories I wanted her to have of her Maa's cooking. The aroma of a dish and the memories associated with it for her to carry wherever life would take her, were my heartfelt desires.

Seeing my cook arrive so early in the morning filled me with unexpected hope. After a hectic work week, all I wanted was to relax, gazing at the beautiful rain while enjoying my cuppa. So when I saw her at the door, my eyes lit up. She hurried inside and headed straight to the kitchen. Switching on the gas stove, she announced, "Didi, jaldi sab log baitho aur garam garam puran poli khayo" (Maharashtrian specialty of chapati stuffed with jaggery and cooked in ghee).

In that very moment, I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. I hugged her and thanked her deeply. She lives almost an hour away and has a big family of her own. I began to calculate what time she must have woken up to bring this plate full of joy to my home. My heart swelled with gratitude.

The next few minutes were spent savoring this mouth-watering delicacy while making weekend plans. Every bite was relished with heartfelt appreciation for my cook.

• This remarkable lady showed me that you don't need a lot of money to be kind or to serve others, you just need a big heart.

• You don’t always have to stick to what you’re paid for; going that extra mile can create magic. The happiness in giving is a reward that you must experience to truly understand its beauty.

There are countless profound lessons I've been learning in my journey called life, and this experience deeply touched my heart.

Note: Please do write to me if you have any such story to share, or if you also relate to this through any such experience from your life:)