First of All

Jayeeta Chowdhury

Tania, cook for two. 

What to cook, ma'am? 

Any dish for my men. 

All coming to raise a toast. 

What for? What for? 

First of All. You better cook, Tania. And I'll tell you. 

Will we not know ma'am? 

You will, surely. 

 

Cooks, gather around, gather around. 

Hurry up! Leela, Manju, Beebi, Sajnu. 

Gather around, in a line, or in a circle as you wish. But must with a pen and paper. 

For cooking to be done. 

A party we are having. A toast ma'am's going to raise. 

What for? What for? 

Cooking must be done. First of All. 

Write down! On the paper! 

Forget not to add numbers. 

 

Crispy Quail Egg! 

Eggs are important. Healthy. Nutritious. 

 

Dear! Dear! Are you done? 

Ma'am's voice. How can we? We…just begun. 

Is she crazy? 

Now? 

Ma'am, directing them! (Whispers! Whispers! How to be done so soon!)  

To cook The Best for the Party. 

Oh. It's just going to be a toast.

(Whispers! Whispers! And Ma'am's blushing!)

Don't act like my daughter's wedding. I'll go insane then. 

You already are. 

Please continue. I won't interfere. But… make it The Best. That's important. 

What's the Party for? 

You all cook. First of All. 

 

Continue, can we? She's exaggerating. 

Yeah. Yeah. 

Next, Carrots. I see. Roast them. With olive oil, salt, and black paper. 

Are you writing? 

Don't forget the numbers.

Uhh, create something with carrots, apples, and ginger. A soup! Yes! 

Who's going to eat? Soup? At Party! 

Why? Ma'am herself. Always on diet. 

I fear what if she eats protein stuff and falls sick. 

Hmmm. 

Then. Everyone. 

Carrots, apples and ginger soup for Ma'am. 

Delicious, it must be. 

 

Honey garlic Cauliflower, next! 

Cauliflower. At Party! 

Oh! Haven't you heard? 

AK's coming. Man brought up on cauliflower. 

Smells like cauliflower. 

Farted afterward eating those cauliflowers. 

I stocked up. Counting his frequent visits. 

Leela's soup with cauliflower carried him off to bed. At night. 

Did he sleep in here? 

In one of the rooms, upstairs.

Next! 

 

Ma'am! 

It's ma'am. 

Ma'am. 

Crying! 

What is it? 

AK's not coming. I can't believe it. 

Delete the cauliflower part. 

I am not organizing. I can't host. 

Tania. Cancel it. 

Why can't you? A reason you had. For This! 

First of All. This is for my men. 

If one remains in the hospital bed. I can't raise a toast and celebrate. 

A human can't bear another human's pain. 

A friend can't bear a friend's sickness. 

Promised I, this evening I would follow his advice. 

The man's occupied that deathly ground, I must retire to my sorrowful den. 

What a mess! What a mess! 

 

In love? Is she in love? 

First of All, it is a yes! 

And… 

Our widow ma'am is in love! 

With AK? 

Tania! 

You knew! 

Never! And I want him dead. 

Why? 

A cheater! A traitor! 

He cheated on whom? 

On my mother! 



What? 

What? 

What? 

 

Spoons! And cutters! 

Blenders! And openers! 

Bowls! And knives! 

Slicers! And cans! 

Cleaves! And strainer! 

Cookware! Corkscrew! Cutlery! 

Crush them all! Throw them!

I want them dead!

 

Does she mean that? 

Silence. 





 

  • Author: Jayeeta Chowdhury (Offline Offline)
  • Published: March 31st, 2023 00:09
  • Category: Short story
  • Views: 8
Get a free collection of Classic Poetry ↓

Receive the ebook in seconds 50 poems from 50 different authors




To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.