Changing cook
Pradip was working hard to get things in right way. He knew that he would get payment only if he did it in right way. He was so happy when last time he got payment. He even got some extra money for his hard work. Pradip was happy to get more money every time. He decided that he might needed to cook some extra pastries. Actually, he worked for one family. They had one daughter Sheetal. So, household had just three members. He supposed to take care of everything. He needed to clean & cook. He also washed pots & put clothes in washing machine. There were lots of jobs inside that house which he did throughout day. He was feeling so positive regarding getting good payment. This time he needed larger salary to send home. His wife wanted bigger house so with help of one relative he managed to find one land. He purchased it & now they were building nice house on it. He needed money for that. He was working hard to earn better. He needed to keep working. He was cooking pastries to please Sheetal Madam. Sheetal was college going girl. She loved sweets. She did have little bit weight issue but Pradip always convinced her that it was not some big matter. Pradip was favourite of Sheetal just due to it. Sheetal’s father kept taunting about her weight. Her mother diplomatically avoided subject. Pradip was only person who claimed that she was perfect in weight. Pradip kept telling Sheetal that in village slim girls were not considered beautiful at all. Pradip managed to make her so happy. She was feeling on top of the world just due to his positive attitude. Pradip arranged all & waiting for her. Doorbell rang; He immediately opened door. He looked outside. Sheetal was standing there with her friend. He didn’t know anything about this friend. He just smiled & said “Sheetal Didi who is this?” Sheetal suddenly gave him angry look. Sheetal “ Do you feel I need to introduce you to my every guest?” He didn’t say anything. He felt so hurt. Pradip said “I am sorry. I just want to ask you is she related to you? I mean if you have more guests then I will cook more.” Pradip smiled. He was trying his best to hide his emotions. Sheetal gave one angry look & said “No. She is my friend & she came with me from college. Go & cook something for us.” “What about pasties?” He asked happily. Sheetal “I don’t want pastries. I am dieting. But bring them for my friend & make some salad for me.” Pradip just heard about Salad but he never made. Pradip “I never cooked Salad.” “Idiot! Just cut vegetables & bring them.” Pradip nodded. But Sheetal’s friend started laughing. Sheetal’s friend “Salad needs cooking skill to make it healthy & tasty. We need to add some juice etc for taste. Your cook is just useless.” Then they went in room. He felt so sad.
Sheetal was so
happy that she treated Pradip in insulting way. She began to look towards her
friend Ragini. Ragini smiled sweetly. Ragini said slowly “Your cook is not
someone special. He doesn’t even know how to cook salads. You are admiring him
without cause.” Sheetal nodded. She began to sense that she needed to become
practical. Until now she kept admiring Pradip when he was nothing but her one
stupid servant. On that point Pradip came with pastries & he also brought
some cut cucumbers, tomatoes & carrots. She looked towards them. He added
some salt & some chat on them. Sheetal understood one thing. He didn’t know
how to cook salad for her. He was not useful for her. Pradip served them &
asked “Sheetal Didi all work is over can I go home?” He didn’t stay there whole
day. He normally went away in evening. Sheetal nodded. Ragini “So he doesn’t
cook dinner?” “No Madam I have already cooked it. I put it in Microwave…”
Sheetal “No need to lecture my friend. Just go.” Pradip nodded & left. As
soon he went out, Sheetal slowly started talking. Sheetal “Maybe I need to
change cook?” “Yes. You need to change.” Ragini said it with confirmation.
Sheetal “I will talk with my parents.” Then Sheetal called her mom & said “Mom
Pradip can’t cook salads & arrogantly declared it before my friend. He is
behaving in odd way.” “I don’t understand what did you mean?” “Mom he is
looking too much towards that cupboard.” “I don’t understand...” “Mom I feel he
wanted to steal. Let’s remove him.” Sheetal was tense. Her Mom might object.
But her mom didn’t argue. Mom “Fine. I will talk to him. But you need to find
new cook.” “It’s okay Mom. I will find one.” Sheetal didn’t have any plan about
next cook but she knew that she could find one with help of Ragini. Her Mom
agreed. Sheetal was happy. Pradip was traveling when Sheetal’s Mom called &
told him that he was no longer needed. He asked clearly “What happened Madam?”
“Sheetal need dietician to lose her weight & then she will need another
cook who can cook food which suit her diet.” Pradip felt so sad. He needed to know
anything about diet food. Pradip “Okay Madam. You can send me money. I will not
come from tomorrow.” Pradip felt sad. Now he needed to find new job. He began
to do inquiries. It was upsetting to not have a job. He called his wife &
told all. His wife “We have this land. If you don’t find job you can come
back.” “Yes, it will give me few days.” Then Pradip began to search for new
jobs. He knew in his heart that it was hard to get new job but still he decided
that he needed to try. He began to call his friends. He even called that lady
who gave him first job. But all answered negatively. He stayed in his room for
some days. But soon it began to feel as if giving rent was big burden. He
decided to go back. When he began to plan to go back, he decided that he might
needed to collect few things which he wanted to take with him in his home. He
purchased all & he went back permanently. His life in city was over for
him.
Sheetal was
happy to get rid of Pradip. She was hoping that after entry of new cook her
weight would start reducing. Pradip was basic cause of her fatness. She started
searching for new cook. Soon she found one. She called that lady. This cook
appeared so nice on mobile. It was just wonderful the way she wanted. Sheetal
fixed timing of that cook. She called Ragini & told Ragini about that cook
too. Ragini was also excited about all. Sheetal called that cook. On that time
Ragini came too. They both liked appearance of that cook. But when that cook
started to do cooking everything was changed. They sensed that cook didn’t have
much skill in cooking. They didn’t want to accept it but Sheetal began to feel
nervous. She was not expecting such a setback. Sheetal knew that now her
parents would taste it & complaint. She began to get nervous. Ragini
literally began to scream on that cook. Immediately that cook turned towards
Sheetal & said “You called me. If you don’t want me, I will go.” She felt
so nervous. Sheetal needed someone. Sheetal smiled & said “My friend was
joking.” Then cook finished her cooking & left. Sheetal began to get so
nervous. She had invited wrong cook. She needed cook so she kept that cook. She
looked towards food. It was disgusting to taste. She kept trying hard to feel
normal. But she was certain her parents would blame her. She didn’t say
anything. Ragini just said “I am getting late & managed to escape.” Sheetal
was standing alone with that food. She began to regret her decision to fire
Pradip. She called him on that time for first time. Pradip was searching for
job but he didn’t have money to get balance for his mobile so he didn’t able to
take call. Sheetal kept trying unsuccessfully. Finally, her parents came home.
Her Mom tried hard to adjust with food. Her dad just declared that he had eaten
outside. She knew that it was not truth. Her dad was going to order food from some
restaurant. She heard him telling her mom. “I can’t tolerate that food.” “It’s
diet food. You need to adjust for our daughter.” “Don’t tell me nonsense. It is
full of oil.” Mom suggested dad to calm down & they went in their bedroom.
It was frustrating for them. Sheetal started crying. From that day she kept
calling Pradip again & again. She didn’t sense how many times she was
calling. Pradip didn’t able to pick up her call until he didn’t reach to
village. But when he reached to village, he immediately took loan for handling
his land. He wanted to concentrate just on land. He observed her calls &
decided to ignore them. But his wife saw them & got angry. “Who is this?” “This
is my last employee?” “She is calling you like mad woman. I feel she is in love
with you.” He began to laugh. He said “She insulted me & throw me out of my
job.” “Since she wanted to keep you away, she is totally in love with you.” He laughed. Pradip “I am not going back so no
need to worry.” Pradip called Sheetal’s mom & told her that he was settled
in village. He didn’t want job. Mom was shocked to learn Sheetal was calling
this way. It was so upsetting. Mom came in Sheetal’s room & asked her about
it. Sheetal began to scream that she wanted Pradip back at any cost. She began
to cry. Her parents were so shocked. They decided to call Psychiatrist. Since
they were certain that Sheetal would keep calling. They took away her mobile.
Sheetal kept crying. Finally, they took for her appointment. Psychiatrist talked
with her. Then Psychiatrist called her parent inside. “Sheetal is not in love
with Pradip. She had just nervous break down due to her weight issue. She fired
Pradip on suggestion of Ragini to reduce weight but it just increased due to
new cook & that cook is taunting her while Pradip was supporting to her.
But don’t worry we can handle it.” Then Sheetal’s counselling started. Sheetal
began to feel better & positive. Slowly Sheetal started to lose weight too.
Sheetal began to feel positive. She moved ahead in her life. While Pradip
worked hard on his land he managed to built house to please his wife. He settled
there. Sheetal tried hard but she never found nice cook like Pradip but she
didn’t try to bring him back since she knew that he had left behind his career
as cook. He was happy in his career of farmer.
