Shadows

There was once, accross a street

A little boy who wouldn't eat

No matter how much mama tried

The baby did his best to hide!

The mama wouldn't give up so fast,

She thought and thought, and then at last,

She came up with a clever ruse

And put the nearby wall to use

With evening sunlight on her palms

She swiftly moved her skillful arms,

In a way I thought was, oh! So smart,

To make some lovely shadow art!

She moved her dainty fingers five

To make the wall come alive

With stories, that were ripe and old

And those, unheard and untold

The tales of creatures far away,

And those of mighty palms that sway

The tales of fishes that swim through seas,

And those of shadow birds and bees

The boy watched with twinkling eyes,

And little did he realize

That while he listened to all she said

He finished up all his soup and bread!

But evening sun that shone so bright

Was soon replaced by soft twilight

While the sun sank down below

The shadows too, vanished just so!

"Do not leave, my shadow friends,

I do not want this tale to end"

The baby said with a little sigh,

"Please don't go, or I shall cry!"

Mama hugged the baby tight,

While they stood in the fading light

"Oh my darling, please don't cry,

Oh!  Look there, at the beautiful sky!"

And right there, clad in vibrant hues,

The orange-reds and purple-blues,

Across the sky for over a mile,

Were clouds of every shape and style

A giant bear, on his honey- quest,

A tiny sparrow, in her nest,

All those forests with their trees,

All those butterflies, birds and bees!

All the baby's shadow friends, 

Gone from the wall as evening ends

Were back again in sky as clouds,

To hear the baby laugh out loud!

-Madhuri

Rise of the queen

 

She sat there motionless; in darkness anxious to even bat an eyelid. As she stared into the night, her eyes gleamed like a pair of bright green emeralds. Ears twitching, she listened intently ; as an eerie silence greeted her; save for an occasional whirring of motor vehicles and a couple of howling street dogs. Conscious of an odd concoction of a million unfamiliar scents; she struggled to fight the cold fear that gripped her. 

No, it wasn't those silly, constantly barking mongrels that she was worried about! She had never been scared of them. Of course, she had to be cautious; because they worked in packs, closing in on their prey all at once. "Bloody cowards!" She hissed. They wouldn't bother her for now; while she was safely perched atop a neem tree; camouflaged within its dark canopy.

It wasn't the darkness either; she was accustomed to it. For so long as she could remember; she had been an alley cat; often taking shelter in shabby backyards and dingy attics; her sleek black coat providing her the cover she needed!

She had never had it easy. Kittenhood wasn't a particularly pleasant experience. All her siblings had perished; one by one. But she had managed to survive; despite all odds- deadly predators, speedy vehicles, scarcity of food. Indeed she had come a long way; thanks to her razor sharp claws, unerring instincts and a keen sixth sense!

And then there were people; all kinds; that she had to deal with! Like that friendly little girl with a satchel; who would always stop by to say "hello" on her way to 'skool' ; whatever that was! Or those boys who would play in the alley with some round object- 'cricket', they called it! Why exactly they had named their game after an insect; was something she could never fathom. Perhaps  it was because their game was similar to an insect chasing game she had played as a kitten! They often took to chasing after her. Eventually, she had managed to find a perfect hideout; over a metallic shed right on top of a barber's shop where she could remain secluded from them; yet peacefully enjoy her daily sunbathing ritual.

There was also that miserable looking old man with a dozen or so colourful threads round his neck and wrist; who would practically jump with fear; muttering stuff under his breath; everytime she crossed him. Oh, how she enjoyed giving him a fright! "Black cats bring bad luck" ; she had heard him say once. She; on the other hand;  had never believed in luck, good or bad. Mice and birds didn't drop dead onto your plate by sheer good luck, she had learnt that long time ago! Hunting took hours of hard work, patience, strength and an ability to make danger, your ally. She herself, was a masterful hunter- powerful and savage. She prided herself on that!

Her personal favourite among people; however, had been an old woman selling fish; who would always save the shavings after cleaning the fish; for her.

Over the years however; things had changed. The alley- HER alley; had virtually transformed. Ramshackle dwellings and battered looking shops had been replaced by opulent residential complexes and malls. The new "white collar" crowd that followed; was less than friendly.

These people would mostly stay inside; move around- if at all- in air conditioned vehicles. They were the kind who would wince, if a tiny speck  of dirt got onto their spotless garments and act as though they would die, if they came face to face with any other creatures apart from the likes of themselves! Methodically, they had managed to rid themselves of most animals in the neighborhood. Cockroaches, lizards and other small insects had stood no chance. Then, one fine day stray dogs had vanished too. Lately, even mice had been difficult to lay paws upon! If these dimwits continued meddling with the ways of  nature the same way; they would some day die by their own karma; she was certain of that!

She however, had managed to evade them until that fateful day; when one of their hired men had arrived with traps and caught her unawares; while she lay on freshly mowed grass basking in the morning sun. She had put up a good fight; the man's right fingernail would never look the same again; she was sure of that. Even now; the thought made her smile; despite herself! 

The man had finally managed to trap her; and in process she had severely injured herself. The next few hours had been a blur, until she discovered herself in this godforsaken place; lying in a drain; half conscious and weak. While her instincts told her that the drain wasn't a safe place to be; she had struggled and gathering all her strength; managed to drag herself up the neem tree.While every bit of her wanted to cry out in agony; here she was; utterly frozen with fear; her mind numb from the events of yesterday.  

Something about this place just didn't seem right. Life at the alley- its people; its hostilities; even the dangers it brought- had had a predictable rhythm about it. She had been used to that! This wretched place; probably miles away from the alley; on the other hand; had a weird, unfamiliar air about it; which she completely despised. Moving places. and the uncertainty it brought;  simply hadn't been her thing. 

Perhaps she had trusted too much. She cursed herself under her breath! It was her stupidity (or was it theirs?) that had cost her one of her nine precious lives. 

"Eight lives..." She murmured; as she finally began to perceive things in an altogether new light. The thought that she still had eight lives to spare was indeed a comforting one. It helped her calm down a bit. "How hard could it be?" She thought to herself. Physical injuries would heal eventually, there was no doubt about that. Till that happened, foraging for food in heaps of garbage; was the only way out; however lowly she may have considered it! It had always been that way for her- survival instinct, over and above all stupid notions of honour and chivalry. Sound of vehicles meant she was in an area inhabited by people; so there would be no dearth of food. For now, hunting would have to wait.

As far as people were concerned; stealth, secrecy and suspicion had been her best weapons- she would just have to hone them. "It'll be alright!" She thought.

Dawn brought with it; hopes for a new life. The morning rays promised warmth and chirping of birds promised fresh food for years to come. The rest, she knew, she could handle!

With some difficulty; she scrambled to her feet readying herself for the battles ahead. In one swift movement of her head; she groomed her flawless dark coat and ignoring the pain; leapt off; landing gracefully onto the ground. Purring softly; she walked away; her long, bushy tail elegantly swishing past her. 

The morning hustle and bustle of the town had begun. She was welcomed with several glances- some curious, some frightened, some filled with admiration, others with disdain. She no longer bothered about them. She had always lived life on her own terms; she would continue to do so in future! Majestic, powerful and tenacious as ever; the Queen had risen!

 

A castle of dreams

Build me a castle of dreams

With a foundation of hopes

Where I shall live happy and at peace

Even when my childhood elopes

Let others make money,

 Let others charm the world

While I take a moment in my happy abode

And watch fairytales unfold

I have nothing to show off, nothing to hide

My life is an open book

Little pleasures are all I seek

Wherever I go, wherever I look!!

- Madhuri

"Ishq-e-Dilli"

Despite my many visits, writing a blog about my experiences in Delhi had somehow remained just a wish. This time however, I finally made up my mind to pen down my thoughts about my tryst with the undisputed empress of India's metropolitan cities!

At the first glimpse, the city does indeed seem not much unlike many others; vexed with the same old woes: pollution, ever -exausting rush hours and the never-ceasing rat race for mere existence! With a closer acquaintance however, Delhi begins to intrigue you like a painting splashed with myriad colours- each one vividly distinct; yet blending together perfectly to create that sublime work of art!

"Ishq-e -Dilli" (for the love of Delhi) is a beautifully put together light and sound show I had the fortune of watching; at  'Purana Quila'; one of the oldest forts in Delhi; during my past visit. The spectacular show provides a thoughtful insight into the rich history of the city of Delhi; telling the tale of romance of a 5000 years of historic legacy. The tale begins at "Indraprastha" : the fabled Pandava capital city located at this very place and unfolds through the Mughal era to modern Delhi; wherein generations of rulers cherished their bond with the city- some for the love of its people, some for the admiration of its culture and others for the lust of its power! Centuries have gone by, yet the love for the city has remained unchanged. Even at the present day, the city still holds the same undying charm and continues to entice youth and old; men and women; affluent and humble; and scholars and mediocre; alike.

As one takes a peek into the days of yore, several ancient monuments strewn across the city speak of the glorious yesteryears. Among many such celebrated landmarks is the 'Lal Quila' - an impressive fortress which was built during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The massive- walled citadel built with red sandstone once served as  emperor Shah Jahan's royal palace and headquarters. Some 200 years later, the ramparts of the fortress resonated with the historic nation wide address of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru; thus marking India's Independence from British rule and making 'Lal Quila' a politically significant landmark as well.

India gate; a towering war memorial with the "Amar Jawan Jyoti" ( eternal flame in honour of the unsung warrior) commands a solemn bow.The captivating Humayun and Safdarjung tombs, Jama Masjid and finally the Magnum opus of 'Qutub Minar', the foundation of which was laid by Qutub-Uddin Aibak; mirror the quintessential, somewhat ostentatious Mughal architectural style.

Somewhat lesser known; nevertheless no less significant are the ' Purana Quila' (a fortress built by Sher Shah Suri); 'Agrasen ki Baoli' (an intricately designed stepwell built by the legendary king Maharaja Agrasen; comprising 108 steps engineered to perfection); and Gurudwara 'Sri Bangla Sahib' (the most prominent Sikh worship place associated with the eighth Sikh Guru, ' Guru Har Krishan' ). The list is an endless one!

While old Delhi is quite unplanned; with almost haphazard, overcrowded streets peppered with several of these heritage sites; modern Delhi on the other hand; has a regal air about it; with meticulously planned townships; spotlessly clean neighborhoods and hypnotizingly symmetrical six lane roads. Abutting the roads on either side are skyscraping residential complexes; expensive resorts; swanky movie arenas and shopping malls that bespeak sheer sophistication.

From elegance of 'Raj path' to flamboyance of 'chandni chowk' ; from exceptionally adorable miniatures at ' doll house' to impeccably decked up dainty damsels on Delhi streets; from extravagant malls in upmarket areas to affordable bargain-priced bazaars; and from majestic masterpieces that stand as a testimony to the grandeur of  bygone days to magnificent townships that epitomize the finesse of modern times; Delhi has it all! Indeed, the city is akin to an artful sorceress who has something in her bag to lure everyone!

What draws me time and again; to this unparalled megalopolis however; is the diverse; yet a distinctive culinary heritage it possesses. The city streets are replete with a mind-boggling array of cuisines; that reflect the essense of Delhi's cosmo culture. Be it the tongue-tickling tanginess of  Chaats; the audaciously spicy Indo- Chinese; the succulent meats or the decadent desserts- each of these culinary delights do not merely satiate your hunger; but promise to gratify every single of your five senses!

I was introduced to Delhi's food culture few years ago; during my first visit; when a happy accident brought me to "Bikaner sweets"- a rather unnoticeable little sweet shop at RK Ashram Marg. It was the irresistibly tempting sight of soft 'gulab jamuns' and crispy 'Jalebis' fresh out of the 'kadhai' and right onto your plate; that made it almost impossible for me to ignore the shop. Even today, the gifted hands that work their magic into making each of these treats make sure I visit the shop every single time I visit Delhi. The 40 year old shop sells more than a hundred different varieties of sweets; some traditional and some unheard of! Most people flock here for their special delicacy 'chhaina payasam' which is a perfect blend of two classic Indian desserts- 'rasmalai' and 'rabdi'. The dish which incorporates mushiest 'rasmalai'  balls dipped in sweetened condensed milk with an exotic flavour of saffron truly brings about the best of both worlds! Equally delectable is their version of the traditional Bengali sweet "raskadam"; with a twist of  a subtle, yet unorthodox dash of rose essence. The shop is a hit when it comes to favourite Indian snacks including several varieties of 'kulcha', 'samosa' and 'dhokla'.

When it comes to Indian snacks; also a must visit is the outlet of "Haldiram's" at Connaught Place which serves mouthwatering ' Chholey Bhature' , ' Raj kachori' in addition to several other snacks and a wide variety of lipsmacking desserts.

What I absolutely adore about Delhi however; is the fact that her flavours aren't confined to these branded outlets and posh food courts. You could walk into just any streetside 'dhaba' and relish a steaming bowl of flavorful 'dal makhni' and rice with spicy 'paneer tikka' by the side; and never end up being disappointed!  In fact, what I enjoy most; is a leisurely evening stroll along the streets adjoining the 'Jama Masjid'-  a paradise for food lovers; the Mecca of ' Mughlai' cuisine!

The place by itself; is no Eden; with perpetually congested, narrow streets swarming with two-wheelers, cycle rickshaws and pedestrians side by side. Vendors; with their voices booming above the general noise; sell cheap merchandise on bargain. You may  even buy a trinket or two for yourself feeling a surge of pride in your bargaining skills; and yet some Delhi based friend of yours may waste no time in pointing out that you've been thugged through and through!  If you're lucky enough; you may even witness a streetside quarrel! In short; those looking out for spacious eateries with a tasteful, candlelit ambience and sparkling cutlery may be in for a thorough disappointment. Indeed, the place doesn't boast those fancy restaurants where attractively garnished food is served with gloved hands; where presentation and hygiene are paramount; and taste is more often than not; neglected! By contrast; every eatout here; be it a restaurant or a solitary outlet serving street food; is perpetually overcrowded and full of commotion!

Well known as "city's most famous culinary destination"; is the ancient restaurant "Karim's" . Established in 1913; the restaurant is now almost synonymous with the place. The chefs here pride themselves as being born of ancestors who served in the kitchens of Badshah Bahadur Shah Jafar and never fail to bring that royal taste to the doorstep of common folk! Another famous eatery " Aslam's chicken" serves mouth watering 'tikkas' in a tangy yoghurt based gravy with 'naan' or ' roti' for main course. After a sumptious dinner a creamy treat of  'shahi tukda' (an exotic bread pudding layered with saffron) and 'phirni' (a rice pudding with a fine flavour of cardamom, traditionally served in earthen pots) for dessert is absolutely  delightful!

Of course; I know for certain that the place has a lot more to offer. The more I roam around this place; the more I realize; how much still remains to be explored! With a heavy heart I wind up this visit; as the sizzle of ' tadka' still reverberates in my ears. Blazing 'tandoors' warm up the streets; the rich aroma of freshly ground spices lingers in the air; and so does a silent promise to visit these alleys yet again- for the love of these 'gullies' and 'mohallas'; for the love of the food they serve; AND  for the love of Delhi!

The devil's mirror

The inspiration behind this blog is my nephew Aditya; the very same cool guy I had mentioned about, in one of my earlier blog posts- a teenage boy who resides in an altogether different, parallel universe that's far more fantastic than the absolutely humdrum monotonous world that we dwell in! In this imaginary realm of his, laboratories brew the most innovative magical potions; kitchens cook yummiest of the foods; superheroes battle and triumph over deadliest of villains using bizzare gadgets; laws of physics act as per their own convenience, travels lead you accross time to mysterious places and enigmatic people ; and stereotypically boring and mundane entities like mathematics are barred from entering!
Despite being nothing more than a mere figment of the talented boy's vivid imagination; the strange world is way more fascinating than the one that we are acquainted with!
"The devil's mirror" is an idea that popped out of the dreamer's mind  and hopped onto a shabby, insignificant; yet a curious looking piece of paper that I found lying around in some corner of the house. Despite the overall unattractive appearance of the paper, there was definitely something about it that cought my eye. The handwritten piece was titled "My favourite dream" and went on to describe one of the most extraordinary dreams I've ever heard of!
Apparently his dream carried him off to the hilly terrains of Sikkim; where he stumbled upon a singular mountain peak; a mysterious air about it. From afar, the peak had a distinct appearance- a one characterized by multicolored square shapes on one slope and what looked like multiple dents on the other.
As he approached closer to the hill; he was greeted by a queer looking stranger who introduced himself as his guide for the day!
The "guide" informed him that the 'dents' were in reality; a maze of deep caverns and that this part of the hill held deep secrets; the access to which was forbidden to everyone except the "Maharishis"( the ancient sages).
The other part with the colourful squares was actually a sophisticated resort which was carved out into the mountain; and had variously colour coded suites.
The most interesting part however; was the mountain peak; which carried a huge table-land over it; balanced to perfection. This part was the fabled 'lair of the devil'!
Ignoring several warnings from people discouraging him from wandering off near the devil's lair; he still decided to pay a visit to the hilltop. He reached the place; half anxious; half curious; anticipating the appearance of the 'devil' at any moment! However, all he found there was a mirror;  the devil was nowhere in sight.
Curiously, he peeped into the mirror, his heart pounding with anxiety; only to encounter a great fall; and find himself in bed; awake, flustered, but very much present in the boring real world!
"This may not be a very nice dream", he goes on to say, "but it has certainly given me some ideas to write a new fictional story".
Much as I envy the boy's colourful imagination; I certainly couldn't help but think about how much his idea holds true in real life too! 'The devil' truly resides within us; the only way to find and destroy him is to look into the mirror; introspect!
The boy's brain however; is not yet cluttered with such serious, cliched philosophical stuff. The spirited young mind is already busy weaving some magical story about decoding the secrets of the 'Maharishis' and destroying the devil.
That carefree attitude and youthfully fresh, innocent, unadulterated perspective is all I long for!

The proposal...

A fairytale has begun in the most perfect way
Down on one knee a ring was given, “yes” did the lady say!
But this is not a dream you’re in, this is the love that’s true
Now all await in eagerness, the day you say “I do”!

I smiled to myself, as I read this lovely verse our photographer had printed on his own accord, while I fondly flipped through the pages of our wedding album. Automatically, I drifted back to a time four years ago, while I was still studying to be a post-graduate. My parents, like any other, had already started worrying about my marriage and would keep bothering me with proposals from prospective marriage alliances. The typical headstrong, impulsive girl that I was, however, would end up feeling extremely annoyed at the abruptness of the whole procedure. The very idea of placing my trust in some random person I barely knew, did seem absurd, if not dangerous!
It was then, that I met him- a simple guy with a pleasing demeanour. Like me, he too was pursuing higher studies in medicine. The first time I met him, he did seem like a decent guy after all! I had always been an introvert and would often find it quite difficult to strike an effortless conversation with anyone I met! Quite astonishingly, I found I was able to talk to him quite easily, without much of inhibitions!
“I can’t cook”, I muttered, fidgeting nervously with a spoon, as we sat in the cafeteria, chatting over a mug of latte. “I can, though!” , he remarked reassuringly, as I stared at him in utter disbelief !
“Look, I really can’t! All I can make is 'maggi'” I tried to retort. He merely laughed aloud, looking thoroughly amused at my nervousness.
“It’s no laughing matter, mind you! Think about it- I’m absent minded, and dead clumsy too!”  I sighed desperately, as we walked out of the cafeteria while I finally opened up about the worst fears I had, about my home-making abilities!
“Sir, I think you’ve forgotten your bike keys in here!” called a distinct voice from the cafeteria. I chuckled, throwing a mischievous glance at him, as I finally realized that he was no better, quite confused whether I should be feeling relieved, or more apprehensive about the fact!
"Shall we meet again, then?" he asked expectedly. He beamed, as I replied, "I guess so!"
I saw him waiting for me the next day. His face lit up in a dazzling smile the moment he saw me!
"Hi!"
"Er... why don't we just take a walk?"
We walked along the alley to reach an assortment of ancient looking buildings. "Well, that's my school!" his eyes sparkled as he talked about those loving memories!
I'm not quite sure where that conversation drifted to.. I can merely recollect that hour and a half as a happy blur!
A couple of meetings were followed by several phone calls full of such interesting topics as movie reviews, novels, sports, work, studies and practically everything under the sun, and some mundane,  insignificant ones like our “future plans”. I’m quite surprised  that we even brought up the topic, considering neither of us had much idea of what we planned to do with our futures!
“Listen, I'm still struggling to make my career..I  don’t think I can give you the kind of well settled, lavish lifestyle that you’ve had at your place, at least not for now! But we could build that life together! I wanted to ask you something… I’m not very good with words… but…well…will you marry me?” he said one day, as he finally popped the question, rather unceremoniously! That was it! Here was a proposal, that was so overly simplistic that it could easily qualify as one of the most unromantic proposals in the history of humankind; one that neither had the intense chemistry nor a dreamy air about it, the way it is, in the typical candy-floss romances that we tend to idolize!
Indeed, here was a proposal, quite unlike a one that any girl would dream of! No ring, no wine, no candle-light, no flowers.. no one went down on a knee….just a straightforward question over a humble phone call, yet, a one that was beautifully simple, honest and straight from the heart!
Well, here was a guy, who wasn’t afraid of being himself.. here was a guy, who undoubtedly excelled at practically whatever he did, be it academics or sports, and yet, was down to earth. Here was a person, who had the strength of character to accept his limits, as well as the courage to try and defy them. Here was a man who didn’t cringe at the fact that making tasty meals and perfectly round ‘rotis’ wouldn’t exactly be my top priority, in fact was responsible enough to offer sharing the load!
Frankly, I had never believed in ‘happily ever after’s, I still do not! Well, people are not like those clowns in the circus with a façade of a permanent happy expression pasted to their faces, nor is life, a fairytale! I was quite sure, that our relationship, like any other, would have its share of easy streets and rough patches. But here was someone with whom I could survive whatever situation life threw at me, be it happiness, sorrow, anger, disappointment, frustration or utter confusion, without having to pretend otherwise.. someone I could disagree with, without being judged; someone I could be angry with, without being misunderstood AND someone I could be HAPPY with, without being taken for granted!
On that cold February night, over a distant phone conversation,  I was convinced, that I finally found the man I could have my “honestly ever after” with!

Flavour, failure and fortune...

As a part of tradition when I was married; I was gifted a beautiful idol of Goddess 'Annapoorna'- the Indian deity of nourishment and the giver of life-sustaining food. Ever since then; the idol has been a part of my daily pooja rituals. The Goddess however, has held quite a restrained hand while showering her blessings on me!
My culinary skills are limited to the very basic minimum that is required so as not to starve myself and the family. Well, let me put it this way- some people are natural at cooking; certain others are natural at eating. And then, there's this third catagory of profoundly unfortunate souls like me; who; despite their boundless love for food; are neither gifted with the talent of cooking savoury meals; nor blessed with an appetite any greater than that of a polar bear in hibernation!
There's nothing much to work on; as far as the appetite part is concerned. Wedding receptions and banquets with elaborate menus turn out to be major disappointments for me. By the time I've tasted each of the food items to decide what I like the best; my tummy decides to rebel and refuses to accept another morsel of food!
The cooking part however, is something I haven't still entirely given up on! The frequent video blogs that keep popping up on social media every now and then; make the whole process of cooking seem like a child's play and incite me to try my luck with rekindled hopes. The seasoned hands belonging to the chef in these videos however; are no less deceptive than those of a sorcerer! They work seamlessly, with apparent ease; and voila! Within no time; a delectable-appearing and tastefully garnished dish is ready at the table; waiting to be served!
In real life however; things are far too tricky. Now, it isn't that these attempts of mine are entirely disastrous! However, whether it's because of my weariness at meticulously following the set of instructions; or simply because I tend to have too much fun eating half the raw ingredients; the final product; though edible; is never quite as delicious as I expect it to be!
That day though; I decided to be extra careful about following each of the set of instructions mentioned in the recipe. I had found an obviously easy looking recipe for the all time favourite 'motichoor laddoo' on one of my favourite cooking video blogs- 'Hebbar's kitchen'. On that fateful evening however; I came to the conclusion that cooking is certainly something more than following a particular​ set of guidelines word to word. Perhaps it's a fine blend of intuition, imagination and innovation; which I ; most lamentably; tend to lack! After all, anybody could be taught to play musical notations; but only a maestro can wield his instrument in such a way; as to create a soulful harmony!
I successfully managed to make the tiny fried florets (boondi) out of gram flour (if we overlooked the fact that I did char a few of them in the attempt) and sugar syrup. But the final mixture of boondi and sugar syrup was so runny that it would well have qualified to be called "boondi ki kheer"!The final result could have been nothing short of a catastrophe; but for my excellent disaster management skills. I was eventually able to cook up a dish with a very close likeness to the original 'motichoor laddoo' (though having a consistency that was soft and mushy rather than the usual firm and round ones)!
It is usually the husband who is assigned the unfortunate duty of being the first one to taste most of these recipes of mine. That night when he returned from work; I presented the dish before him; quickly explaining what it was; as he tried to rearrange his facial expressions to hide an obviously puzzled look!
As he tasted the first bite however; his face lit up in a huge grin. "It's nice" he said; generously helping himself with another piece from the plate!
"Next time I'd have to do something about the consistency though!" I added impatiently. "You'll figure it out" he said bracingly!
I honestly doubt when this "next time" would come; even whether it really WOULD come at all!
So far as my occasional rendezvous with cooking are concerned; I guess they would still continue! Well, I may not be fortunate enough like a few others who are blessed with an undoubted expertise in culinary arts. But after all; only a few others are fortunate enough as me to have been blessed with such connoisseurs who happily appreciate the efforts behind each of these not so successful attempts! The food I prepare may not be as flavourful; my life certainly is!