I apologize if this seems unstructured and this post comes across as a melee of confused thoughts. But then at times one encounters such potent stimulus that it triggers off a chain reaction in the mind and a series of conversations with self follow.
Ananth's parents are in town and had cooked for a few of us. As soon as the food was put on the table. My mind was abuzz. It looked sumptuous. I couldn't help but sample the gravy. It was extremely uncivilised of me considering the fact that it was still in the serving bowl and meant for the consumption of 15. The chicken gravy made my nose twitch and the fish curry made my scalp sweat a bit. Sensations I find extremely pleasurable. I couldn't wait to heap up my plate.
"Let's have one more and then eat", said CK as he poured a stiff one. We gulped it down a little but I could not think about anything other than the food. I think CK felt likewise and we left our drink still unfinished on the book shelf, martyr to a worthy cause. I proceeded to take on the task ahead of me, a decathlon at the food Olympics and I decided to take it one step at a time.
Then began an intense conversation with myself. Something that I just have not had in quite a while being a drone to the easy routine of daily life.
"What makes the alu khatta? Is the onion in the gravy grated? Does it have coconut powder? I cannot taste garam masala but how can this taste so wonderful otherwise? What do I like more, the chicken or the fish...too many questions...idiot just shut up and eat"
Sitting on the sofa I continued gorging but I was irritated. And then it stuck me that I would be a lot more at peace if I sat at the dining table. Food like this commands and deserves respect.
"Anshuman, thik se kha rahe ho na?', it was Arti.
I told her about the conversation that I was having with myself. She looked befuddled for a second. Why couldn't I just give a simple answer I thought to myself? But then I had just given the answer that came to my mind.
Anyway there were more important things to be attended to and I heaped up my plate once more. By now I had done away with the spoon and was eating greedily with my fingers and smacking my lips. I thought that the sight of me in action might have looked like factory floor..uninterrupted industrious activity. The only difference being that a shop floor worker doesn't smack his lips and keeps exclaiming "bah" at periodic intervals.
My empty plate lay in front of me like the calm after thunderous rain.
And then uncle suggested that I try some achar. The achar gave me the excuse to eat some more. And the battle for the good of anshumankind began again. "But hey, wait a second...this is being disrespectful to the achar..It is too good to be labeled an excuse. Hell, this is getting too complicated..."
"Just eat idiot", it was the Krishna inside me who spoke. And that’s just what I did.
The term soul food seemed to cliché to describe the food that I had eaten. The food was simple and delicious and made me happy.
Ananth's parents are in town and had cooked for a few of us. As soon as the food was put on the table. My mind was abuzz. It looked sumptuous. I couldn't help but sample the gravy. It was extremely uncivilised of me considering the fact that it was still in the serving bowl and meant for the consumption of 15. The chicken gravy made my nose twitch and the fish curry made my scalp sweat a bit. Sensations I find extremely pleasurable. I couldn't wait to heap up my plate.
"Let's have one more and then eat", said CK as he poured a stiff one. We gulped it down a little but I could not think about anything other than the food. I think CK felt likewise and we left our drink still unfinished on the book shelf, martyr to a worthy cause. I proceeded to take on the task ahead of me, a decathlon at the food Olympics and I decided to take it one step at a time.
Then began an intense conversation with myself. Something that I just have not had in quite a while being a drone to the easy routine of daily life.
"What makes the alu khatta? Is the onion in the gravy grated? Does it have coconut powder? I cannot taste garam masala but how can this taste so wonderful otherwise? What do I like more, the chicken or the fish...too many questions...idiot just shut up and eat"
Sitting on the sofa I continued gorging but I was irritated. And then it stuck me that I would be a lot more at peace if I sat at the dining table. Food like this commands and deserves respect.
"Anshuman, thik se kha rahe ho na?', it was Arti.
I told her about the conversation that I was having with myself. She looked befuddled for a second. Why couldn't I just give a simple answer I thought to myself? But then I had just given the answer that came to my mind.
Anyway there were more important things to be attended to and I heaped up my plate once more. By now I had done away with the spoon and was eating greedily with my fingers and smacking my lips. I thought that the sight of me in action might have looked like factory floor..uninterrupted industrious activity. The only difference being that a shop floor worker doesn't smack his lips and keeps exclaiming "bah" at periodic intervals.
My empty plate lay in front of me like the calm after thunderous rain.
And then uncle suggested that I try some achar. The achar gave me the excuse to eat some more. And the battle for the good of anshumankind began again. "But hey, wait a second...this is being disrespectful to the achar..It is too good to be labeled an excuse. Hell, this is getting too complicated..."
"Just eat idiot", it was the Krishna inside me who spoke. And that’s just what I did.
The term soul food seemed to cliché to describe the food that I had eaten. The food was simple and delicious and made me happy.
Not just happy to eat it but happy in life...just the kind of food that parents can make.
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