The Tiffin I Never Missed- Part 2

If you missed Part 1 of my story, you can read "The Tiffin I Never Missed" on my profile. Please read Part 1 to understand the story better.
After I posted about Maa Ki Rasoi in our PG group, Maa got 52 new orders in just 3 days.
I was so happy. But I was also worried.
One evening I went to Maa's house. She was now cooking for 82 people in that same small one-room kitchen. A helper aunty was there, but Maa's eyes were so tired. Aashi was doing her homework sitting next to the sabzi.
I said, "Maa, ab itna saara order  aap kaise manage karogi?"
Maa smiled and said, "Jab 30 bacche the, tab bhi kar liya. Ab 82 hai, kar lungi. Maa ko thakan nahi hoti."
But that night I kept thinking — Maa should not just survive, Maa should grow.
The next day was Sunday. I told all 52 new girls, "No tiffin on Sunday. Maa Ki Rasoi is closed for Diwali cleaning."
They all said okay.
But at 8 am, I went to Maa's house with 3 of my PG friends. We had bought one big whiteboard, 5 new steel dabbas, and a second-hand gas stove from Laxmi Nagar market.
We cleaned her whole kitchen. We wrote on the whiteboard in big red letters — "MAA KI RASOI - Laxmi Nagar's Most Loved Tiffin".
Aashi was jumping with happiness. She said, "Didi, ab humaari dukaan jaisi lag rahi hai!"
Maa was crying. She said, "Ritika beta, ye sab kyun?"
I said, "Maa, aapne Rs.60 mein 30 bacchon ka pet bhara. Ab hum aapka ghar bharenge."
We also made a small Instagram page for "Maa Ki Rasoi". I clicked a photo of Maa and Aashi — Maa in her old suit, Aashi in her school uniform, both holding a tiffin. I posted it.
In one week, that photo got 800 likes in Laxmi Nagar. Many boys PGs also started ordering.
Yesterday was Aashi's 12th birthday. Maa called me at 6 am.
"Ritika, aaj Aashi ka birthday hai, aaj chutti hai, par maine Aashi ke liye kheer banayi hai, aaogi khane?"
I went. The small room was decorated with 10 rupee wale balloons. Aashi was wearing a new pink dress. Maa had made chole, puri, and kheer.
Aashi cut the cake with a small knife. First piece she gave to me, second to Maa.
Then she said something I will never forget.
She said, "Didi, pehle main sochti thi, school fees ke liye Maa ko bukhar mein bhi kaam karna padta hai. Ab main sochti hu, meri 82 didi log hai Laxmi Nagar mein.
Maa laughed and hugged both of us tightly.
And me? I still pay Rs.100. I still keep Rs.40 extra under the tiffin and run away. But now Maa keeps a Rs.20 chocolate in return under my tiffin.
Some tiffins don't just fill your stomach. Some tiffins give you a whole family in a city where you came alone.
*[END]*