The of Asha is a masterclass in logistics. She pours the tea into three cups: one for her husband (slightly less sugar), one for her father-in-law (very weak, more milk), and one for herself (strong, no milk). By 6:00 AM, the pressure cooker whistles— phatt, phatt —warning the household that the poha (flattened rice) or upma (semolina) is ready.
Many middle- and upper-class households rely on domestic help (maids, drivers) for daily functioning, reflecting a significant socio-economic divide where labor remains relatively cheap.