“Bhai, how long will you take? I have a meeting!” (My cousin, showering since the Ice Age.) “Just five minutes!” (Indian Standard Time: meaning 20 minutes.)
There is a saying in Hindi: “Ghar wahi, jahaan chulhe mein aag aur dilon mein aag ho.” (It’s a home only if there is fire in the hearth and fire in the hearts.)
My mother joins her within minutes. In the West, morning coffee is a solo ritual. In India, morning chai is a diplomacy session. The tea leaves, ginger, cardamom, and milk go into the pan. The whistle of the pressure cooker (the national kitchen anthem) signals that the poha or dosa batter is ready.
My sister hammers on the door. My mother yells from the kitchen that we are all going to be late for something —school, work, or life in general. Toothpaste fights, wet towels on beds, and the frantic search for the right socks create a tornado of noise. Yet, somehow, everyone emerges dressed, groomed, and ready. No one holds a grudge for more than ten minutes. That’s the secret: we have the memory of goldfish and the loyalty of wolves. Breakfast is a standing affair. No one sits. You grab a hot idli , dip it in sambar, and eat it over the sink to avoid crumbs. The real drama is the lunch box.