Maggi Hill

This is the story of an 11-year-old boy Raghu, who lives with his father Ravi, mother Sheela, elder brother Karan and younger sister Disha in the small town of Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. All the 3 children study in the same school. Ravi was a local shopkeeper of school books and stationery. He lives a middle-class family life with his wife and 3 kids. Among the 3 kids, Karan was favorite of his father while Disha was favorite of her mother but Raghu doesn’t receive that much love and affection from his parents as compared to his brother and sister. Ravi wants to make his elder son Karan, an engineer and wants his other son to run his business in the future. Although, Karan was very good in studies as compared to Raghu and Disha but Raghu never cared about this thing as he doesn`t focus on studies that much. He wants to become popular so that he can gain attention from everyone in his house and in the society. One day, Raghu was watching Television in his house with his mother. Both were watching the popular cookery show “Khana Khazana”.

Raghu asked his mother that being a woman why she was trying to learn cooking from a man. Sheela smiled at Raghu and replied that “Food is the ultimate need of every human being, son. Everyone who likes cooking wants to learn new recipes so that he/she can prepare new dishes and let her family and friends taste the new dishes and make their food full of taste”. Raghu expresses his desire to cook food in front of his mother. Sheela motivated him and told him to cook food with her in the kitchen for today. When mother and son went to the kitchen, Sheela asked Raghu to learn and cook Maggi first as it was simple to cook Maggi. Sheela helped Raghu in learning to cook Maggi. When Raghu and Sheela both tasted the Maggi, they experienced a feeling of joy as it was the first attempt of Raghu to cook something. After that day, Raghu started to learn cooking from his mother every night.

                         

After some years, when all the 3 kids grown young and finished their schooling. Karan went to New Delhi to learn engineering while Disha and Raghu started to study B.sc in a local Government college. One day, Raghu decided to tell his father that he wants to become a cook after completing his college studies. Ravi filled with anger after hearing this and scolded his son saying that “son, I have already decided your future. You will run my book store. I am becoming old day by day. We together have to think about the betterment of our family. Your brother is currently studying and after some years I have to think about your sister`s marriage also. If you will not help me in running my business then my store will get shut down one day. I know you love cooking but family responsibilities are also there with you son along with your hobby”.

After getting scolded, Raghu was sleepless that night thinking only about his dream. Next morning, Disha came to Raghu to motivate him and told him not to be upset and keep thinking about his dreams. That day, when Raghu went to college, he shared his problems with his childhood friend, Ajay. After listening everything from Raghu, Ajay told him that his father will never allow him to become a cook, the only option left with Raghu is to run away from his home to fulfill his dreams. Ajay informed him that he has a friend, Kamal who lives in Mumbai and works in a hotel, if Raghu agrees to his condition then he will ask Kamal to help him in finding a job. After thinking a bit, Raghu finally decided to run away from home and go to Mumbai. At the midnight, when everyone was sleeping in home, Raghu secretly came out of his home. He along with Ajay goes to the railway station to catch the train to Mumbai. Raghu left a note in his bedroom for his parents explaining the reason for his decision.

                                           

Raghu reached Mumbai and met Kamal there. Kamal takes Raghu to his rented home which was less spacious and told him to stay there with him. Kamal asked Raghu that whether he knows to cook well or not, Raghu replied that he cooks so well that whoever tastes his food once never forgets the taste. Kamal takes Raghu to the hotel in which Kamal was currently working and asks the owner of the hotel, Jayesh to give an opportunity to Raghu to work. Jayesh told him that he will test Raghu before offering a job. Jayesh asked Raghu to go to kitchen and cook something in 30 minutes which was not present on the menu of his hotel. Raghu agreed to appear in the test and went to the kitchen. After thinking for some time, Raghu prepares a dish that was not included in the hotel`s menu. He takes the dish to Jayesh and asks him to taste it first. After tasting the dish, Jayesh found it soo good that he decided to include it in his hotel`s menu. Jayesh offered Raghu a job as a cook in his hotel with a good salary and told him to start his job from today.

Raghu started his new job with delight. As the time progresses, the number of customers coming to Jayesh`s hotel increases as the customers are liking the food in the hotel very much. Jayesh knew that this is happening only because of Raghu. After one year, one day Raghu was missing his home very much. He called his sister from an STD booth. Disha after hearing Raghu`s voice after a long time started to cry. She asked Raghu “Brother! How are you? Where are you? Why you haven`t informed me before taking such a step? I miss you very much, brother”. Raghu also started to cry after hearing this and replied “I am good sister. Tell me about father and mother. How are they?” Disha replied “Father is tensed brother. After your departure, Karan has called one day informing that his college fees has increased and he needs more money to pay his college fees. Father has taken an educational loan for Karan`s studies. He is hopeful that once Karan will get a job he will help him in loan repayment”. Raghu replied that “If father needs money, I can send him some. I have started to earn and I am currently working as a cook in a hotel in Mumbai”. Disha replied “I am happy that you finally achieved your goal. But be in touch at least with me”. Raghu promised to Disha that he will always call her and take the news about his home but told her not to inform their father as he will become angry. From that day, Raghu and Disha started to be in touch with each other always.

                                                                     

After a few months, One day, Raghu received the news from Disha that Karan got a job in USA and is going to USA soon. Raghu was very happy for his brother. He arranged a party inviting his friends to celebrate his brother`s success. Raghu along with his friends enjoyed the party whole night. For sending Karan to USA, Ravi has to take more loan from Bank mortgaging his house and book store. Karan went to USA and started his new job. Slowly, Karan has started to enjoy his new life in USA with his new friends. Ravi tried to call Karan many times but Karan refuses to have a conversation all the time saying that his life is very busy now. Like this, one year passed, Karan became busier with his new life while Raghu continued his good work. Ravi`s book store was sold in auction by Bank as Ravi was unable to repay his loan without Karan`s support. Karan never bothered to send money to his father although he promised his father but he never fulfilled his promise.

One day, Ravi received the news that Karan has married a girl there in USA without even informing him. Ravi went to depression after hearing this that his favorite son has not even informed him before getting married. Ravi had a heart attack after some time and he gets admitted to a nearby hospital. Disha informs Raghu about his father`s critical condition. Raghu asks Jayesh for one month's leave as his father is admitted in a hospital. Jayesh knows this fact that if Raghu will be absent for one month then his hotel`s sales will go down. Jayesh replied “Raghu, if you want to go in this critical situation, you can go. But remember one thing that if you have some other plans like working somewhere else with a higher salary then, in that case, you will not return back. So, if you won`t return after 30 days, I will fire your friend Kamal from work the next day as he brought you here and I will make sure that Kamal won`t find a job again in this city as I have many contacts here. So make sure that you return within 30 days”. Raghu confirmed to Jayesh that he will return within 30 days. Raghu then leaves for his hometown. After reaching his hometown, he meets his mother and sister in the hospital. He asks about his brother, but Disha replies that Karan won`t be able to come as he is not getting leave from his work. Raghu felt upset after hearing this and he consulted the on-duty doctor. The doctor told him that his father will get discharged after one week. Raghu thanked the doctor.

                  

After one week, Raghu takes his father to home. In his home, his friend Ajay was waiting for him. Ajay hugged him and told him not to lose hope and keep patience. When Raghu goes in front of his father, Ravi turned his face away from him in anger. Raghu understands his father`s condition, he leaves from there. Raghu asked Disha about all the things which brought their father in this condition. Disha answered him “Brother! Without financial support from Karan, the book store was auctioned and father started to live in tension after that. Karan never bothered to send money from USA after going there. I can`t ask money from you also as father would have never accepted that. I was completely helpless. Then, he received the news about Karan`s marriage without informing him, he went to depression resulting in a heart attack. After some time this house will also get auctioned”. Raghu replies to her that he will try all possible ways to avoid this. The loan amount was large so Raghu knew that he cannot repay the amount in one time, he then decides to pay the loan amount in installments. He calls Jayesh and explains him the whole situation and asks him for money in exchange for salary deductions. Jayesh tells him that he will give money only after Raghu returns to work. Raghu requests him to trust him and explains him that he cannot return to work at this time as his father hasn`t recovered completely. Jayesh ends the call without listening to anything else. Raghu asked a few more people for money but no one helped him. As days passed, Ravi recovered slowly. After a month, Ajay came to meet Raghu and informed him that Kamal has lost his job as he was unable to report back to work. Raghu felt sad for Kamal as because of him, he lost his job. Ajay motivated him saying that Kamal has sent a message for him that not to feel bad for him as he will find another job and he should take care of his father first. Raghu smiled.

                                                                                                             

After some days Ajay comes to Raghu`s home and informs him that there is a cooking competition going to happen in State and if he wins the competition, he can clear all his father`s debts in one time. Raghu sees an opportunity in this competition and applies for it. The competition starts in the state capital, Bhopal. Raghu clears the first round very easily but he faces tough competition in 2nd, 3rd and 4th round. When he reaches the final round, he knew that he has to bring out something very innovative to win the competition. He thinks for a while and after that he decides that he will innovate with the same thing which he learnt to cook for the first time in life and that was Maggi. He prepares a dish called “Maggi Hill” in the final round of the competition and presents it in front of the competition judges. The judges found the dish very innovative and tasty that they declare Raghu, the competition winner. Raghu filled with joy after winning the competition. He clears all his father`s debts with the prize money. He gets a job offer also in another restaurant with a high salary. After some months, he buys his father`s book store again and gives the keys of book store to his father. Ravi`s eyes filled with tears after getting his store back from his son. He forgives his son and hugged him. Finally, Raghu thanked his mother in helping him to learn the art of cooking and apologize to her for running away from home. So, “Maggi Hill” helped Raghu and his family to overcome all the obstacles in the end.