A bliss, incomparable

Four years some months back. New Years time……everyone was planning to celebrate the eve… …Rajat was proposing if we all friends could have a Barbecue party at their home, Nikhil also put his proposal to have a party at his terrace.

We all were in good mood. This New year was special as a new member would join our family. Yes! I was carrying my baby that time, just completed 9 months….The expected date of delivery was around 15^th January.

We decided to have our party at Rajat’s house at last, as he had better convincing capacity as well as is an expert cook, though Nikhil is also not less.

So, five days yet to go for the New year eve. I had a regular check-up on 27^th December.

“Tomorrow, you get admitted, 29^th December will be the D’ day!” My doctor was very clear which shocked us almost.

“But, doctor, there is no pain, no uneasiness….I thought if my baby comes in the new year! Please check if we can postpone….In fact no family member has reached yet to welcome the new member.”

“Sorry, I am on leave in the first week of January…..So, plan for 29^th or 30^th Dec. Just let me know.” She was firm and left no other option.

Suddenly, everything became unplanned!

We booked a ticket for Mom and Mom-in-Law immediately to travel next day to Delhi, canceled our Barbecue Party, bought a DSLR Camera, and packed the bag for hospital. A mixed feeling, lots of excitement, but fear too, all these kept me busy throughout.

Extreme winter of Delhi…..Temperature went down till zero degree at December nights of those days.

29^th Morning in the operation theater, I could hear a sudden cry, a glance was enough to make me feel blessed….while the doctor showed him to me saying, “It’s a boy.” A never forgettable scene for my mind though I was extremely sleepy, and dizzy that moment.

Five days in hospitals were like never-ending for me, waiting with extreme eager for the sixth day, when I would be able to take my baby to his own home.

Warm cloth, heavy blankets, room heater, all were ready to keep him comfortable at home……changing the cloth which he kept doing wet frequently……being conscious and checking in frequent interval whole day and night if he was any how feeling uncomfortable…..Should I put diapers or not, how to cut his nails, all these became the biggest concerns of my life. To keep myself waiting to see him smiling in his deep sleep, became my favourite time pass.

People kept coming to see him….to bless him, all advised me to engage a Dhai to give him massage when he was 20 days old. I did not want to…..Yes! I did not want to let the Dhai give a hard massage to the soft body of my 'life'. My doctor also advised me not to go for a massage by a Dhai. I have seen at one of the neighbour's house, how the baby cried when he was getting professional massage. But, to obey my elders’ advice, I had to take interview of three Dhai, at last. After giving at least 100 thoughts, I decided to handover the task to the most experienced one.

She offered me a package that she would do full body massage, then make him bath and then put him in cloth and pack him with warm cloth. She instructed to buy Olive oil for her massage.

First day. Dhai massaged him, holding him tight…..without cloth in that extreme winter. My baby kept crying with full volume....... I felt like as if he was requesting me to save him from Dhai's hard hands..... She assured me that everything will be alright in few days. I could not resist myself from crying too. I felt myself helpless, but somehow, I tolerated thinking about elders’ advice.

Second day, he kept crying loud again. I kept my eyes closed, tried to keep my ears blocked somehow.

But third day. I could not control myself looking at him crying the similar way. I took him back from the Dhai in mid of the massage without thinking about anyone. I knew, I would have to listen to many touching words from the Dhai and elders… "Hamne ne bhi badi ki hai bachche....", but that moment, giving comfort to my 'new life' was more important for me.....

I searched in the internet, read the instructions for baby massage. And.... I started doing massage by myself with my own hands…….softly, gently….when he never cried, instead he slept in between, many times.

I felt sorry for the Dhai as she lost one project, felt bad of myself for not obeying my elders, but it was a great satisfaction…a bliss, incomparable to give him comfort in every possible way!!!!

“I am sharing my #MemoriesOfMotherhood with Bio Oil and BlogAdda. This Mother’s Day check out the Yummy Mummy calendar and  make a similar calendar of your own using the Bio Oil App.

Recipe for Light Corn Fish Curry

Ingredients :

1. Fish : 500 grams (5/6 pcs)
2. Mustard oil : 40 ml approx
3. Potato : 2 (large)
4. Corn : 50 grams
5. Kaljeera : quarter of a table spoon
6. Cumin powder :  Half tea spoon
7. Coriander powder : Half tea spoon
8. Green Chilli : 3 / 4
9. Tomato puree : 2 tablespoons
10. Cream : 2 tablespoon to garnish or to have a taste of creaminess


Instruction : 

1. Shallow fry the Fish pieces in mustard oil till they get a Golden hue and keep them separately.

2. Fry the Green Chilies.

2. Boil the corn separately.

3. Fry the potatos with Kaljeera, put Cumin and Coriander powder, turmeric and salt and then put the boiled corn and mix it well. Put Tomato purifier into the mixer and fry for sometime. 

4. Put Water and blend all well. Once curry comes up well, carefully put the Fish pieces into the mixture.

5. Garnish with the fried Green Chilies.

6. Garnish with Cream, later mix all well and serve.

Published : India Pulse (Sulekha.com)

                   Recipe Dabba

PIKU is Remarkable!

When it was ‘Half Time’, a word came out automatically from me – ‘So quickly!!!’

If you are a Bong or if your spouse is a Bong, you might just be living in this movie for sure! Guranteed!!!

Shoojit Sircar has already proved that he can build family atmosphere so well in Vicky donor, where he portrayed the Pujabi and Bengali families. Piku is similar to Vicky donor and it is equally well made. Hardly the viewer gets a chance to think of something else other than the movie. There are no speeding scene like Avenger, no sudden chocks, or ultra modern picturesque, yet, the movie grabs your attention based on the dialogues and the real life situations, which are common in almost everyone’s life.

Piku (Deepika Padukone) is the single daughter of Bhaskor Banerjee (Amitabh Bachchan). Her life revolves around Mr. Banerjee, who is under the weather almost always…..be it in actual or with his extra sense or tension. He mainly depends on Homeopathy as most of the Bengali families do. Piku’s concern and love for father and frustration for her own inability in convincing him has been shown really well, whereas the smallest but significant quirk of the elderly has been captured minutely. Anyone who lives with grandparents or any elderly parents will instantly connect with the story and the main characters of the movie, may not be fully. Emotion, frustration, anger, nostalgia, melancholy and above all humour …all have been well blended in the movie.

Rana Choudhary (Irrfan Khan)’s interesting entry into the father-daughter world, having his own family to deal with. His background is shown extremely well in just few seconds….with the home atmosphere, few dialogues from mother and sister. The expression of Kaku and Kaaki ma (Piku's uncle and aunt) at Piku's Masi's entry into the home, playing badminton opening the gate of the house, riding cycle through the narrow lane of CR park....all these scenes are really realistically remarkable...

Was Piku’s father selfish in advising his daughter to not get married? Is constipation a reason to not get married to his business partner? All these questions remain open though…

Mindblowing acting styles of every actor of the movie, including Deepika, Irrfan, Mausumi Chatterjee, Jisshu Sengupta and above all Amitabh Bachchan have made the movie a ‘Must Watch’.

Loved the Movie! Really!!! 

Recipe for Dry Pork Dish

Ingredients

Pork: 500 gms 

Potato : 2

Tomato : 2

Onion:  3

Salt: as per taste

Ginger : 3 tsp

Garlic : 2 tsp

Green Chilli:  2 / 3

Cumin powder: 1 tsp

Coriander powder: 1 tsp

Oil for frying : at least 5 tsp

Coriander fresh leaf : according to taste and garnish

Instructions :

1.    Clean the meat first.

2.    Boil it in a pressure cooker for at least 3 / 4 whistles. Put one tsp of Ginger.

3.    Cut the potatoes in medium size, fry them and then keep them separately

4.    Fry the onion till it becomes red and then put the garlic.

5.    Put Cumin and Coriander powder

6.    Mix all well.

7.    Chop  the tomatos : few very small pieces and some in medium

           pieces.

8.    Put them into the mixture.

9.    When the mixture blends well, put the boiled pork pieces taking out of the water.

10.  Cook for 15 mins, then put the potatoes. Put two

11.  Garnish with Coriander leaf. 

Sharing is Caring : A reason to Marry

“Is food ready? Serve it fast to all the men of the house. They have already taken bath…” 
“It’s their sleeping time, make their bed ready.”
“All men had their lunch, now we can eat.” 

...Till many decades ago, all ladies in the house would be quicker,….more active to serve all the men faster, proper, did not matter if their babies were crying, or they were feeling ailing …..

All household chores were the responsibility of the female being only….. “Hubby is your God, you should always try to keep him happy.” All ladies would get this special teaching from the elders….

*******

Then, one or two decades down the line:

“If we buy this house, I think it will be good!” Working women started putting their opinion, though with hesitance.

Or you got to hear.....

“Wow, your husband cooked today? You are so lucky!”
“You know, Rita’s husband is hand-packed, I saw him doing something in the kitchen that day.”

In most of the families, you would not generally see male working in the kitchen or doing any kind of household stuff….. Female, did not matter whether working or not working, cook at home, take care of the baby,  swipe the house alone……Some men, despite of wanting to help spouse, had to resist as all cared about backbiting…

******

And the times now…..My Story:

“It’s really tasty….Kisne banaya?” Amit asked me while I offered homemade sweets to all my team mates in the lunch table at the office canteen.

“Surely tumhare hubby ne….you cannot make so tasty…I will never believe if you say you have.” Ritika was sure.

….And yes, she was right. I proudly said, "Yes Ritika! You are right."

******

Lifestyle is changing, generation after generation. What I believe, our hostel lives, or our bachelor lives for many years, generally are contributing towards this ‘#ShareTheLoad’. Now, share the load means showing respect and understanding between the spouse, leading a healthy life….unlike serving hubby as a God or laughing at other’s hubby as hand-packed.

******

Special reasons to add on why I married my hubby: :) 

Reason I :  I and my brother used to stay together in Delhi, while got introduced to my hubby. Usually, he used to visit us on Sundays, as my brother and he was in the same hostel during their college.

One fine Sunday morning, our calling bell rang. My brother opened the door….a yucky smell hit my nose…....my future hubby was standing outside the door. He looked neat and clean…then why he was smelling so bad?

Thank God! Smell was not from him…but one cat relieved her stomach in front of our front door….that smelled deadly.

Now who would clean that???…..I and my brother started putting the responsibility on each other…..So, looking at our fight,  suddenly we saw, our guest putting one cloth on his nose and mouth and proceeded to clean the stuff with some newspapers….and hard plastic pieces. I was silent……but for the first time I was very impressed!!!!

Reason II : My brother and I used to get frequent invitations to their ‘Mess’…..a two bedroom set where three guys including my hubby used to live.  The dishes these guys used to cook were beyond expectation. The way they used to keep their house was impressive….They used to distribute the work very nicely…; one guy would cook, one would clean the house and another one would wash cloths. They properly Shared the load.

******

We got married……I replaced the two other guys…..We did not distribute our work formally…..but he was and is always there to help me in every task…..Be it buying groceries, carry them home, putting them in proper place, cooking meals, washing dishes, doing the laundry work, dusting the place or if needed, taking care of the baby in the mid night too. It’s really fun now…..to work together…..explore new dishes….finish work faster…..getting a shoulder to lean on….

I love to see him chopping onions for his special dishes, ironing cloth before going to office…..arranging home when we have guests at home. In friends’ get together….I enjoy guys cooking at the kitchen with their best spirit……and wives adding sweet fuels from outside……or taking care of the babies….and at last....eating food together….

Lighting the entire room with candles on special occasion, giving some expensive diamond ornament on birthday or anniversary, sending exquisite flowers to show love or booking the entire expensive restaurant all for you and your better half: all these can be add-ons. But is that really what love or caring all about?

Finding meaning of love and caring in our daily lives is more important. Sharing the load is the best way to show love and caring! 

Love is not love unless you express

Caring is not caring unless you feel it

Sharing is not sharing unless you feel relief

Marriage is not successful unless you have Caring, Sharing, Giving, Forgiving…and above all, Loving and being Loved….

***

I am writing for the #ShareTheLoad activity at BlogAdda.com in association withAriel.

Baak : A Gothic Story

‘Baak’….a special kind of ghosts….typically lived in swamp areas. Don’t know whether it was found or seen in other places of the country or not……..but it was popular in Assam till even late 70’s.

  

Fresh Fish was the staple food of Baak. People used to encounter a Baak while fishing in a river or pond or a swamp area. Generally, the non-veg guys, the Fish eaters had the fortune to come across this kind of ghosts.

Mostly, people used to put fishing net in the ponds or marsh lands late in the evening and collect in the dawn. There were so many stories like, sometimes some lonely fishermen used to catch fish and keep in their pots…and automatically fishes used to vanish…..while they used to feel somebody’s presence and get to hear some chewing sounds in the air. Normally, Baaks didn’t take lives of people, they would attack if the fishermen threatened them.

The Baaks used to carry their souls in one pouch. If any human being could snatch that pouch….the Baak used to obey the orders, like a genie. Many people knew some magic tricks to snatch that pouch. My great great grandpa was one of them.

Long ago, there was a family in a small village of Assam. Father, mother, two brothers with their wives and one kid each were living happily. One day, the siblings went for fishing, even before the dawn. They went to fish in a big fishery nearby a swamp area. They were in a boat, and were getting lots of fish….They were overwhelmed. Suddenly, the younger brother heard a big sound from his back side as if some heavy thing fell into the water. He looked behind, and could feel some abnormality in elder brother’s behavior. The elder brother said that nothing happened. But, the younger brother had some doubt, started observing keenly what was happening without giving any hint. The picture was clear after sometime, the man in the boat was a Baak in his brother’s shape, after killing and throwing his brother into the water. He kept patience, planned and trickily snatched away the pouch of the Baak….and convinced him to accompany him to his house and be in that shape only. The Baak had to come into the agreement.

Going home, the younger brother hide the pouch somewhere extremely secret place in the house. Years and years passed, nobody came to know about the truth. The Baak kept searching the pouch…..He had to live his life like a man…he had two children….

One day, everyone had to go to a marriage ceremony in a nearby village. Keeping all family members in the marriage venue, the Baak came back home…..minutely searched the pouch….and he was successful….But, he became emotional enough…......Should he leave the house….or keep the pouch in its place again……


PS. Publishing this story under the hashtag theme of Indiblogger:#incompletestory.  The story is incomplete.  



Image courtesy : Google

A to Z April Challenge Reflection post

This year’s Blogging from A to Z April Challenge was my first, but it was quite an Wonderful ride for me…….Busy schedule, but still need to think one topic with one letter……, and I’m really glad I have completed it. 

I will definitely participate next year, but surely with a theme.

I think, I couldn't visit as many new blogs as I wanted to, but I'm glad that I have discovered a number of interesting blogs during this time.

I'd like to thank the hosts and assistants of the Challenge and also the new visitors I found from all over the world, who have left their comments at my blog.

It was really a great experience!

                
                  My Blog - links during this Challenge :

1

1.    Annoying Aunty, but funny too 

2.    Beauty, not blessed with physical beauty 

3.    Children Craze 

4.    Fear of the Dark 

5.    The END, an End of a Life 

6.    Flowers : The Beauty 

7.    Ghostly Affair 

8.    Honesty is valued by all 

9.    Ice Cream 

10.  Jack of all trades 

11.  Kaziranga : A place which can incite your senses, ...

12.  Lantern : Necessity became Luxury

13.  Maidam: Pyramids of Assam

14.  Nothing gonna change my love for you

15.  Orthodox beliefs can be beneficial sometimes too

16.  Pain in mind and soul

17.  Queue : Who likes to stand in a queue?

18.  The Beauty of Red color

19.  Smell of moist soil

20.  A Touch

21.  Best Wishes to Unauthorized Land Owners

22.  Vanity Bag

23.  Label for Witch Hunting

24.  xerox

25.  Yellow Roses

26.  A message from Zoo