Tender Coconut

12th June 2024

Poonam was going through a tough time. After staying in marriage for 49 years, she was learning to live on her own, newly, as her husband had recently passed away. She was on a journey of self-discovery and exploring new things. Draping an indigo saree with a crop top, wearing chunky oxidized jewellery, and letting a warm breeze play with her hair were all a part of it.

Her daughter-in-law was loving this transformation. Even though she felt inspired, she did not dare to open up and voice out her choices. One day, she thought of sharing her bucket list with her mother-in-law. Looking at her good mood, Pallavi asked Poonam what else she intended to do. To which Poonam asked her to grab the keys to her scooter and take her out for a ride. Pallavi did not hesitate and did what Poonam said. On the way, Poonam asked Pallavi to take her to the new ice cream shop that had opened in their vicinity. Pallavi had a major sweet tooth and could not deny her request. The next stop that the scooter stopped at was "Meridian IceCream". Pallavi was so excited, just like a kid in a candy shop. "Ma, whether one or two scoops, they charge you the same! Isn't that awesome? OK, tell me which flavour you will have?" Poonam was taken aback. No one had asked her that, in the longest time. They usually used to get two same flavours every time they brought her to eat ice cream. "Ma, it's our turn. Tell na, quickly? Which flavour?" With dishes-like eyes filled with water, she said, "Tender Coconut" and sat on the adjacent chair. Pallavi saw her rubbing tissue against her eyes and asked, "Here is your ice cream Ma, don't cry please!" After listening to this, Poonam could only smile. She paused for a moment and said, "You know, this is the first time I was asked for a choice of flavour for an ice cream. Kamal liked butterscotch, so he used to get the same for me. Your husband loves chocolate chips, so he gets that for me. You asked me my choice, and that made me think, am I really that important?"



"We women, as we age, forget our choices, and whatever our husbands and kids like eventually becomes our default too. But that should not be the case, no? I am now determined to try all 37 flavours this shop has.." to which Pallavi interrupts, "NOW?" Poonam licks her favourite flavour and says, "No. Today I want to savour Tender Coconut. Next flavour, maybe next time!"

This post is a part of #BlogchatterFoodFest.