Mix or Separate

13th June 2024

Early morning, Mr. Srinivas Sundaram picked up the freshly creased newspaper which was stuck inside the traditional latch by the newspaper distributor. In an hour he was done reading all the news. Then he thought of starting to solve the crossword and Sudoku. Just when he was folding the newspaper to bring the crossword closer, he noticed the date on the top right corner of the page. 29/06/23 it mentioned.

He got up from his armchair and went and stood in front of his wife's photo frame. The Chandan garland hanging on it filled the home with its aroma. He placed his hands on his waist and started talking to the frame. "It is 8.30. Thiya still did not get my breakfast. When will I take my BP tablets? You left me alone. It has been 15 days today. Just half a month without you and it already feels like hell." Srinivas went on and on. Swastika, his wife, was a kind lady. She was popular among her neighbours because of her helpful nature. And because both her kids had settled abroad. All the rituals ended on the 13th day and they left on the 14th day. Srinivas was left alone. The neighbours used to keep an eye on him as he had never been alone. A mischievous 8-year-old peeped through the window and said, "Talking to her photo won't make her alive again!" And then Thiya entered the house. Thiya is Srinivas's sister. She lived two lanes away. She asked her brother to shift them, but he denied it.

"Anna, come have breakfast. I am sorry I am late. The kids had to go to school, I was packing tiffins for them. And then served breakfast to Bhaskaran. Anaa, where are you?" Searching for Srinivas Thiya reached the room where he stood in front of Swastika's photo. "Are you again talking to the photo Anna?" She asked jokingly. "Come, let me serve you breakfast", she said.



"What did you get today?" Asked hungry Srinivas. "Idli, chutney, and Sambar." She uttered as she poured Sambar with the ladle in the bowl which had idlis. She served chutney separately. "Anna, should I send Rasam rice and papadams for lunch? I have to go to the bank with Bhaskaran. So will be a little late. After returning, trying to cook some that does require much time."

"Thiya, Amma this sambar is sufficient. I will steam rice for myself. You get your bank work done." And he started relishing the idlis. "Anna, you know how to steam rice? What is this Anna, I see you pouring chutney on Idli and Sambar. Is that you? Oh God! I remember that day when you created a havoc when one day, I served you all 3 together. My eyes fail to believe this, seriously."

"Hahaha. Your Anni was very smart. She had to wrap up everything before she left for work. So she told me, instead of the food mixing in my stomach, mix it and eat. That will reduce a few dishes for me!" Srinivas pauses to chew and swallow bus bite, then continues, "I used to require 3 different meals throughout the day, right? But the day she used to make Sambar, she only used to steam rice and fry papadams for me. I used to have the same, I knew it would be too much to expect a working woman to cook 3 separate meals in addition to the kind of work she does."

"So good Anni put you into that habit. Ok then, Anaa, have your medicine on time. I will leave, I have to go to the bank. Will send dinner. Take care." This post is a part of #BlogchatterFoodFest.