Chapter 4

Asha cooked the last batch of Chicken Torkari. She began the batch of her Baba's special Bapa Pitha. This sweet rice cake was a traditional delicacy cooked in winter. However, her father's recipe was special compared to the common one and was a hit in their restaurant.

The common recipe was ground rice combined with shredded coconut and steamed with molasses fillings. Her Baba's recipe had ground nuts, dried dates mixed with molasses. She prepared the fillings every night to give time for the nuts and dates, to absorb the sweetness of the molasses and to produce the pasty texture.

She was busy steaming the Bapa Pitha when the car which stopped her earlier, parked outside the restaurant. The man got out, brushed his coat with his hands, and looked at the signage. "Man, I've been fooled big time. I hope I won't see her again."

Noticing the distinguished car outside, the people in the restaurant and the surrounding place stretched their necks, curious about who could be lost and found himself in this unscrupulous place. Private cars seldom stopped in such a small eating place at a close-packed alley. Also, most who ate here were average to poor citizens.

Not only the car intrigued them. But because they saw a tall fair-skinned man wearing a coat, a nice pair of shoes, and a watch on his wrist, stepping out from the car. This magnified people's interest further. Fair-skinned fellows were rare in these parts. His outfit and accessories showed he could be a man in high regard.

The visitor’s eyes went to the dining area, not shabby, plainly painted white, and clean. He chose a seat near the kitchen door and wiped a finger on the table and smiled in satisfaction. He observed the attendants who ran back and forth, serving food from one table to another and pleased with their attitude.

Somehow, he couldn’t stop being curious about the customer's orders. Most had Bapa Pitha and a chicken dish he thought was common. The customers had big smiles when they ate and made remarks like, "I can't get over this taste. Absolutely delicious."

Someone near him said, "Ever since I brought some of this at home, my daughter would bug me to bring a piece or two every day."

Another guy wearing a silk Punjabi chimed in. "Do you know this Bapa Pitha worked wonders? My wife was angry because I was late after waiting to buy this, but when I showed her what I bought and tasted it, she kissed me right away."

A lady who loved to hear gossip, asked, "What happened next?" Those who heard the tale waited.

"Of course, to the bedroom." Everyone laughed.

An elderly lifted a Pitha while complaining to an attendant. "Why are you making this delicious? I consumed a lot every day, and it cost me a lot."

"If you don't wanna spend, then don't come here." A man near him said. The laughter went louder.

Another man added. "If they stop cooking, you can't taste it again. This is the only place that's selling this."

A fat lady patted her slim wallet with slumped shoulders. "My budget is done." Yet, her husband beside her smiled. "We enjoyed it anyway. Never mind. I'll work harder."

The newcomer's curiosity increased as he listened. At last, a male attendant approached. "Welcome, Sir. Here's the menu." The attendant gave him a one-page colorful menu without pictures. "I'll be back when you're ready for your orders, Sir." He was about to attend to another customer when the man spoke, "I will order now."

"What are your orders, Sir?" The attendant opened a small notepad and readied a pen.

"I want two of those Bapa Pitha and an order of their dish." He pointed to the table beside him.

"That's our special Chicken Torkari, Sir. Please wait for a while." The male attendant left and came back with a big bowl of warm water with two lemon slices floating and a hand towel. The man washed his hands at a sink at the corner, went back to the table, and dip his hands in the lemony water then dried it.

Five minutes after, the attendant brought his orders and took away the items on the table.

The observer examined the Torkari. "Hmm, this differs from the usual. Brown paste and. . ." He inhaled the aroma. His deep-set cocoa brown eyes lit up. "Some peanuts and cashew nuts?"

Out of excitement, he ripped the four diameter circle Bapa Pitha and looked into the fillings. He bit and closed his eyes. "Hmm, nuts, dates, and molasses." He opened his eyes and ate more. "Delicious, different and well thought." His hand tapped on the plate and found it empty. He waved to an attendant. "Excuse me, bring me five more Bapa Pitha."

This time, he tried the Chicken Torkari. "Hmm, smells good. Spicy nutty flavor. Delicious." After the rest of the Bapa Pitha arrived, he combined the two dishes and devoured everything in no time. He even wiped clean the Torkari sauce using the Pitha.

His back leaned on his chair and patted his stomach. "Man, that was good."

His mind wondered about the possible components of the food he ate. He identified each but later, unsure if he was right. How come there's a paste-like texture with the crunchiness? Did they use prepared peanut butter or homemade? His mind drifted, leading to more questions while analyzing the elements.

He opened his wallet and took a hundred Rupees. He called an attendant. "Hi, my bill, please and can I ask for the cook of this special Bapa Pitha and this Chicken Torkari."

"Was there any problem with our food, Sir?" Anxiety covered the attendant's face.

"No, no, everything was perfect. I just want to ask the cook. I hope your management won't mind." He smiled and slid a crumpled twenty Rupee bill to the attendant's hand. The attendant hid it in his pocket right away.

"Please wait, Sir." He went inside the kitchen and whispered to the head chef. "Hey, the owner of the car outside asked for the cook of our Bapa Pitha and Chicken Torkari."

"Is there any problem?" Charbi’s eyes grew big. It could mean trouble.

"No, he only wanted to meet the cook." He emphasized the last two words.

The person mentioned heard her name. "Who's looking for me?"

"Stop that nonsense. I can't let her go out there. Just tell him the cook is busy." Charbi dismissed the attendant with a wave and proceeded about cutting the sizable meat on his table.

"What's going on, boss?" Asha faced Charbi while helping him arrange the meat on a platter. But the head cook only minded his own business in silence. Asha’s forehead wrinkled for being ignored.

Then the attendant came back. "He really insisted. He even offered to buy all the Bapa Pitha just to talk with Asha for a while."

"Did you really tell him that Asha is the cook? And told him she's a woman?" Charbi faced him, alarmed.

"Whoa! What's going on? Who's asking for me?" Asha got frightened to hear someone asking for her. Female cooks were unheard of, though a few customers who knew her father believed it was her.

The attendant continued. "No, no, I wouldn't dare to do that. But he already ordered all the Bapa Pitha. We can't say no to him."

"That is crazy. Go away." Charbi continued to work. The attendant had no choice but to go to Mukti.

"Charbi, please explain," Asha said, anxiety rolling inside her.

"No need. Just finish your work and go to the competition. We'll follow later." He moved away from her and talked to a washing lady. Asha was uneasy but didn't press the head cook. 

Five minutes later, Mukti came. "Charbi, the guy insists. Can you go out for Asha?"

"What? Did you ask him for what he wanted to talk about? You know we can't expose Asha's identity as a cook. Will you dare?" He didn't look at Mukti as he washed his hands.

"Please, I'm here. Who is this person looking for me?" Asha waved her hands between Charbi and Mukti.

Mukti pulled Asha away while her eyes were still on Charbi. "Fine, I'll ask him." Mukti left and came back in no time. "Charbi, he's only asking for an interview. He works in a cooking magazine and...," she hesitated but said it, "he ordered all the remaining Bapa Pitha. That's an income for us. Please talk to him for a while? Please."

"Mukti, he might try to copy it. Have you ever thought of that?" He tilted his head to his side with a serious face.

This person inquiring piqued Asha's curiosity as she listened to their dialogue. She peeked at a small window between the kitchen and the diner. There, she saw the man who asked for directions earlier and she panicked.

"Is that the guy who is asking for me?" she asked Mukti.

Mukti continued to ignore her. "Charbi, please just make things up and meet him for the restaurant. Please."

"Fine, fine." He threw his towel to a basket, combed his hair, straightened his shirt, and went out.

Before reaching the door, Asha pulled him at a corner. "Please, mention nothing about me. Please?"

The head chef only thought she was afraid to reveal her gender. "I won't, that's why I'll be facing him instead of you."