Page 161 - Musings 2021

Ramu begins to frantically grind the black peppers into a powder. Shambhu gets back on all
fours and begins to scamper around for the lemons. Vivek struggles to fish out the huge tawa
from the pile of dishes resting on the sink

Vivek: Holy cow!! This old tawa is bigger than me. What happened to the smaller one we
had??
Ramu: Someone forgot to turn the stove down yesterday and it has a leak. It is at the
repairman’s place.

Sridhar: (slightly angry at Vivek) Stop stalling and get to work or I’ll toss you into the pan.

Vivek frantically gets to work as Sridhar washes the rice and places it into the cooker. After
peeling the onions and lemons, Shambhu opens the window to toss out the garbage. A gust of
wind rushes through the small window and some freshly ground pepper blows up in Ramu’s
face.

Ramu: (wincing in pain as his eyes and nose were burning) AAAAAhhhh!!! Who opened
that window? This stuff is stinging my face. I can’t see!! (And he proceeds to go into a
sneezing fit)

Vivek: (sneaks in a sly dig) Join the club Ramu anna.

Sridhar: Go wash your face. You are useless anyways. Shambhu, toss the remaining pepper
into boiling water and finish the rasam. And Vivek, where the hell is that pan?

Vivek: (carrying a huge cooker) on the way Sir.

Sridhar: (as he tosses in the onions and lemons into the rice and places it into the cooker)
about time, young man.

(Sridhar places the pan on the stove and flares it up. Vivek observes intently as the chef
begins to work. He tosses in the onions and lemons and adds some oil and adds the cooked
rice to it. Shambhu is again on the floor fetching more lemons.)

Sridhar spots the cleaner boy gazing at him and it makes him uncomfortable.

Sridhar: Do I have to issue specific instructions to clean the rest of the dishes also? I need two
plates now. This will hardly take a minute.

Vivek: (flustered) no. I’ll get back to it.

Vivek rushes to his station, digs his hands into the dirty pile, and brings out two plates.

He frantically begins to clean them as the service boy walks in again.

Srini: Um sir, are we ready? The customer is getting fidgety and...

Vivek: (cuts him off midway and shouts) Plates ready. Take these for now. The rice will be
there shortly.

Sridhar: Hey wait!! The rasam is done. Take that. Vivek, clean up a bowl quickly. The rice
will be here shortly. Take it served on the plates.

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