GRIT IT UP
A lot has happened over the years in Madhulika's life.Yes ,she had taken a deep breath and dived into the pool of matrimony. She had married a staid, somewhat portly 35 year old young man who went by the name of Bidyadhar Bandopadhyay or BB for short. Why did madhulika or Madhu choose him???? Well, one thing sticks out. He had a green card which showed that he belonged to that hallowed section of the community which had managed to carve out a toehold into the great American dream.
Yup...now even Madhu's dreams came with an american accent. She couldn't wait to land in America and finally live the life of independence; away from the prying eyes of boudi,Bhai,Baba Ma and numerous cousins ,uncles,aunties,kakas, pishi.....etc. It would be fascinating to have just one person to bother about and she would have so many friends who could take their places vacated by relatives and yes that would be infinitesimally better.
Well the day came with all its whirlwind preparations and Madhulika Pal became Mrs.Madhulika Bandopadhyay NRI. It seemed as if the entire world and its cousin were waiting to welcome Madhu into her new role. With wings at her side she couldn't wait to get a ring side seat for her new life starring she,her and herself.
America had never looked so pretty as it did then to the starstruck madhulika. BB had brought her over to the immigration counter and instructed her to act normally. In his words"don't behave like a country girl." Madhukika was awed at the efficiency of the lady at the counter who bombarded her with questions as if she was the one responsible for all the worldly catastrophes. Intimidated and worse she felt completely foolish as she stammered and stuttered her way through the questionings. BB was almost apoplectic with suppressed anger at Madhulika's hesitation....anyway the ordeal ended and she was finally free to set foot on the promised land.
BB got a taxi ,oh..she must remember to call it a cab now, and they were on their way. Madhulika was stunned at the pace of the city before her.Nobody stopped for no one. It was a massive sea of humanity just moving along.The cab raced forward eating up distance towards their home. Soon they had left behind the well known areas of New York and had entered Queens.This area was a shock to Madhulika."Is this our home?", she said , looking around slightly crestfallen. "Yes",said BB, "Our home is slightly out of the way but very cosy.Come, lets go".Saying that BB hurried forward and entered the passageway at the right of the square,leaving Madhu baffled.It seemed as if her dreams had turned sepia from coloured. Was this going to be her palace? She felt betrayed as she walked up the ill lit,damp smelling staircase up to the fifth floor.The corridor took her to the door of 505B ;her new home.BB had already slipped into the bedroom which was at the end of the narrow railway compartment type living area.There was a small galley type kitchen on the right side of the living area which had a breakfast bar dividing it. Madhu remained standing in the living area,trying to get her head around it. She was tired,irritated and slightly lost. BB came out of the bedroom in jeans and sweats and told her"I have to go to work.You can stay here and ....well...make yourself at home." So saying BB walked out leaving his bride of 10 days alone with her questions,regrets and shattered dreams.
Madhulika kept standing,looking at the grimy cupboards and dirty living area. It seemed as if the room had not seen a proper mop for ages. Madhu was not in a fit state to start her home in such squalor so she did the next best thing. She walked out of the house and went down to the small park two blocks away. This was not her dream. She had thought being American meant that she would be sitting in the lap of luxury but here it was not to be....and going back home....well...that was not the solution."Maybe things will improve",she thought. "At any rate I have to be here...i cant go back. I have to make my life here." Madhu gritted her teeth and faced the battle at home.
By the time BB came home ,Madhu had cleaned the house but as she did not have any provision, she hadn't cooked anything. BB came back tired and let fly at Madhulika "Couldn't you have cooked something? What were you doing?Sleeping, i am sure or did you think we would be going out.Here take this money and go get something to cook from the supermarket at the corner.I am tired and want to rest. I thought you would know how to take care of me. At least that's why I wanted to marry a simple Indian girl. Just my luck to be saddled with a lump of clay", thundered BB.Madhu was taken aback at the vehement attack. She quietly picked up the money and walked out with tears in her eyes.
Looking at the shelves she quickly picked up some groceries and went back. She was upset to say the least but hope always has a way of folding its wings in a human heart.
Days passed but BB remained the same. In fact he did not think that he was married to madhulika.She was a fixture like any other so not worth remembering. There was a little park where Madhulika went everyday after her work. There she would sit and dream about what her life could have been. There was another young lady who used to come out at almost the same time as Madhulika.They had hardly exchanged any words except for the occasional smile and nod. However there may have been a guardian angel at work that day for Madhulika decided to speak to her.Her name it turned out was Janice and believe it or not; she was from India. Janice had come from a small conservative Christian Goan family into the hustle bustle of Big Apple.Madhu and Janice hit it off from the very start. It was as if heavens had conspired to befriend them.
Janice too had a strange almost sabbatical marriage and she was racked with guilt about not making the effort to cement her relationship with Frederick, her husband. Both Madhu and Janice unburdened their guilt and insecurities in front of each other and then a miracle happened. It is true that one needs to walk away from a problem in order to see the entire picture. That's what happened. Both BB and Frederick had a sense of being god's gift to Indian girls and fortunately for them Madhu and Janice were treating them as such...but... now things would be a little different.
BB had a strict policy about not giving Madhulika any money for herself. To his credit he did give her the grocery money and little extra for taking care of the house. Madhu had been instructed to write down every expenditure into a diary and get it tallied every Friday. Oh ! how she used to dread those Fridays. Anyway, over time Madhu had squirrelled some tiny amount from the bounty given by BB. Janice, on the other hand had enough money which could help her take care of herself. The answer to any of Janice's problem according to Frederick was a bundle of dollars. Both the guys had no idea that money or the lack thereof was not the issue and if you tried explaining that; it would be like tearing down the iron curtain.Hopeless and a waste of time.
"isn't there something we can do to fill up these empty hours?" said Janice. "like what", Madhu wondered,"What can we do? Whats our interest?" Janice furrowed her brows and thought hard. Slowly an idea formed in her mind. "Madhu, there are many Indian expats staying here and i know that they would kill for an authentic Bengali or goan home cooked food,. What do you think? Why don't we start a small catering business and supply food to them? Lets start small and from our house and then ....maybe we can take this further." Madhu looked thoughtful. She did not want BB to know of her venture and Janice was also wary about starting it from home with Frederick around. He could be very persuasive or violent about any new changes. "Mrs Jameson", shouted out Madhu gleefully. "Who?? Mrs Jameson the land lady of your building. How can she help?" said Janice. "She will." answered Madhu with complete confidence. "Last winter, I helped her out when she was ill with bronchial pneumonia.She loved my soups and hot curries. She's a widow and doesn't have anyone to look after her. Let me ask her if she would allow us to use her kitchen. If she does BB will be unaware of our little enterprise"
Janice also felt that working out of Mrs Jameson's kitchen would be good as Frederick did not like the smell of Indian cooking. He felt that the only true cuisine in the worlds was American. "When will you ask her? I can't wait to start"said Janice. "we need to make list of things we need, a list of potential clients and also work out the expenses" ,said Madhu thoughtfully." We will. Just you see, Soon we will be known as the Curry Queens of New York."said Janice excitedly.
Next day both Janice and Madhu dropped in on Mrs Jameson. She heard the plan out in complete silence. Then just as Madhu and Janice were about to give up,Mrs Jameson got up and said ," Well, my darlings. If you have decided to do this for yourself; then i am with you. You can use my kitchen and the spare room as a pantry.You will give out my number as your contact and i will take care of the calls which come in. I also have someone in mind who can act as our delivery and procurement guy. He is the son of my dear friend who works as a handyman, so he has a small mini which can make the rounds.Lets get this party going".
There is a saying that if you put your mind to any problems; they vanish and that's what happened. Things started falling into place as if they had been waiting for long ,suspended in the ether. A friend of Janice's neighbour wanted to host a small house warming party and she gave Janice the first order. Both Madhu and Janice designed the menu and worked hard at delivering the food at the right time. THE CURRY QUEENS were on the roll. The party was a success and the guests kept raving about the soft rasgullas and the fiery prawn curry.Word spread and orders started coming in. However all good things come to an end.
BB had been acting quite strange for the past few months and Madhu hadn't bothered but things came to ahead one day. Madhu and Janice had been talking to Mrs. Jameson. There was a lull in the working of the kitchen when the phone rang.It was Patelji , the old cashier at BB's shop. BB had tried to strangle one of his customer and the man had called the cops. Madhu rushed to the police station where BB had been kept. It was a strange feeling to rescue BB from the police and support him home.Apparently things had not been too well at the store and BB was at his wits end. Madhu felt saddened by the fact that BB had not thought it important to tell her about the business complication.
The business had become cash strapped and BB was at his wits end about what to do.Madhu had never seen him like that. Her perceptions about BB changed. Maybe BB was a man who wanted to be ...well... a MAN; so any form of failure could hardly be tolerated let alone exposed. Madhu felt as if she was finally able to penetrate that hard scale to get a glimpse of BB . Madhu felt hope turning a corner in her heart and finally smiling a little. BB had been confined at home and his shop had been turned over to the bank. Madhu felt that this was the right time to tell him about her venture and also ask him if he wanted help.
BB was irritated at being offered help but he was no match for the pragmatic Madhu. Gone were the days when Madhu would become quiet and reluctant to share anything. This time she overrode all BB's squeamishness about keeping business away from the personal. Madhu went to the bank to hand over the amount due and was able to get the shop running.She, however drew a line at actually going into the shop and also told BB that he would have to repay the money spent as that was a part of THE CURRY QUEENS.
While things looked better at Madhulika's house,Janice was also in trouble. Janice had known that Frederick was incapable of giving her attention but she never thought that her marriage was on the rocks from the word go. Janice had found out that Frederick was cheating on her since long and the only reason he hadn't turned away from their marriage was the fact that Janice was the ideal trophy wife. He could show her off to anyone and she wouldn't let him down....but things came to head when Janice found Frederick with Eva. her one time friend and gossip queen of the society. Madhu had been caught up with BB but she sat Janice down and gave her the courage to walk out of the marriage.
Today was Janice's first day out of the marriage and Madhu was preparing a dinner fit for the QUEENS. It was going to be hard being alone but nothing compares to the grit and willpower of women who never say die.
America had never looked so pretty as it did then to the starstruck madhulika. BB had brought her over to the immigration counter and instructed her to act normally. In his words"don't behave like a country girl." Madhukika was awed at the efficiency of the lady at the counter who bombarded her with questions as if she was the one responsible for all the worldly catastrophes. Intimidated and worse she felt completely foolish as she stammered and stuttered her way through the questionings. BB was almost apoplectic with suppressed anger at Madhulika's hesitation....anyway the ordeal ended and she was finally free to set foot on the promised land.
BB got a taxi ,oh..she must remember to call it a cab now, and they were on their way. Madhulika was stunned at the pace of the city before her.Nobody stopped for no one. It was a massive sea of humanity just moving along.The cab raced forward eating up distance towards their home. Soon they had left behind the well known areas of New York and had entered Queens.This area was a shock to Madhulika."Is this our home?", she said , looking around slightly crestfallen. "Yes",said BB, "Our home is slightly out of the way but very cosy.Come, lets go".Saying that BB hurried forward and entered the passageway at the right of the square,leaving Madhu baffled.It seemed as if her dreams had turned sepia from coloured. Was this going to be her palace? She felt betrayed as she walked up the ill lit,damp smelling staircase up to the fifth floor.The corridor took her to the door of 505B ;her new home.BB had already slipped into the bedroom which was at the end of the narrow railway compartment type living area.There was a small galley type kitchen on the right side of the living area which had a breakfast bar dividing it. Madhu remained standing in the living area,trying to get her head around it. She was tired,irritated and slightly lost. BB came out of the bedroom in jeans and sweats and told her"I have to go to work.You can stay here and ....well...make yourself at home." So saying BB walked out leaving his bride of 10 days alone with her questions,regrets and shattered dreams.
Madhulika kept standing,looking at the grimy cupboards and dirty living area. It seemed as if the room had not seen a proper mop for ages. Madhu was not in a fit state to start her home in such squalor so she did the next best thing. She walked out of the house and went down to the small park two blocks away. This was not her dream. She had thought being American meant that she would be sitting in the lap of luxury but here it was not to be....and going back home....well...that was not the solution."Maybe things will improve",she thought. "At any rate I have to be here...i cant go back. I have to make my life here." Madhu gritted her teeth and faced the battle at home.
By the time BB came home ,Madhu had cleaned the house but as she did not have any provision, she hadn't cooked anything. BB came back tired and let fly at Madhulika "Couldn't you have cooked something? What were you doing?Sleeping, i am sure or did you think we would be going out.Here take this money and go get something to cook from the supermarket at the corner.I am tired and want to rest. I thought you would know how to take care of me. At least that's why I wanted to marry a simple Indian girl. Just my luck to be saddled with a lump of clay", thundered BB.Madhu was taken aback at the vehement attack. She quietly picked up the money and walked out with tears in her eyes.
Looking at the shelves she quickly picked up some groceries and went back. She was upset to say the least but hope always has a way of folding its wings in a human heart.
Days passed but BB remained the same. In fact he did not think that he was married to madhulika.She was a fixture like any other so not worth remembering. There was a little park where Madhulika went everyday after her work. There she would sit and dream about what her life could have been. There was another young lady who used to come out at almost the same time as Madhulika.They had hardly exchanged any words except for the occasional smile and nod. However there may have been a guardian angel at work that day for Madhulika decided to speak to her.Her name it turned out was Janice and believe it or not; she was from India. Janice had come from a small conservative Christian Goan family into the hustle bustle of Big Apple.Madhu and Janice hit it off from the very start. It was as if heavens had conspired to befriend them.
Janice too had a strange almost sabbatical marriage and she was racked with guilt about not making the effort to cement her relationship with Frederick, her husband. Both Madhu and Janice unburdened their guilt and insecurities in front of each other and then a miracle happened. It is true that one needs to walk away from a problem in order to see the entire picture. That's what happened. Both BB and Frederick had a sense of being god's gift to Indian girls and fortunately for them Madhu and Janice were treating them as such...but... now things would be a little different.
BB had a strict policy about not giving Madhulika any money for herself. To his credit he did give her the grocery money and little extra for taking care of the house. Madhu had been instructed to write down every expenditure into a diary and get it tallied every Friday. Oh ! how she used to dread those Fridays. Anyway, over time Madhu had squirrelled some tiny amount from the bounty given by BB. Janice, on the other hand had enough money which could help her take care of herself. The answer to any of Janice's problem according to Frederick was a bundle of dollars. Both the guys had no idea that money or the lack thereof was not the issue and if you tried explaining that; it would be like tearing down the iron curtain.Hopeless and a waste of time.
"isn't there something we can do to fill up these empty hours?" said Janice. "like what", Madhu wondered,"What can we do? Whats our interest?" Janice furrowed her brows and thought hard. Slowly an idea formed in her mind. "Madhu, there are many Indian expats staying here and i know that they would kill for an authentic Bengali or goan home cooked food,. What do you think? Why don't we start a small catering business and supply food to them? Lets start small and from our house and then ....maybe we can take this further." Madhu looked thoughtful. She did not want BB to know of her venture and Janice was also wary about starting it from home with Frederick around. He could be very persuasive or violent about any new changes. "Mrs Jameson", shouted out Madhu gleefully. "Who?? Mrs Jameson the land lady of your building. How can she help?" said Janice. "She will." answered Madhu with complete confidence. "Last winter, I helped her out when she was ill with bronchial pneumonia.She loved my soups and hot curries. She's a widow and doesn't have anyone to look after her. Let me ask her if she would allow us to use her kitchen. If she does BB will be unaware of our little enterprise"
Janice also felt that working out of Mrs Jameson's kitchen would be good as Frederick did not like the smell of Indian cooking. He felt that the only true cuisine in the worlds was American. "When will you ask her? I can't wait to start"said Janice. "we need to make list of things we need, a list of potential clients and also work out the expenses" ,said Madhu thoughtfully." We will. Just you see, Soon we will be known as the Curry Queens of New York."said Janice excitedly.
Next day both Janice and Madhu dropped in on Mrs Jameson. She heard the plan out in complete silence. Then just as Madhu and Janice were about to give up,Mrs Jameson got up and said ," Well, my darlings. If you have decided to do this for yourself; then i am with you. You can use my kitchen and the spare room as a pantry.You will give out my number as your contact and i will take care of the calls which come in. I also have someone in mind who can act as our delivery and procurement guy. He is the son of my dear friend who works as a handyman, so he has a small mini which can make the rounds.Lets get this party going".
There is a saying that if you put your mind to any problems; they vanish and that's what happened. Things started falling into place as if they had been waiting for long ,suspended in the ether. A friend of Janice's neighbour wanted to host a small house warming party and she gave Janice the first order. Both Madhu and Janice designed the menu and worked hard at delivering the food at the right time. THE CURRY QUEENS were on the roll. The party was a success and the guests kept raving about the soft rasgullas and the fiery prawn curry.Word spread and orders started coming in. However all good things come to an end.
BB had been acting quite strange for the past few months and Madhu hadn't bothered but things came to ahead one day. Madhu and Janice had been talking to Mrs. Jameson. There was a lull in the working of the kitchen when the phone rang.It was Patelji , the old cashier at BB's shop. BB had tried to strangle one of his customer and the man had called the cops. Madhu rushed to the police station where BB had been kept. It was a strange feeling to rescue BB from the police and support him home.Apparently things had not been too well at the store and BB was at his wits end. Madhu felt saddened by the fact that BB had not thought it important to tell her about the business complication.
The business had become cash strapped and BB was at his wits end about what to do.Madhu had never seen him like that. Her perceptions about BB changed. Maybe BB was a man who wanted to be ...well... a MAN; so any form of failure could hardly be tolerated let alone exposed. Madhu felt as if she was finally able to penetrate that hard scale to get a glimpse of BB . Madhu felt hope turning a corner in her heart and finally smiling a little. BB had been confined at home and his shop had been turned over to the bank. Madhu felt that this was the right time to tell him about her venture and also ask him if he wanted help.
BB was irritated at being offered help but he was no match for the pragmatic Madhu. Gone were the days when Madhu would become quiet and reluctant to share anything. This time she overrode all BB's squeamishness about keeping business away from the personal. Madhu went to the bank to hand over the amount due and was able to get the shop running.She, however drew a line at actually going into the shop and also told BB that he would have to repay the money spent as that was a part of THE CURRY QUEENS.
While things looked better at Madhulika's house,Janice was also in trouble. Janice had known that Frederick was incapable of giving her attention but she never thought that her marriage was on the rocks from the word go. Janice had found out that Frederick was cheating on her since long and the only reason he hadn't turned away from their marriage was the fact that Janice was the ideal trophy wife. He could show her off to anyone and she wouldn't let him down....but things came to head when Janice found Frederick with Eva. her one time friend and gossip queen of the society. Madhu had been caught up with BB but she sat Janice down and gave her the courage to walk out of the marriage.
Today was Janice's first day out of the marriage and Madhu was preparing a dinner fit for the QUEENS. It was going to be hard being alone but nothing compares to the grit and willpower of women who never say die.
