What foods would you like to make?

So , one fine day, I get up from the wrong side of the bed and suddenly my phone rings, it’s my life support in the kitchen, I am alarmed and can guess the reason for this unearthly call from her .

I have to rush to college and hence my cooperative husband is, don’t bother (Mark the words) to cook. I will eat in the office canteen. My son , Aai I will swiggy something. Its okay.

Hearing this, I transform myself into Goddess Chandi ( The fiercest form of Goddess) , Listen , you two mortals, don’t underestimate the power of a mother, a wife soon to become a lawyer .

My husband knowing that I have such mood swings and being in the state of perimenopause, tries to calm me down, Surekha, do you ever miss college, no na , please go to college, we will manage.

This turns out to be the final nail in the coffin, and I tuck my sari ( oops 😬, I am not wearing a sari) . Anyway whatever I am wearing , I tuck in . And enter the kitchen

Its been like 183 days since I last entered this part of my house . Don’t get me wrong, ofcourse every day, I make coffee for myself, hence kitchen darshan happens every day. What I meant was opening the cabinets and counter in the kitchen is a rarity .

I open the cabinets below the kitchen platform and I get a eerie, bizarre and uncanny feeling that all these paring knives, cutting boards, measuring cups and spoons,colander, can openers, mixing bowls, blender , grater, whisk, vegetable peeler, rolling pin, food processor, food scale , spatula, saucepan,saute pan, skillet,baking sheet ,oven mitts,grill pan, potato masher, flatware,plates,bowls and napkins have just been transported by the Chandrayaan 3 straight into my kitchen.

I am reeling under the assault of seeing so many varied accouterments and I hastily close the cabinet . The drawer seems my best bet as I open it daily , my coffee mug and coffee powder are stacked there. Opening it very cautiously , I see an assortment of juice, milk, cooking oil, tomato sauce, pickles, five different varieties of chutney, soya sauce honey, vinegar, Mayonnaise, red and green chilli and custard which I have not noticed earlier.

I am in a quandary. During normal circumstances also my eye hand coordination is an issue, but right now, my eyes are popping out and my hands have turned frigid.

I try to call my husband for support, but my self esteem, self worth ( you may call it ego) comes in between and I silently continue to mutter under my breath , where have I got stuck

Suddenly a brainwave hits me ( Btw I am a topper in my college guess that makes me brainy 😜). I open the refrigerator and see dosa batter in the fridge. I am over the moon .

I , at the top of my voice, I am making dosa, coconut chutney , potato bhaji ( curry ) and sambhar ( lentils savouried with dosa). The family members both nod in unison.

I furiously get to cooking. Peel the potatoes and cut them . Wonder why they are not thin and in the same shape like I normally see. But in a frenzy , ignore and get to frying them. My phone has been ringing nonstop for the last 5 minutes. Me irritated , pick up, it’s my college friend , why did you miss college today and she goes on and on. I am touched by her love and affection. Continue talking to her. My son , Aai I can smell something burning. Hearing this , I drop the phone and turn my back to the potato curry . The potato have turned black and blue ( how can they turn blue, just rhyming) . I hurriedly turn off the gas and tell myself, so what if potato bhaji colour for a change is black instead of yellow. Change is the only constant. This time black potato bhaji.

The pan on the gas burner by mistake is on high mode, instead on simmer. The moment I pour the dosa batter on to it , it turns thick as the pan is very hot by then I try all stunts to spread the batter, but to no avail. The dosa’s instead of turning thin, crispy turn lumpy , thick and half cooked .

My husband tiptoes inside the kitchen and enquires in a very neutral tone , all well .

Guess all well 🤷. Dosa and potato bhaji ready . And I will now prepare chutney, sambhar. Husband, petrified, why trouble yourself more, this is fine for today .

All my dear friends are invited for lunch today 😁😁. Looking forward to meeting all of you 😄