My Meal....

As I have forced my mother not to move in early morning or in the evening from the bed as a precaution against the chill outside, I have to arrange for my meals from the market. Every morning, I have to first brood over for long to decide what should I eat. As, I have to think in terms of time consumption in buying from the market, bringing home and should also not affect the stomach.

The options being quite limited to Kachori or Chola Kulcha or Bhatura or the bread-butter has made me to have a cup of tea and Ras or biscuit in the morning. The reason being that either I can have my breakfast or read newspapers, a must to work in office as an informed person.

I start off for the office at 12.30 p.m and often the hurry is to just reach and gobble up anything available in the canteen. Unfortunately, it is 3.00 or 4.00 p.m. by the time I am free to search for lunch. The lunch items are over by 2.00 p.m. in the office canteen. Hence, I move out in search of something or rather anything to eat. Often, the choices is Chowmein, Momos, or Chole Kulche. Believe me, they are too spicey to be had everday.

The evening option is Chai, Bread Pakora and Samosa or Matthi.

The dinner is something that disturbs in fact disappoints me the most. I leave office by 10.00 or 10.15 and reach around 11 or later at home. By that time the little Dhabas or shops are closed or about to close. I have to manage with bacha-khucha. So it depends purely on my Kismat.

Yesterday was Sunday. It's a day I always waited to have Rajma Chawal, my favourite dish of the week and the Pudina Chattani prepared by my Mumma. But I couldn't have it yesterday. My Mumma noticed the following morning that I slept after having just Maggie at night. She said: Mainu Sharam Aayi Ki Tenu o sab Chowmein jaya kha ke sona paya raati (It felt shameful to notice that you had to eat that Chowmein type food at night). I said it wasn't exactly like that. It was just I had too much in lunch in office so to balance it, I took light food by 'choice'. I couldn't successfully befool her. After all she knows me more than myself...being my mother.

But....I accept this situation with a smile......for her sake. No regrets. Just smile.