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A Noon With Nani

14th June 2024

Reyansh, get the second tokri," screamed Sujata, Reyansh's Nani from the terrace.
"Oh, Nani. I come once a year for a long vacation, and you end up making me child labor. Not fair. Huh!" Uttered Reyansh and he came panting while lifting the tokri.
"And last night you told me you want to do hotel management? And which child are you talking about? You are 16 now, you should contribute actively to domestic chores as well. I have seen that video of Sudha Murthy where she says boy should.." Reyansh interrupts her. "Ok. I get it. I am here. Tell me what else you want me to help you with?" "That's like a good boy. Tomorrow, it's our turn. All ladies will come at 12 noon sharp to roll out papads. By 4 they will finish their work. In the evening you have to help me to prepare the dough. And tomorrow you have to make sure the ladies stay hydrated. Then the day after tomorrow help me with sun drying those papads."
"Looks like you have a planned schedule for me, more than I have it for myself," Reyansh says in a tired tone. "But why sun-drying papads again? You guys will roll out and keep it below the fan right?" "So, Italians sun drying their tomatoes is fancy and gourmet, I can't sun dry my papads to increase their shelf life?"
"You have an answer for every question, don't you?" Reyansh shakes his head in disappointment. "I will help you. Don't worry. All I want in return is 4 packets of Borkut. Deal?" "Consider it done beta!" Says Sujata.
"What do you want for dinner?" Sujata asked Reyansh as she started collecting the Kurdai (traditional spiral fritters) from batch one. "Aamras?" Reyansh asks. "Get an extra bowl, that's a promise," Sujata responds.



"Let us play cards at night? You don't have time as throughout the day you are busy with your own set of chores." Reyansh asks her. Sujata looks at him, smiles, and says, "I am that ant making arrangements for the year ahead. I have synchronized myself with nature. After all the harvest that comes out in winter and spring, to keep it germ-free the summer has to be utilized. Once it rains, it will not be possible to step out and buy groceries frequently. But we have to feed ourselves and the Chatori taste palate that we have. So, this all has to be done."
"Did you do an MBA in resource management Nani?" Reyansh playfully asked as he pulled her leg.
"Thank God I did not do that. Otherwise, my head would continuously come up with ideas that your generation would never get accustomed to. Also, if I could, I would never let anyone pick up a traditional food item and make a fusion of it. Why? It's such an insult to the original delicacy and it loses its authenticity and essence. That next door Lata told me they have made misal pizza? Maggie pakoda and the Chinese we eat here are in no way close to the Chinese food. What are you guys up to ha? Once you do hotel management, I will say learn every country's cuisine, but do not spoil its authenticity." Sujata had an elaborate explanation!
"Wow Nani, you are using the internet in a good way. If you know Desi Chinese and original Chinese are 2 different cuisines, you are more aware than I thought you were. I also saw Annapoorna Cafe on my way from the railway station to here the day I came. It said, "We serve Punjabi, Chinese, Mughlai, and Thai." Why name it cafe when they serve everything? And Annapoorna and Cafe do not go well with each other. Like the east being crashed on the west! I understand the cafe sort of gives that vibe and leisurely feeling. But it is important to understand what the cafe serves."
"Here. Take this second tokri. We are done. Let us take this down and have chilled Kairi Panha that I made and kept in the refrigerator in the morning!" Commands Sujata.
"My mouth is already watering Nani. Let's go!"
They relish their Kairi Panha once they keep all the sundried stuff in the store room, properly covered. And the rest of the day continues like a typical slow village day.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterFoodFest.

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