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 24th 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 25th 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!
