The greatest fear in Ramesh’s household was unexpected relatives — especially the kind who arrived without notice and settled in as if they had always belonged there. His wife often joked, “Even if we cook something as simple as lentils and rice, an uninvited relative will surely appear.”
One evening, Ramesh returned home from the office, exhausted. As soon as he opened the door, a delightful aroma greeted him. Smiling, he said, “Ah, looks like we’re having lentils and rice tonight!”
His wife replied softly, “Yes… and along with it, we also have an uninvited guest.”
Ramesh froze. “Who’s here?” he whispered.
She gestured toward the living room. Sitting comfortably on the sofa, legs stretched out, was the maternal uncle of a friend of Ramesh’s distant cousin — visiting for the first time, yet looking as though he had come fully prepared to stay indefinitely.
The guest smiled warmly and said, “Brother, you have a lovely home. It feels so comfortable here — one could easily stay for days.”
Ramesh felt alarm bells ringing in his head. That’s exactly what I was afraid of, he thought.
When dinner was served, the guest enthusiastically asked for three extra servings of bread and four helpings of lentils. “Home-cooked food is always the best,” he declared cheerfully. Meanwhile, Ramesh’s wife quietly returned to the kitchen to prepare more lentils.
After the meal, the guest stretched lazily and said, “I’m quite tired today. If you don’t mind, may I stay the night?”
Ramesh’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest, but with a forced smile he replied, “Of course… this is your home.”
Later that night, Ramesh asked his wife anxiously, “What do we do now?”
She sighed and said, “Just smile and pray.”
The next morning, the guest announced, “I had come only for two days. I’ll leave now.”
Ramesh and his wife exchanged radiant smiles, feeling as though a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
In his heart, Ramesh resolved, “Cook lentils and rice if you must — but never let the relatives find out!”
RAJEEV VERMA 