Either I have to slog real hard to get the grey cells to work or just start tapping to get the words moving.I tried tapping early in the morning,with a hot cuppa in one hand and a mouse beneath another.It didn't work.So I decided to cut down on my electricity bill.I shut down the system and headed straight into the kitchen.That's where my ideas take shape.That's where I also make mistakes. From some I learn and some a I repeat .Therein lies the inspiration to write funny snippets and share.The summer mendicant has announced his arrival.He should be here in full form in a few weeks from now..
When I am unable to write,and out of ideas,I follow a simple rule.Go routine,complete the chores,tire out completely and then, if a great sense of elation seems to overpower , switch on the air conditioner and start the system once again...Its time to write...Here I narrate an incident that happened a fortnight back..
It is a breezy eve here in Chennai.During the day,its pretty hot.So ,I usually try to get out of the kitchen as fast as I can.That could be the reason why,over the years of my stay in Chennai, I have graduated from being a slow beginner to a superfast chef and a chill Jill.
Saturdays and Sundays are Spring cleaning time at home and this means necessarily a break from the routine and delayed cooking. Narayanan is a night watchman,who specialises in house cleaning work during the day.He usually arrives by 7AM ,works till 4pm and charges Rs 400/- for a day's work that includes cleaning the fans,the ACs,the exhaust fans ,chimneys and any other heavy duty work that I deem impossible...I make use of his services once or twice in a month...
Usually,he begins by cleaning the windows,grills and then moves to the fans and the ACs.All that he requires is soap powder,a scrub,a brush,a broom and a couple of rags.I must say,he does a very good job .On that particular day,a Saturday,if i remember right,I asked him to begin with the kitchen....
I gave him soap powder,a locally available ,unbranded white coloured soap based cleaning detergent in a small white plastic disposable container.I usually keep a stock of the disposable recyclable plastic plates,cups and closed containers .They come handy especially during travel..
Narayanan is a little slow but does a good job.He started cleaning inside the kitchen at 8AM and was out only by around 11.30AM..I had kept the veggies ready.My younger daughter was in town and she had placed an indent early in the morning for Alu Methi parathas with matter paneer...
Hurriedly,I kneaded the dough and boiled the potatoes.In between,I was also overseeing Narayanan's work.He was cleaning the window grills from outside..
The filling for the paratha , a mash of boiled potatoes and fenugreek leaves was ready and the gravy tasted yummm..
Usually when I am done with the chores,I head straight into my comfort zone,switch on the AC and slump into a recliner...
My little girl called out to me..".Ma I am hungry,"she said..."Oh ! dear girl ! Give me some time.Allow me to relax for a while,"I said..."That's Ok Ma ,"she replied..."I will make the parathas,for you too, "she said..".You are such a sweetheart .You are a darling,Thank you so much dear,"...I went on to say..
She went into the kitchen and called out at the top of her voice..."Ma where's the flour for dusting ? It's there near the oil can in a small white plastic container," I replied...
She could not find it.She called again.." Ma where's it ?"....
Grumbling unto myself ,"Aaha ..girls these days are too lazy to search.I bet it must be right in front of her eyes and yet she's unable to spot it..Highly Irresponsible ,I muttered."
I had to get up and go..I went in and well ! the container was indeed not to be found.It was not there beside the oil can...I looked all around.It was lying in a corner,near the gas cylinder.
"Why the heck is it here ? saying,I handed the container to her and hurriedly went back into my private zone...
After a few minutes,she called out again..."Ma ! Can you please come ?" Now ,her voice sounded anxious..
"Why are you troubling me so much dear ? Its just about making parathas and I know that you can do that pretty well.Don't you realise that I deserve to relax,You Girls,have no patience........and before I could complete my sentence she was standing beside me ,"Ma ! Please come,she begged..It's real urgent..
With a huff,I got out of the recliner and went back into the kitchen...She had made one paratha .It looked good...
"Ma the paratha smells wierd,".she said..
"Don't be stupid," I retorted angrily." "Ofcourse it must be smelling good.I added methi leaves to the mashed potato," I told her...
"No ma ! the aroma is strange,not methi certainly,"she stated rather confidently."Have you tasted the paratha ?".I asked her.
"No she said.Perhaps,I do not have a keen sense of smell.I am but a novice Ma..But there's something fishy here.I know that,I am in no mood to taste either.That would kill my appetite.Why don't you taste it ? "saying she grinned mischieviously..
I tore a piece of the paratha and put it into my mouth..The world started spinning in front of my eyes.My reaction was instant.The chewed piece came rushing out from the mouth,faster than it went in..I gulped down one litre of water and my little girl looked on,in utter amazement....
Mustering enough strength to be back on my feet,I smelt the paratha...Well ! it was pretty fragrant..Huh !
"Oh ! No ! it smells like deodorant...I had used water for kneading,not perfume..How on earth did this happen ????????"..I was too shocked beyond words...
All the while my naughty girl was laughing away and I had no clue whatsoever..."Oh ! Ma ! she said...Please smell this.".She handed over the container supposedly containing the flour for dusting.I bent down to smell ,the contents and I was an enlightened soul..."Goodness Gracious ! This is the cleaning powder,that I had given to Narayanan."What a blunder I have committed, my dear," I cried..."I am so sorry darling."
I looked around again.A similar container was lying behind the salt cellar..I opened the lid and this was indeed the one that contained the flour...I realised my folly and I had never felt so stupid ever before..My girl had made three balls of the dough and immersed them in the detergent powder...
We had to throw them..Thankfully,the rest of the dough remained untouched by the detergent...
Nearly thirty years back,Nayaki's mother was taken to task for committing a similar blunder....She had added perfumed coconut hair oil,instead of cooking coconut oil in the Aviyal..Nayaki was a spectator on that day and she continues to pull her mom's legs even today...
Karma has its own way I guess..Today I am where my mom was years back and my little girl is having a blast..She will now tell this tale and laugh heartily thirty years later..Life has indeed come a full circle...
