He took a step back to admire the immaculately laid breakfast table, complete with the best crockery sets and silver cutlery neatly in place. Gently melted smooth butter curled in their little sparkling dishes, salt and pepper cellars placed individually for each guest, did full justice to his hard work. He counselled his junior bearer to be careful about the placements as he straightened the “cristal” bowls of homemade orange marmalade and other preserves. A porcelain vase adorned the breakfast table boasting bright and vibrant flowers, laced with ferns from the memsaab’s garden.
Badamtam Burra Bungalow
“Ahh…Ramro,” he exclaimed as he soaked in the grandeur of the round breakfast table placed in the sheesha kamra. “If only this table could talk,” he thought to himself, “it would regale the fun times of the bygone era.” The table had been a host to many emotions, from sweet silent happenings of family times to formidable company saabs.
The January sunlight flickered through the glass panes. It illuminated the wooden floor in small waving panels. Pradhan the bearer, tautened the collar of his navy blue bandh gala uniform which his saab had procured from Delhi. His palm went up to open his Nepali topi and then he cleaned the already polished brass “B” pinned on his topi. His erect posture spoke of the pride he took in being the senior bearer of Badamtam Burra Bungalow. Once he had made sure that the breakfast preparations were impeccable and the burra memsaab’s instructions followed to a T, he walked back towards the kitchen with the tray in his hands.
The Manager, Bawa Kuldip Singh and the chairman, Michael Butterwick, were soon seated at the table. “A fine spread you have here Reeta,” complimented the Company saab. The bearer poured fresh orange juice into clear glasses and served them. The platter of peas and cheese cutlets garnished with parsley was passed around the table. The chairman took a bite of the pink homemade ham and said to the burra memsaab, “you make these well. I even relished the muesli… And what greater pleasure than to enjoy breakfast in this room overlooking the verdant valley!”
Making sure that the Company saab enjoyed his meal to the fullest, was Pradhan the bearer walking to and fro from the breakfast room to the kitchen, working in tandem with the memsaab, the cook and other bearers being trained by him. Pradhan bowed respectfully as he asked the Company saab what his choice of eggs would be. Mr Butterwick pondered for a moment and then said that he would rather enjoy a hot toast with sumptuous accompaniments which were being served instead. The bearer nodded and then asked his burra saab. Bawa Kuldip replied that he would have his usual.
Pradhan carried out a plate with a fried egg, sunny side up with potato wedges and roasted tree tomatoes. As he bowed to serve, the Chairman had a change of heart and said, “that looks tempting. If it’s not too late to change my mind, perhaps I will have an egg after all!”
The bearer promptly replied, “sorry saab, yeh Burra saab ka fry anda hai.” (Sorry sir, this fried egg is for the Manager.)
Reeta was taken aback and just as she prepared herself to step into the situation, Mr Butterwick let out a hearty laugh. “Bawa, he’s a loyal egg,” winked the chairman. The Burra saab and memsaab requested him to have that fried egg but the Company saab insisted that he would wait for his sunny-side-up!
Glossary:
Cristal: A brand of glassware
Ramro: Good
Burra Saab: Estate Manager
Burra Memsaab: Estate Manager's wife
Company saab: High officials of the company
Sheesha kamra: Room with large glass windows
Bandh-gala: Prince coat
Topi: Cap