In a typical middle-class Indian family, the day begins before the sun. The "early bird" is usually the grandmother ( Dadi or Nani ) or the mother. This is the golden hour of peace before the household erupts.

In a typical middle-class Indian home, mornings are rarely solitary affairs. The concept of a "quick breakfast" is often a myth. In the kitchen, a mother or grandmother is likely engaged in a rapid-fire production line: packing steel tiffin boxes for the children, ensuring the husband hasn’t forgotten his keys, and arguing with the domestic help over the menu for lunch.