Angels In disguise

“Yes Sir. I can do it.”

Replied a 14 year old Manu to the much older restaurant owner. He needed this job badly to help his family. The owner/ manager was in need of a kitchen helper and Manu was fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time.

He was taken to the small restaurant’s small kitchen. A variety of smells assaulted his senses and he was instantly hungry.

“Nope! You are here to work not eat.” he told himself. The owner, Mr Arun Sethi showed him the huge sink filled with dirty dishes and asked him if he needed gloves. Manu refused and got to the work of cleaning dishes, pots and pans.

“Oh! By the way, if you get hungry just ask Sheela she will get you something to eat.” Mr. Sethi said gesturing to a middle aged lady who must be older than his mother Bela. “She’s the main cook here.”

Sheela glanced at Manu and sent a motherly smile towards him while stirring a pot of curry. Manu couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He could eat here?….And maybe take some leftovers home? “I hope they let me.” Manu was thinking of his almost 6 year old baby sister Anya who would be thrilled to have some of those delicious Indian sweets.

After almost an hour, he had a hearty lunch, as he got some free time from washing dishes. This restaurant may be small one but it was a busy one.

“What’s your age?” Asked Sheela when Manu was done with his lunch.

“I’m 14.”

“Oh!” She didn’t ask more. Come to think of it she didn’t talk much. Just prepared amazing food. And God…. was she fast. She would complete an order in a few minutes. When an awestruck Manu asked her how she did that, she just said,”Its all practice.”

“Just spend a few days,and you’ll be a pro at handling this restaurant as well.” However, Manu doubted that.

Mr Sethi entered the kitchen and began checking the pots and pans and got slapped with a laddle from Sheela.

“Ow! Why?” Asked a confused Mr Sethi.

“ How many times do I have to tell you not to spy on my food.” Answered an irritated Sheela.

Manu was shocked to see an employee reprimanding the owner.

“I’m hungry.” Replied a somewhat reprimanded Mr Sethi.

“Stay right there. I’ll bring something for you.” Sheela made a plate with the food that she had given him- White rice with curry, some salad and curd.

Manu thought it strange that the owner was having the same food as the employees. He deduced two things that day that he was very lucky to have such a nice employer and, the cook’s full name was Mrs Sheela Sethi. Hence, the laddle slap was justified. They were both responsible for running the restaurant.

When Mr Sethi inquired about his family he told him about his little sister and mother. His father had died last year. And because of financial strain he had decided to help his mother by doing a job and quitting school.

Mrs Sethi sent a worried look to her husband and thought about how the boy was he going to fare in his studies if he kept working here. Being from a working class family herself she well understood Manu’s condition but she also didn’t want his study to suffer.

That night still contemplating the condition of working class families in third world countries like India; she packed dinner for Manu and his family and also some sweets for the little one. Manu and his little sister were so happy that night. Manu’s mother had tears in her eyes when he recounted the events of the entire day to her.

She thanked God for the existence of such good people, and they don’t have to worry about food as long as Manu works there. She didn’t want this for him. Manu was brilliant child. He always aced in his classes. She had dreamed of him being a successful man. Not being a kitchen helper at some restaurant.

“We should do something for him. He’s just a child and I think he must be very good in his studies. He seems to be a smart kid.” Said Sheela laying on the bed unable to sleep. She kept thinking about the bright children who couldn’t get proper education due to financial restraints.

Arun grunted and commented in a sleepy voice,”Once a teacher always a teacher.” And soon started snoring softly.

Sheela frowned but it soon turned into very satisfied smile which sent her to a deep slumber. Because next day someone was going to be grilled.

Next Day

Manu was getting more and more confused as the hours were passing by. Why was Mrs. Sethi asking him so many questions? And she was having really long phone conversations today.

She asked him about his favourite subjects, how much grades he got in each of them, even asked random mathematic problems and questions related to science. They talked about world literature while working in the kitchen. Then at-last, Manu’s boggled mind got the answer when she told him that she used to be a teacher of English literature in a school. But left that job to open her own restaurant as she loved to cook and feed people.

Then she asked him to bring all his books with him the next day. As they will make a schedule for him so that his study as well as the work both can go on. Manu was grateful for her because he wanted to keep working and studying too.

At home when he gave the news to his mother she was speechless and a little suspicious as well. “Why are they taking so much interest in a child they’ve just met?”

She decided to meet them and find out the next morning.

The next night Bela had a peaceful sleep. She had met the couple. And their behaviour, their compassion towards their employees was awe inspiring. She was impressed by how Mrs Sethi managed to run a very busy kitchen and teach her son at the same time. And both of them enjoyed it.

After leaving the place she asked few other people about the couple. What she found out was heartbreaking. The couple had been married 30 years but had no child. Arun Sethi was a proud owner of 10 restaurants but liked to manage the one that both he and his wife started from. This was there first restaurant. And because of Arun Sethi’s managing skills and his wife’s amazing cooking, in a span of few years, they opened multiple restaurants and eateries. All those places serve food made according to Sheela Sethi’s special recipes.

They did alot of charity work as well. Their philanthropist work helped hundreds of children to get school and college education. Still, they were such simple people! No pride in what they have achieved, no ego and so humble. Just running their little restaurant.

Yes! She was grateful and if she thanked God a million times for sending them into their lives, it won’t be enough.

Next Morning

“So you have to come to the house on Monday and Tuesday. The restaurant is closed on those days so we will study at home. I have some books for you as well.”

When Sheela didn’t got a response from Manu, she looked at him. He was peeling potatoes but was lost somewhere else.

“Careful with that.” Said Sheela while taking the peeler out of his hand.

“What’s wrong?” There was so much worry in her voice that he couldn’t stop himself and told her everything.

“Hmm…. Don’t worry. I’ll make it and you will help me with it.”

“You know how to make a chocolate cake? Of course you know. You know everything. As my mother says about you, you have both Sarasvati and Annapurna in you.”

At that Sheela smiled and said, “ My dear boy every living being in this world have the light of the divine in them.”

Tuesday was Anya’s birthday. She was going to be six years old. And she wanted to have a chocolate cake on her special day. Manu couldn’t believe how fortunate he was to have met such amazing people. They were truly a source of happiness and inspiration for those less fortunate. He wanted to be like them when he got older.

Tuesday

“Mama this is sooooo pretty!” A giggling, cackling Anya was swishing and twirling around in the beautiful purple dress that her mother had made for her. Bela had to spend a few sleepless nights to make it for her little angel. A seamstress’s job wasn’t easy. But she was content to see her little angel happy today.

Her and her brother’s faces were painted with all that amazing chocolate cake that Mrs Sethi and Manu had baked and decorated together.

“Did you really make it Bela?”

“Hmm? What? Oh the dress! Yes. I’m a seamstress at the mill.”

“Wow! You are really good at this.”

“Thank you. I used to sew clothes before and also did some designing on them. I’m not much educated. And got married off soon after I completed my high school. Had always loved to make something from a piece of cloth. Learned from my mother. But with two kids and and all the bills, it wasn’t enough. So had to get a job at the mill.”

“Don’t worry about the kids. Their education is our responsibility now. You know Bela! You really have a talent for designing. Can you make a few designs for me? I’d like to show them to a friend of mine. She owns a boutique in the city. Your ability to create such amazing designs shouldn’t go to waste.”

“I…ah..I don’t know what to say.”

Holding Bela’s hand she said, “ Say, Yes Mrs Sethi I will make some designs for you soon.”

“Oh thank you my dear! So where were we?” Said Arun Sethi while taking the plate with the slice of cake on it from Bela. Little Anya was perched on his lap and listening to the story, mesmerized by his voice. Mr Sethi looked like a grandfather telling stories to his grandkids sitting on a chair in Bela’s humble abode.

Manu- “When the crocodile asks Parvati if she was willing to be his food if it let’s the little boy go.”

“Oh yes! And she said “ Yes, I will be your food just let the little boy go.”

Little Anya gasped. Mr Sethi pats her hand tenderly and continues, “And as soon as she reaches the crocodile , it disappeared. Parvati was shocked and confused. But soon the sages appeared in front of her and said that all this was a test to see if she was willing to give her life for the well being of others. She had passed the test with flying colours. And she was now ready for the next stage of her spiritual journey.”

Aren’t all the hardships we face in life a test for us that make us realize our hidden potential. If we have potential we will definitely get opportunities that help us to change our lives.