Agreed!
Some of the best surgeons, scientists, engineers, business persons, carpenters, tailors and criminals are men.
Even some of the best chefs in this world happen to be men.
But I sincerely believe that some men should not cook.... And in particular.... one man, who incidentally happens to be my "Lord and Master".
Not that he does or even attempts to cook.
But there was a day in my life when he did.
I was in the first trimester of pregnancy with my second child....... throwing up at every sight, sound, smell and thought of food!
That was when my dear husband was overcome with love for me.
He told me to relax in the bedroom while he fixed a meal for the three of us...... me, our 5 year old son and himself.
My little son volunteered to help his dad. His main job was to hunt for the vessels and spatulas and bring them to me and ask whether it is alright to cook with those. Once the right vessels were selected and approved by me, the actual cooking started.
I relaxed on the bed for about an hour, valiantly fighting off all the mental images of a bombed kitchen.
Finally, I could not bear it any longer and asked the two chefs if I could come out.
"Only a minute, mamma!" shouted the junior chef.
Five minutes later, he escorted me grandly to the dining table.
The table was laid out properly, with 3 plates, 3 glasses and 3 spoons.
There was rice in one serving bowl, thoughtfully covered to keep the steam in. The jug was filled with water. And there was a stack of paper napkins at the centre of the table.
They had even laid out the place mats! Beautiful!!
I fearfully looked at the kitchen counter, sternly telling myself not to react.
Spotless!!.... Amazing!!
I was touched. How thoughtful and considerate! I was totally overwhelmed.
Very few women can boast of a husband who would do all this for them.
(Okay! To be honest, I know a few.... but that does not matter)
I settled down in my chair and within a few seconds the dish of the day arrived!
Chhole!
"That's great!" I said. "Chhole and rice are my favourite." I told the beaming father-son duo.
As I was their guest, I was asked to do the honours. I put a spoonful of the chick peas in my mouth......... and............ the entire world turned red!!
I allowed them to spill back into the plate unceremoniously and rushed to the sink to rinse my mouth when I heard sputtering and coughing. I did not turn around till I had finished.
"You left without a word, so I tried to find out what was wrong with the gravy!" said my husband between huge gulps of water. I quickly gave a bowl of curd and rice to my son and sent him to the drawing room. I did not want him to play investigator too.
"What did you do?" I asked my husband as soon as I could put my tongue back into my mouth. It was hanging out in the most ridiculous way.
"I just cooked chhole for you." he said.
"How?"
"I put one tin of the chick peas, one mug of water and one box of garam masala in the vessel and boiled everything for 30 minutes"
"What? The whole box!"
"Yes," he said tragically, lifting the lid of the dustbin to show me the empty box lying inside.
No wonder my mouth felt like a volcano!!!
What an utter waste of effort! I tried to save the day by washing the chick peas with water. But the spices had penetrated the skin and attached themselves firmly to each and every molecule inside.
Finally, both of us took our bowls of curd-rice and joined our son on the sofa.
The rice was delicious!
And the chhole ........?
I guess that's what they mean when they say, "Adding spice to your life"
Some of the best surgeons, scientists, engineers, business persons, carpenters, tailors and criminals are men.
Even some of the best chefs in this world happen to be men.
But I sincerely believe that some men should not cook.... And in particular.... one man, who incidentally happens to be my "Lord and Master".
Not that he does or even attempts to cook.
But there was a day in my life when he did.
I was in the first trimester of pregnancy with my second child....... throwing up at every sight, sound, smell and thought of food!
That was when my dear husband was overcome with love for me.
He told me to relax in the bedroom while he fixed a meal for the three of us...... me, our 5 year old son and himself.
My little son volunteered to help his dad. His main job was to hunt for the vessels and spatulas and bring them to me and ask whether it is alright to cook with those. Once the right vessels were selected and approved by me, the actual cooking started.
I relaxed on the bed for about an hour, valiantly fighting off all the mental images of a bombed kitchen.
Finally, I could not bear it any longer and asked the two chefs if I could come out.
"Only a minute, mamma!" shouted the junior chef.
Five minutes later, he escorted me grandly to the dining table.
The table was laid out properly, with 3 plates, 3 glasses and 3 spoons.
There was rice in one serving bowl, thoughtfully covered to keep the steam in. The jug was filled with water. And there was a stack of paper napkins at the centre of the table.
They had even laid out the place mats! Beautiful!!
I fearfully looked at the kitchen counter, sternly telling myself not to react.
Spotless!!.... Amazing!!
I was touched. How thoughtful and considerate! I was totally overwhelmed.
Very few women can boast of a husband who would do all this for them.
(Okay! To be honest, I know a few.... but that does not matter)
I settled down in my chair and within a few seconds the dish of the day arrived!
Chhole!
"That's great!" I said. "Chhole and rice are my favourite." I told the beaming father-son duo.
As I was their guest, I was asked to do the honours. I put a spoonful of the chick peas in my mouth......... and............ the entire world turned red!!
I allowed them to spill back into the plate unceremoniously and rushed to the sink to rinse my mouth when I heard sputtering and coughing. I did not turn around till I had finished.
"You left without a word, so I tried to find out what was wrong with the gravy!" said my husband between huge gulps of water. I quickly gave a bowl of curd and rice to my son and sent him to the drawing room. I did not want him to play investigator too.
"What did you do?" I asked my husband as soon as I could put my tongue back into my mouth. It was hanging out in the most ridiculous way.
"I just cooked chhole for you." he said.
"How?"
"I put one tin of the chick peas, one mug of water and one box of garam masala in the vessel and boiled everything for 30 minutes"
"What? The whole box!"
"Yes," he said tragically, lifting the lid of the dustbin to show me the empty box lying inside.
No wonder my mouth felt like a volcano!!!
What an utter waste of effort! I tried to save the day by washing the chick peas with water. But the spices had penetrated the skin and attached themselves firmly to each and every molecule inside.
Finally, both of us took our bowls of curd-rice and joined our son on the sofa.
The rice was delicious!
And the chhole ........?
I guess that's what they mean when they say, "Adding spice to your life"
Very nice. Made me chuckle. Deliberately ambiguous title too. :P
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