I WILL BE AN EARLY RISER ! WILL YOU MAKE ME A MINISTER DEAR PRIME MINISTER ?

"No ! I am no longer gonna be here,whispers," Umes.

"In the present scenario,what then brings you here ? "a friend was inclined to know.In the pretext of a grouse,let not your decision be impulsive,"she set forth explicitly.

"The universe is new, " Umes responded with a sly grin ."Buddy ! change is constant ,transformation is an indicator of growth and better days to come. I tread slowly towards that goal ," so Umes spoke.

"Are you allright ?",enquired the friend.

"In pursuit of a vision,for the cause of a dream,I abdicate from my online duties here right now.It's likely that I may seem to have gone bonkers,but could I let go of this perfect offline opportunity ? I shall act in pursuance of the promise,"Umes said with a naughty glint in her eye.

"The message has been conveyed,so I believe that would lead fellow comrades to arrive at the right conclusion regarding my decision.He has been sworn in as the PM of our country.He who has miles to go ,promises to keep , requires a powerful work force for building a strong India."

"I have responded to his request and  confirmed my whole hearted participation in the uphill task process,"pronounced Umes, grinning from ear to ear.My busy schedules will take me far far away from procrastination....

"At the close of a memorable day,a sparkling Raisina is jubliant,the banquet service is over and what else can Umes say tactfully...

Inimitable Umes :-)

CHALO DILLI CHALO !

This is pure fiction…an imaginary situation..

Nayaki : Ma can you please make me some Theplas and Dhoklas please?”

Vijaya : Now what’s  up with you dear girl ? she was surprised…

“Nothing really ! “I said ,”but  could you give me the recipe please,”I begged fervently…

“Well ! If I do make it ,how do I send it to you ? “Mom said.”Why don’t you get it from Mansukh or Gangotree?”

The mother daughter duo were chatting away merrily..Nayaki in Chennai and Vijaya in Bengaluru…

Nayaki was quick to come up with a justification.”The need of the hour is home made Shrikhand,Theplas,Dhoklas and with mangoes available in plenty,I wish to try and make Aam Shrikhand too,”

“That’s perfectly ok,” my mom replied…”Its not very difficult,”she said and went on to dictate the recipes over the phone.I took down the notes ,thanked her and told her.I am in the midst of an important office meeting,I will come back to you later."

Before she could even question my haste,after being in conversation for nearly half an hour,I had hung up abruptly…

Later during the evening,a tired Doc returned home .With a beaming smile I offered him a hot cup of ginger tea and home made onion pakoras..He was immensely pleased..

He loves to watch news 24X7..He prefers to listen to the soft spoken Pronoy and as he watched NDTV ,I broke a piece of news to him.

”This is regarding home front budgeting I said.””If you do not mind,can we please stretch the purse strings this month to accommodate saree purchases and a comprehensive package at Naturals ?"

He was unmoved.

I repeated..”I would like to buy a couple of silk cotton sarees ,some matching accessories and also fix an appointment at the beauty parlour.”…

His gaze was fixed at the screen and probably as always he must be in awe of Pronoy,I mused or perhaps,he was just trying to ignore.”…Nevertheless….…

I was determined too to put forth my proposal and get it approved.I reiterated….”I hope you can hear me. Can you please spare Rs 50,000/- immediately ?”

This time the numbers did not fall on deaf ears and he asked me…”May I have the privilege of knowing why you need this sum urgently ?”..

Not wanting to get into the details once again,I told him…”I am expecting an invitation.You will be invited too.As guests to a high profile event,I think we need to prepare ourselves for the occasion and put our best foot forward.”…

” Huh ! “ he replied…and may I know the event please ?”

“Oh !“I will let you know as soon as I book the air tickets,”saying I smiled and walked away in a hurry,leaving him to be in solace,in the presence of a suave Pronoy.The curry was burning on the hob..

Late night after dinner, I called up my mom once again…”I will be trying out Shrikhand and the methi theplas tomorrow,”The last date for sending the entries is the 24^th of this month.I will be leaving on the same night,”I told her.

“Where are you off to ? “ she enquired….

Before she could complete her sentence I was putting forth several questions regarding our ancestry, family links etc etc…

Angrily she retorted…”Why are you blabbering ? Why do you need all these details ?You are mad.You will drive me crazy,”

“No Ma ! Calm down please.I assure you, that you are blessed with a gem of a daughter.I have just been sanctioned Rs 50,000/- .I am full of  joys of the spring.I do not have many days left to plan.I intend purchasing a couple of silk cotton sarees and Muthu my trusted tailor will complete the stitching work within 24 hours.I plan to leave on the 25^th of May.I am on cloud nine dearest Ma.”

As I was speaking to her, a faithful consort watched with curiosity.To repeated enquiries,I was atlast also replying properly.That was perhaps a consolation…

“That’s the invite to the swearing in ceremony of our new PM.I am off to the much talked about ceremony of 2014 ,”I announced with great jubiliation.

“Have you received the invite.? my dear, she asked me.”

”Not yet Ma…but expecting it any time now,”I grinned…

”How can you be so sure ?,”she said…

”Pretty simple..The PMO office has started sending out invites and I believe that the list has taken many by surprise.I am waiting to be surprised too.Last also heard that entries have been called for an International level Gujarati cuisine competition and the best recipe in each category.will be announced a day before the swearing in ceremony.The winners are going to be invited too and will be felicitated in a glittering ceremony,.I am keeping my fingers crossed Ma.”

The better half was smiling and even as the smile could translate into guffaws,I asked my mom….”Ma ! just one more clarification ?”…Any idea ,whether Nirmala is by any chance related to us ?”…."Who Nirmala ? Nirmala Seetharaman ?"

 Who else ? I chuckled…I am informed that she is in the panel of judges for the Cuisine Competition….Simply asking…:-)

Ophthalmologist rendered speechless, indebted to the Tambong in his life retires to the comfort of his Eye clinic.Rs 50,000 saved is Rs 50,000 earned.Mid Summer May Madness is taking a toll on Nayakis thought process and Ma is on a roll!

OF RICKSHAW WALLAHS,A SUDAMA,A CITY OF JOY AND A CRAVING FOR SATTU !

Always barefooted,he was a good samaritan and a friend.He was our Bahri wallah,he was our dhobi .Highly energetic,with daddy long legs,he swept,he mopped ,he sang and he danced.He was a tall,thin, frail looking,dhoti jangiya clad Bihari with big eyes popping out of their sockets,prominent cheek bones and a portruding collar bone.He had an oval face with sunken cheeks.He was extremely lean,almost akin to a skeleton draped in skin.

I miss him today,I remember the aloo parathas and the phulkas that he used to make for us.We had a mud chulha at home and Sudama Kamkar was the roti maker.Winters were fun,when we used to sit around the tandoor.He would make rotis/parathas/phulkas one by one and hand it out puchka wallah ishtyle...Sigh ! purano shei dhiner kotha....aar jeno phireyo paabo na.Shei juger kotha rup kotha holo !!!!!!...bochor paaliye gelo kinthu smaraniya aye ghatona gulo phirey phire aashey,chokher shamnaey....aar berolo moner kotha ,chokher jol dhiye.....(Translated...Sigh !Stories of the days gone by and time past that will never return have now become fairy tales.Years have flown by.Memorable incidents are repeatedly replayed in front of my eyes.Expressions of the heart now find their way through tears.

Grandma Kannamani had an aweful Hindi/bengali accent.She could never pronounce his name properly.Yeh ka naam hai thomara ?...Kormar ? Korima ? Kurimakar ?....she would blutter and we would howl with laughter.One fine day,the name Korima stuck to him.He was Korima to friends too.He belonged to Siwan dist,chapra zila.I recollect this fondly,because I used to write letters in Hindi, on post cards to his family members Radha Hamaar joruwa,Ganesh hamar bituwa and Kusum hamar bahuwa, on his behalf..

He was in Kolkata with us for nearly four decades and accompanied us on our vacations down south.His diet was staple sathhu...the sathhu aatta,so popular amongst the rickshaw wallahs.I vividly recall now, the rickshaw wallahs,huddling around a tube well or a Gonga spring,singing and enjoying the Satthu meal....Sattu parathas with curds and yummy achaar was a full meal.

Sattu atta is roasted gram flour and a popular wheat alternative amongst Biharis.Known for its several health benefits for all age groups,regular consumption of Sattu helps in being energetic and also improves stamina.A balanced diet,it is ideal for those involved in heavy work and also for those ,whose nature of job requires them to be seated for several hours.

This was Korima's secret for being fit and highly energetic.
 
Korima  loved the Sattu parathas with Sapan ghee fried green chillis and aam ya lal mirach ka achaar.....I want it now !

SUN'S NAPPING !

What’s up with the Chennai weather ? Where’s the sun ?

Hadn’t I picked up the choicest golden grains of wheat ? I travelled so near to the local Bombaiya stores to select the choicest grains of wheat.

What’s up with the Chennai weather? Where’s the sun?

I travelled north,distant in my dreams.I smelt mustard and hey presto, golden mustard fields were there in front of me.Miles miles till I can see no more,far far in the horizon,beyond the wheat fields,a warm glowing sun rears it's head .The bright red vermillion  expanse of the skies is a harbinger of good tidings ,of well stocked wheat granaries and abundance in the days to come.

I hand picked the best quality golden grains .I held the grains in my closed palms,placed the palms close to my ears and shook the grains.The sound of the grains is music to my ears.I have indeed picked the finest grains but what’s up with the Chennai weather ? Where’s the sun ?

The atta dabba is empty.Grandmothers,mothers and aunts walked miles in the hot sun ,in search of the best grains.I just walked into the local Mumbaiya stores and procured the finest grains…Oh ! what’s up with the Chennai weather ? Where’s the sun ?

Mother cleaned the grains manually,soaked them in water and rinsed them thoroughly.She emptied the grains into a big tub,carried it to the terrace,placed a cotton sheet right below the overhead sun and spread out the grains evenly.

I have clean golden grains in my hand.Its the beginning of the month and time to fill the dabba.But what’s with the Chennai weather ? Where’s the sun ?

Ma repeated the process several times,till the grains were golden or that is what I was made to believe.Sudama,the trusted aide,carried it to Radha Mohan Chakki and I followed him.I loved the aroma inside the Chakki and I waited patiently each time,because Radha Mohan always offered a tall glass of malaidhar lassi.

I am waiting to spread out the Punjabi grains under the Chennai sun.The star is Agni,but what’s with the Chennai weather? Where’s the sun ?