Of cookers and make-shift labs

The Prestige showroom that sprung in our vicinity some years ago has turned out to be a Godsend. I was in town, coincidentally around the time it opened. We pounced on it and before long, a cooker set was packed in my mega suitcases that usually accompany me on my trips across the seas. Amma usually insists on packing enough spares for every part of every kitchen gadget that I take back. Over a period of time, the spares supply dwindles and I bring back all or parts of the said item for replenishments. Its also the time we gather all the related repair work long pending and off we go..with bag filled with a motley assortment of items in varying stages of repair.

Such was a trip 2 days ago. Some valves needed to be replaced, some gaskets replenished, some handles needed fixing etc etc till we came to one item.

Amma : "I bought this cooker last year and it has never worked since I took it out of the packing case. You've sold me a lemon........err a bad un!"

Salesguy : "Amma, whistle hodiyatta?(Does it whistle?)"

Amma : "No, it does nothing, it hasnt worked ever!"

Salesguy : "We have to test it ma'am. Can you wait for a few mins?"

Amma : "Sure"

Some 15 mins were spent waiting.(Well we were actually trying to figure out where and how exactly this "test" would happen.) Then,

Salesguy : "Ma'am, you can come see for yourself, it was a bad valve. Please follow me..."

Amma and I excitedly followed said individual in eager anticipation. He walked us through an alley beside the showroom to a shed. Erm, makeshift lab attached to the restroom! It had various cooker bottoms and lids and all and sundry items related to pressure cookers stacked randomly. And then there was a counter with a gas stove, with a cooker in action.

A cooker merrily whistled away....

Amma : "Did you use a new valve?"

Me : (sotto voce) "Ask him if dinner is done..."

Salesguy : "Yes ma'am, see, its working now, you had a bad valve."

Me : (sotto voce) "Does he follow the 3 whistle policy for rice as well? Do you know?"

Amma : (with a glare pointed in my direction) "I am sure you gave me a faulty valve to begin with. Please dont charge me for this replacement and draw up the bill?"

Me : (sotto voce) "You think he used the water from the rest room?(bleh)"

Amma : (gritting teeth) " Alright, lets head back to the showroom"

We now have a veritable spares collection. Enough to chug along for the next 4 yrs.

And they have a "lab".