It was a lazy Sunday,yet I was running from the market to my home getting lemon and mint- coriander leaves for my mother.She was making her signature dish,Malvani Chicken Curry! It was our special dish for eagerly awaited Sundays.The flavour was so captivating that it watered our gaping mouths.Our bellies would rumble in hunger, the aroma was inhaled very fervently by our building friends who would hope for an invitation from us to savour the fare.I used to skip break fast to build up my appetite on Sundays.Such was my mother's curry power!
My mother is a Gujarati Brahmin who has never even tasted an egg, leave aside chicken in her whole life.How she could concoct such a delicious finger licking curry was beyond our wildest imagination. At times,the invited guests would stare in disbelief! I was her curry taster and never had any additional seasoning or flavouring to suggest as it always tasted perfect! She made the best curry in our whole world.We used to sit in a row like obedient school kids awaiting generous portions of her divine curry.We used to get a sweet dish for her to accompany her vegetarian diet.She would gladly watch us devour the meal, probably that filled her stomach, so typical of mothers all around the world! My friends in college would sing paeans about the curry.
I stayed hungry happily at times, just to watch them finish my lunch-box.
Everybody liked the curry! It would transport you to Utopia.
I became a vegetarian since last six months. It was my conscious decision and changed my entire personality.My feelings of anger,envy and insecurity have all mellowed down now. I have now become more compassionate. Probably,my mother's gentle Gujju genes were being activated now.The person to approve and appreciate my decision of vegetarianism was my own mother. She was happy for me now.Mansi also shared the same feeling.Chaitra and her Dada are the lone rangers now.Maybe,my daughter will learn the secret recipe one day.
Somewhere in the distant future....
I was on my death bed waiting for salvation, my family was gathered around me and hugging and kissing me as if there was no tomorrow. Chaitra who was in her late forties, asked me if I required any juices or soups.I was preparing myself for the last supper that day.All my life was being visualised in a series of flashbacks.
I told her to make my mother's chicken curry!
I wanted to be in a Utopian mood before turning to Ashes!
I wanted to meet my mother soon!
My mother is a Gujarati Brahmin who has never even tasted an egg, leave aside chicken in her whole life.How she could concoct such a delicious finger licking curry was beyond our wildest imagination. At times,the invited guests would stare in disbelief! I was her curry taster and never had any additional seasoning or flavouring to suggest as it always tasted perfect! She made the best curry in our whole world.We used to sit in a row like obedient school kids awaiting generous portions of her divine curry.We used to get a sweet dish for her to accompany her vegetarian diet.She would gladly watch us devour the meal, probably that filled her stomach, so typical of mothers all around the world! My friends in college would sing paeans about the curry.
I stayed hungry happily at times, just to watch them finish my lunch-box.
Everybody liked the curry! It would transport you to Utopia.
I became a vegetarian since last six months. It was my conscious decision and changed my entire personality.My feelings of anger,envy and insecurity have all mellowed down now. I have now become more compassionate. Probably,my mother's gentle Gujju genes were being activated now.The person to approve and appreciate my decision of vegetarianism was my own mother. She was happy for me now.Mansi also shared the same feeling.Chaitra and her Dada are the lone rangers now.Maybe,my daughter will learn the secret recipe one day.
Somewhere in the distant future....
I was on my death bed waiting for salvation, my family was gathered around me and hugging and kissing me as if there was no tomorrow. Chaitra who was in her late forties, asked me if I required any juices or soups.I was preparing myself for the last supper that day.All my life was being visualised in a series of flashbacks.
I told her to make my mother's chicken curry!
I wanted to be in a Utopian mood before turning to Ashes!
I wanted to meet my mother soon!
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