Thursday 3 November 2016

NaBloPoMo Day 3: Rasam of Life

He sits down at the dinner table. She serves out the rice, rasam and potato poriyal. He’s busy talking with a cousin and doesn’t really notice what he’s eating. There’s a brief lull in the conversation and as he chews on the food thoughtfully, he makes a face. She waits with bated breath, wondering what he’s going to say. He serves himself a little more rasam, tastes it gingerly, gives her a piercing look and says, “Who made the rasam today?”

Before she can answer, an elderly female voice calls out from the kitchen, “What’s the matter?”

“Something seems different…it’s thicker than usual, the taste is somewhat.. ”

The voice cuts short his grumbling, “You must have drawn the ladle from the bottom where all the parupu has settled, that’s why it’s thick. Don't make such a fuss for such a small thing!”

She steps forward and slowly ladles out the topmost, clear layer of the rasam into his plate. He finishes eating in silence and goes out for his customary after-dinner walk. She steps into the kitchen where the owner of the elderly female voice grins conspiratorially at her. She smiles shakily and mouths a thank you to her savior.

Over that First Rasam, prepared erroneously with kadalai paruppu (channa dal) instead of thuvaram paruppu (toor dal), mother-in-law and daughter-in-law forge the first of many bonds for life.


NaBloPoMo November 2016

5 comments:

  1. Hehehhe.... I love this!!!! Awesome!!

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  2. I shared such an unspoken bond with my mother in law..always protective n supportive in all times n situation. Thanks dear.. Awesome!!

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  3. Thank you for sharing that, Meena!I know that feeling..even now..touch wood!

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