The Paid Kitchen

He went in search of a quote that would be the fulcrum of the ensuing story. Search surfing led him to Airbnb wherein he stumbled on a listing that advertised the verdant expanse that overlooked the balcony, in Bangalore. Soak the sun, bathe to glory, or rather bathe in glory? 

Time travel is not an option when memories from distant lands often form a beautiful inlay that could rival the best tiles from Seville. Nature has its way of advertising - be it the oranges that were dangling strong in the streets of Seville or the apples of Kinnaur that were just a pluck away from the bus window or the massage girls of Phuket.  

He was still reminiscing the hummingbirds from David Attenborough, wherein the epithet ‘ jeweled messengers’ suited more than the best of the metaphors that any of the authors could bequeath.  A few years ago, Kabir had spent a week of the quintessential late summer in the Palo Alto hills in California. Waking up to hummingbirds while he had the fresh yogurt and strawberries for brekkie, yes that’s what Ozzies call breakfast! 

What goes in is what makes a person, was the age-old adage. Food was always communal. People fought and bonded over a meal, be it the hunter-gatherer or the Influencers who have all the time in the world to take that perfect picture that could salivate all. Most extremes are always continuums and are a step away from each other. Bend a strip of paper and it becomes a halo. 

Hundred rupees for a day to use the kitchen, said the Host of the Airbnb listing. ‘Yes, we do have a coveted space’, ‘covered’ she corrected. Eager to host.