May 2. 10am. “Can I plan the lunch menu today?”

“Certainly, Button.”

Button took over after that. He didn’t even tell me what he was going to prepare. However, he took some tips from my daughters, shut both doors to the kitchen barring our entry and was busy for over 3 hours.

May 2. 2pm.

“Lunch is served. Can everyone come to the table please?”

We went to the table to find it beautifully laid out. There was khatta-meetha dal, aloo jeera, a paneer dish, salad, rice and rotis.

“Who prepared all this?”

“I did with the staff’s help. I cooked them all. They made the rice and the rotis. I also made the salad all on my own including the cutting and the chopping.”

“How did you cook all this? Have you been reading my recipe books?”

“I watch you make these dishes and have lately discovered my passion for cooking.”

“That’s fantastic. So I have one more hand to help out in the kitchen.”

“By the way, Rani and Mowgli helped too by tasting the dishes.”

“The paneer is simply superb. And so is the aloo jeera.”

“Honest?”

“Cross my heart. When did you get the African Daisies to put on the table?”

“I sent the driver to the florist.”

“Thank you for a wonderful Sunday lunch.”