The Tiffin I never Missed

My name is Ritika, I shifted to Delhi 1.5 years ago for my job. I live in a small PG in Laxmi Nagar, 2nd floor paying a monthly rent of 7000. Same life every day - metro, office, PG aunty's dal-chawal.
In our lane, there is a small board I used to see daily while going to metro - "Maa Ki Rasoi - Rs.60 per tiffin". I never tried. I thought, same food everywhere.
Last month, my PG mess was closed for 4 days for Diwali. My roommate said, "Try Maa Ki Rasoi once, everyone in our lane orders from her."
So I ordered for lunch.
At 1:30 pm sharp, bell rang. A small girl was standing, maybe 11 years old, school uniform still on, holding a steel tiffin in both hands, sweating a lot.
"Maa ne bheja hai," she said in low voice and turned to run.
I said, "Ruk beta, paani toh pee lo".
She said, "Nahi didi, aur 8 ghar jaana hai."
I came inside and opened the tiffin. Inside was hot jeera rice, rajma, bhindi fry, curd, and aam ka achar. And on top of rice, there was one small papad - broken into 2 pieces, like my own Maa used to keep for me when I was small.
My Maa always kept papad on top so I would see it first and feel happy.
I ate full tiffin after many months. I felt like I was at home, not in PG.
I called the number written on the tiffin lid.
"Maa, khana bahut tasty tha," I said.
A lady spoke, voice very tired but sweet. "Kha liya beta? Meri beti laayi thi? Wo school se direct aati hai, 11 saal ki hai, madad karti hai meri."
I said, "Maa Rs.60 bahut kam hai, aapko toh Rs.100 lena chahiye ".
She laughed, "Main 30 bacchon ke liye banati hu, sab PG mein rehte hai. zyada lungi toh tum log kaise bachaoge?"
From next day I started taking daily tiffin from her.
Every day same girl - Aashi, would come at 1:30 pm. Never late, never asked for tip. I kept toffees for her, but she never took. She said, "Maa ne mana kiya hai didi se kuch lene ko."
One day I had a very important office interview at 9 am. Morning tiffin didn't come because it was too early. I left empty stomach for the interview.
I came back at 4 pm, very tired and exhausted. I thought, today no lunch also.
At 4:15 pm, bell rang. Same girl Aashi, fully tired, bag on her shoulder.
I shouted, "Aashi, itni dhoop mein kyun aayi ho?"
She said, "Maa ne kaha didi ka interview tha aaj, subah khaana nahi khaaya hoga. Isliye bhookhi hogi."
I opened the tiffin - same hot rajma-chawal. She had kept it hot in a small blanket.
I asked, "Maa kahan hai? Phone do."
Aashi became quiet. Then said slowly, "Maa ko kal se bukhar hai, 102, dawai li hai. Par Maa ne bola 2 din tiffin band nahi hona chahiye, nahi toh mere bacche bhookhe rahenge."
That night I could not sleep.
Next morning, Sunday, I went to her address - small 1 room house behind our lane. I saw Maa - maybe 48 years old, head tied with dupatta due to fever, still cutting bhindi sitting on floor.
I said, "Maa bukhar mein kyun kaam kar rahi ho?"
She said, "Beti, agar main nahi banaungi toh Aashi ki school fees kaise aayegi? Aur tum 30 log mujhe Maa bolte ho, Maa bukhar mein bhi bacchon ko bhookha kaise rehne de?"
I had tears forming in my eyes hearing her words.
That day I posted about Maa Ki Rasoi in our Laxmi Nagar Girls PG group - 80 girls in group.
In 3 days, Maa got 52 new orders.
Now Maa has one helper aunty. Aashi doesn't deliver in afternoon sun anymore, she only goes after school for 1 hour. Maa paid her full year fees.
And me? I still take tiffin from her. Now I pay Rs.100, not Rs.60. She says no, but I keep Rs.40 extra under the tiffin and run away - like Aashi used to run.
Sometimes Maa is not the one who gave birth to you. Sometimes Maa is the one whose tiffin finds you even when you are hungry and tired.
*[END]*