Dhaba
The Wonderhouse

"Kim slunk away, his teeth in the bread, and, as he expected, he found a small wad of folded tissue-paper wrapped in oilskin, with three silver rupees–enormous largesse." from Kim







ch.3

Atman had brokered a deal with the resort after many tries and finally found what became considered one of the greatest locations on the entire island, at Sunset Beach, behind the resort tiki hut. This was a great cul de sac, easy to drive into, easy to drive out and supplies were transported to them on the same truck that brought the resort food. It was not long after then that Sanja had become known as 'Little Chaat,' or, on more mocking occasions, 'Little Chicken Boy,' for it was found that the best selling item from the menu of The Wonderhouse was the traditional Indian food called Lasan anna murghi nu chaat, or garlic chicken chaat.  It was his duty in the morning – "never be late, always carry a smiling face" Atman would say – to the delivery pick up out back and bring it back to the truck for refrigeration.  It was always, of course, tempting at Sunset Beach to forget about it all, all of

the work that had to be done for preparation; within eyeshot were the Jamaican beach service workers, pulling up blue umbrellas and serving shiny beers to early customers who would stroll along the lapping beach with their heads down seeking the famous Junonia shell.  "Little Chaat!" mother might yell from inside, the lighting perhaps not yet entirely on inside, always well dressed, hair done up nicely, hunched over the stove preparing garlic, the chili flakes, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, cilantro for the salad along side. "Are you caring for the chicken?" Sanja muttered out of the side of his mouth to his sister, Cecilla, who had an uncanny way of listening to just enough of his mutterings to find the small portions that might get him in trouble. "Why is it that you do not do the chicken," he would say, pulling it out of its sturdy packaging outback where the refrigerator door was located. "I see that the pelicans have many hours of freedom."
  "Someday all of this will be yours Little Chaat" father would say, and Sanja's eyes would light up back to the blue sky and act as if he were diligently mastering some new technique.  It was the day that he was finally asked to make the Chaat that all things changed for him..