Charu realised that it was ‘ponchishe boishakh’
and she was yet to fix on the menu for the evening.
She has been celebrating Rabindranath’s
birthday every year for more than a decade now with her friends and relatives coming
over. The dinner has always been a special impetus for them. Ponchishe boishakh
also brings back memories for her… of a very special person, who had once
fulfilled her life with love and her senses with the tastes and aromas of
exquisite food…
Years back it was the same day, Charu was clad
in sunshine yellow chiffon, waiting patiently at the college bus stand for her
very dashing, caring and loving boyfriend Adidev. Both were great foodies and
whenever they met it was always about what special they ate, what new recipes
they learnt, and what else can be made out of something. Charu always felt very
special to have a boyfriend who was a great chef. So many times he cooked and
got it packed for her. Friends pulled her leg, that she is going to marry a
cook, but she knew they were jealous. Charu never saw her father even enter the
kitchen. Hence she really considered herself to be the luckiest to have Adidev
in her life.
That day it was the first time that she went
to his place, a little shy and shaky. There was no one in the house. He moved a
little close to her and as she started to anticipate something, he asked, “Are
you hungry?” She actually was, and nodded her head. Her alpha cook boyfriend
came with a strange mushy dish and chapatti. Hardly could she understand about
the dish but the enigmatic aroma captured her senses. Adidev presented the dish
also in style and told her to eat and find out the ingredients. It was of
course eggplant but something was so very rich and Mughlai about it. She could
feel mutton keema melting in her mouth. But it was totally smooth and creamy.
The reason behind this remained a secret. She coaxed her love for this out of
the world, mouth-watering delicacy’s ingredients and ultimately a shy kiss on
his cheeks actually opened the door.
It’s called ‘Byangoma’. He said. ‘first smear
the eggplant in the oven, u can boil it too, but the smell won’t be there then.
So just roast it, applying mustard oil on it generously. Boil minced meat and
keep it ready. Boil two to three eggs also. Take a pan, heat oil, put sliced
onions, garlic and ginger. Put julienned tomatoes, let the spices get fried, and
then add the keema, and eggplant. Sprinkle some coriander on it. Let it cook
and get entangled with each other like inseparable lovers. And now the creamy
trick that you couldn’t make out my sweetheart. Mash the egg yolks in it. Wrap
it with your lovely smile and present it.’
Adidev was not only a great cook but a brilliant
teacher who motivated Charu and taught her to do so many things. Charu loved
cooking but the passion secretly seeped into her when and how she didn’t
understand. However whatever recipe she learnt from Adi, even after doing
exactly the same way, it never tasted the same. This used to make her unhappy
within.
Charu jolted back from her reverie. It’s now
over almost two decades that she has not even seen him. They drifted, on a
reason not known to them. He faded away slowly, without telling her. Initially
she used to feel the difference. He became so busy that he hardly could give
her time. She used to cry, complain, and he used to pacify her. But slowly he
moved away, far away. Charu still cries, she could never love anyone the way
she loved him. She drew a picture of their house and named it ‘Eternity’.
Every day she visits that house of hers.
Charu’s eyes were moist again when her elder daughter Tanu hugged her from
behind and said, “Ma, aren’t we having guests today? What’s in the menu?” Charu
replied, “Haven’t thought sweetie… let’s see.” Charu’s elder daughter is a
great chef. She is now in 9th standard but she bakes like a perfect baker, and
cooks like a master chef. She inherited almost all the exquisite dishes from
her mom. Today she planned to surprise her mom by trying something new. She
took the onus on her saying, “Ma, let me do the honours today.”
Whole day she cooked, while Charu helped her
with the spices and other things. Charu then got ready, the house smelt of
flowers and the kitchen of course was knitting another aromatic pattern. It was
Rabindrajayanti celebration once again. Poems, songs, and stories of Tagore
from here and there were flooding each and everyone’s intellect.
It’s late in the evening when Tanu called
everyone to the table – “Sinner time!” Sweet and simple menu by chef Tanu…
polau, kali dal, fish fry, and byangoma. Rooti Charu got from outside and
brownie with ice-cream.
Rounds of applauds for Tanu were reaching the
level of noise pollution. Charu was
beaming with pride. Some suggested, “Send her to Master Chef!” Some suggested
that the young girl must pursue hotel management and some enquired, “How come
being today’s generation she is so much interested in cooking?” Dipak, Charu’s
brother-in-law said, “Boudi, we know you cook well, but never saw my brother
get inside the kitchen. Tanu has gone on you totally.”
After everyone left, Charu took her plate and
sat with the food. She was so delighted to find Tanu making Byangoma, one of
her own favourites. But to her utter amazement it actually tasted like the one
that Adi used to make. Tears trickled down on the plate and she wondered… how
is this possible? How could her daughter inherit this culinary skill which
belonged to the love of her life? Life is indeed stranger than fiction and love
can make miracles happen.
[SANJUKTA MAJUMDAR]
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