A 'Break' and 'Bayen Hath ka Khel'

I needed a break!!

I took one.

I broke my right hand a few months back. 

😀
 'HOW did it happen?'

I would have loved to say that I was skiing down the French Alps when I turned a sharp corner at high speed, fell down, and rolled down the mountains, etc. etc....

Nothing like that happened. 

I fell from a 10 cm high footpath onto the road in the most unglamorous way possible.

No ski, no mountains, no speed, no sharp turns!

Just a stupid fall.

See my hand in blue plaster? philosophical mood in Istanbul.

Luckily, I was surrounded by friends when I fell.

(I am blessed with friendship)

'D, open your eyes'

'D, hold my hand'

'D, I will put some ice ....'

'D, let me drive you to the hospital'

For a moment I blacked out due to the searing pain and I thought I had left this materialistic world and had moved on to the next. There were worried friends around me trying to lift me from the road (not easy with the 75 kilograms) and I, from some higher level, was trying to tell them....it is ok, it is over. 

Their love (in the form of an ice pack;-)) brought me back to this world, thankfully.

😀😍

A-junior drove me to the hospital, accompanied by a full fleet of three more women. Even with that pain, I felt proud - my boy has grown up. Some wait, some forms to fill, some talks later, we were taken into the x-ray room. I was allowed to choose one person to accompany me - I decided on my niece A while R and S waited outside with A-junior.  Photos were taken, and we were back in the waiting space waiting for the doctor to come in and give us the final verdict.

Believe me, the most handsome doctor on the face of the earth walked in. 

I forgot my pain, my niece forgot her caregiver role and we both looked at him with awe, surprise, and happiness! Weekend emergency services at the Almere hospital rocks!!

He gave the verdict. Broken, in 2 places. In plaster for 6 weeks.

What a pain in the a** - I mean, right hand!

Later on, the narrative about the handsome doctor was such a hit that all 3 eligible single women around me wanted to accompany me for my next visit. :-)

What followed after that was tough. A broken right hand for a right-handed person is no fun at all.

The right hand offered to do the 'knowledge transfer', while the left hand grudgingly started to rise to the occasion. 

I overheard some of their conversations.

RH: C'mon, it is not my fault, you know that...(sad face)

LH: Ok, but now what?                                    (a bit worried)

RH: I will teach you everything, you can pick it up...a few more extra things on your plate...

LH: A FEW MORE? I was never taught these things -  since childhood, I have been trained to clean shit my entire life, and now all this....unfair !! impossible!!  (dripping with sarcasm)

RH: I know, not fair! but look at me - broken and plastered, also not fair, right?

LH: (grumpy)  ok ok, no emotional blackmail, I will pick it up. But I will not do a few things like chop vegetables, cook, write, type emails, fold clothes, vacuum clean, mop the floor, and carry the groceries.

Later on, things changed. My left hand picked up many things to the best of its capability. 

I became more confident. I even traveled to Istanbul with a plastered right hand (that's another story to tell)

A lot of things literally became "Bayen hath ka khel"

😀

Cooking has been tough - so recipes have become super simple...Let me share one with you which both of us like.

Parmesan-Spinach-Chicken

A simple recipe that is tasty, easy to make and healthy - can be cooked with one hand.

(bayen hath ka khel-  so simple that it can be done by the left hand only)

• Chicken: 500 gms (boneless)
• Spinach
• Mushrooms
• Chicken stock 
• Garlic : 6-7 chopped
• Onion: 1 small (finely chopped)
• Tomato: 1 small chopped
• Parmesan cheese : 3 table spoons full(grated)
• Olive oil : 2 tsp

Ready, Steady, Cook: 

• Heat oil in a pan. Add the chopped garlic and onion.
• Saute for a while. Add the chicken.
• As the colour changes, add the spinach and mushrooms.
• Saute for some time till they are nicely cooked.
• Add the chicken stock, about 500 ml.
• Cover and simmer.
• Add parmesan cheese and serve warm on rice.

Told you - Bayen hath ka khel...

💪💪

        

The Nation wants to know......

The Nation wants to know who is the inventor of Butter Chicken........

Kaun? Kaun? Kaun? Moti Mahal? Daryaganj?

This is National News.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/who-invented-butter-chicken-2-delhi-restaurants-battle-it-out-in-court-4898475

So this case goes to Delhi High Court!

...where I hear we have loads of backlogs for trivial cases waiting in line - fraud,  theft, scams, murder,..

You know the usual simple stuff! 

Happens all the time, media shouts, candle march, people forget...life goes on.

I feel sad for the lawyer who is going to stand up in the court room to use his education, skills and time fruitfully to fight over Butter Chicken... 

his dream case of course!

I also feel sad for the clients who will keep on paying the lawyers (through their kidney and pancreas) as the case moves from one date to the other......

The court will next hear the matter on May 29, until then the sizzling debate over who is the "inventor of butter chicken" will go on....

I can clearly see Sunny Deol flaring up his nostrils and his muscles and saying " Tarikh pe Tarikh, Tarikh pe Tarikh"

😀

But this is National News.😀

Do not underestimate the power of Butter Chicken.

Cooked by a close friend 'U' for the CheerfulChild lunch

This is exactly what I mean when I say - it is tough to be a foodie!

😀

We are passionate people - give us a topic and we can even take you to the court.

Especially, you cannot mess with our food - it is treated with the same reverence and respect and love and passion and excitement

....as our....as our....umm.....wait.....let me see....as our EXISTENCE!

....and on top of all that ...BUTTER CHICKEN!! -  No way you can touch that!

This is a serious conflict! 

Indian cuisine (especially outside India) thrives and flourishes under the blessings of Butter Chicken (Chicken Tikka Masala being the closest competitor) 

To be honest, Butter Chicken is served in many shapes and forms here in Amsterdam but the claim that it is the 'original' is mentioned by everyone.

At home, during our Cheerful Child Lunches, Butter Chicken is clearly the favourite and steals the show every time.

Now that the case is in the court, let them fight over the inventor and sort it out.

We all agree, that whoever invented it, did a good job.

Salute!!

But let us pay our tribute to the inventor by making a lip-smacking butter chicken today.

Here is the recipe  I use usually.

(also from NDTV - coincidentally the same that I got the news from)

😀

Marinate, cook and enjoy.....

• In a mixing bowl, put raw chicken pieces and add salt, red chilli powder, ginger garlic paste and lemon juice. Mix well.

• Refrigerate for about 15-20 minutes.

• Now add curd to the refrigerated mix. Followed by salt, ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, garam masala, kasuri methi and mustard oil. Mix well and refrigerate again for an hour.

• Roast the marinated chicken in an oven for about 30 minutes until it is three-fourth done.

• Heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan with butter.

• Add cloves, cinnamon stick, mace and cardamom. 

• Saute and then add chopped tomatoes, garlic and ginger. Mix well and then grind well. 

• In another pan, heat another two cubes of butter, along with ginger garlic paste.

• Add the tomato puree made from the mixture. Now add red chilli powder, kasuri methi, honey and finally the roasted chicken pieces. Let it simmer.

• Add green chilli, cardamom powder and cream. Mix well.

• Serve with a teaspoon of cream on top.

 

Gyan-paapi and Spanish Paella

Another fresh New Year! - to plan, to live, to be grateful for!

Best wishes for all........

Today's word is -GyanPaapi!  (in Bengali) 

জ্ঞানপাপী (Gyanpaapi) : Willful or deliberate sinner; conscious sinner.

This is what Google threw back as the meaning of the word.

😊

When I was growing up, this word was often used sarcastically for a person who had all the theoretical knowledge and reasoning about doing something, that could be harmful, YET continued doing it. 

So inspite of having the 'Gyan(knowledge)', still did the 'paap (sin)'.

Let me explain...........

Scene1: I caught a cold 

Ma:  How did you catch a cold? (big eyes, stern voice)

Me:  I was playing outside in the cold without wearing my sweater. (See? knew it, yet...)

Ma: Gyanpaapi!

OR,

Scene2: Got poor grades in Maths. (ok, make it very poor grades in Maths)

Baba: So why such poor grades this time? (the tone was not as calm as it feels in writing here)

Me: I did not study enough     (See?  funda clear, yet...)

Baba: Gyanpaapi!

None of the above scenes ended in such a peaceful one-word-only outcome but you get the general drift of the word...right?

😁

I have quite a few Gyanpaapis in my life (including myself)

(most of them 50± years on this planet) 

We know we need to eat healthy. We know we need to put in more exercise. We know we need to go for the yearly check-up. We know physiotherapy really helps the back problem. We know that the daily walk is mandatory. We know smoking is injurious to health. We know hobbies bring positivity to life. We know life is uncertain. etc etc...

We know it all - theoretically!  because we have been here long enough and have seen a lot of life...........

YET............yet yet yet..... we ignore.....and continue 'business as usual'...

We are a bunch of Gyanpaapis!

Dear friends - Take a pledge this year  - quit being a Gyanpaapi! 

(believe me, I just made my physiotherapy appointment 😀)

'Gyan' over - let us switch to food and life.

Chicken Prawn Paella

This skillet was bought by A-senior a few years back. ...and then it was seasoned with full energy and passion!!

The Oil massage, water wash, exact temperature of the preheated oven, oil massage again, wiping with a dry cloth, back in the oven, raising the temperature in steps...the whole shebang!

He never got to use it.

This year, I mustered enough courage and muscle power to bring out the never-used-perfectly-seasoned-superheavy-cast iron skillet to cook a Paella. It turned out to be ok - not the very best (I blamed it on the rice I used) but the skillet was more than perfect!

I may have complained a bit too much about its weight before - but I do promise to use it more to make him proud and happy.

You need [I made for 6 people]

Chicken : 1 kg boneless (small pieces)

Prawns (deveined): 300 gms

Garlic : 6 pods sliced

Onion: 1 medium roughly chopped

Carrot : 3 (cubed)

Frozen peas: 1 cup

Red paprika: 1 diced

Chicken stock cube

Tomato puree : 3-4 spoonfull

Paella Rice : 3 cups   

Olive oil

Salt and black pepper

Fresh coriander (I did not have parsley, hence...)

Ready steady cook:

• Put olive oil into a large paella skillet on a medium heat. Add garlic, onion, carrot, chicken and paprika, and fry for around 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
• Add the tomato purée and crumble in the stock cube, then add the rice and stir for a couple of minutes so it starts to absorb all the flavours.
• Pour in 750ml of boiling water and add a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cover with lid  and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes, stirring regularly from the outside in and from the inside out, and adding a splash of water if needed.
• Stir in the peas and prawns, replace the lid, and cook for a further 5 minutes
• Season with some more black pepper, then chop the coriander leaves, scatter them over the paella, and serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over.

.....and how can I forget the perfect Sangria that 'S' prepared to go with the Paella?

It is a blessing when there is food on the table and friends around to eat it together.

                                                                     Cheers to 2024!

BOB

I have a BOB now.  My own home-grown BOB. 

Lucky me!!
😀 
BOB = Bewust Onbeschonken Bestuurder

What this means is a designated driver (BOB) who will not drink alcohol and will drive his companions back home safely after a party! 

I love this concept in the Netherlands -  a responsible and safe act for self and for others - demonstrating the maturity of a society.

Bob jij of Bob ik?   Are you the Bob today or me?

In principle, this question is sorted out before you leave for a party.

It was a standard question in our household as we went out for a visit to any friend's place. 

For friends who served good single malts, I was the Bob (I nodded yes even before the question was asked)

For good-red-wine-serving friends, A-senior did not have a choice. Bob, he was.

Back to the present,  A-junior is a certified BOB now!

A few days back A-junior got his driver's license. 

Since then, I have been asking him to go out and drive A-senior's car. 

He was a bit hesitant for multiple reasons.

......yesterday I took him out and we did a couple of rounds to get the feel of the car in a parking lot.

Sorted.

 .....and then yesterday evening the proud mom got to experience something that made her super proud, grateful, and happy.

Let me start from the start.

The process of getting a driver's license in the Netherlands is a very rigorous one- both the written and practical exams are very elaborate and strict. 

So the mom knows that the license he has in his hands is something to trust - no doubt about that.

But being the mother in the passenger seat for the first time while the controls were in his hands were...ummm..... I mean....in the beginning a bit......what can I say...

😀

Haha, don't get me wrong. 

I have full confidence in him - especially the way he has grown up in the last 3 years.  

I think it was more the 'disbelief' as a mom. 

How can this guy who was a tiny thing only a few days (read years) back say, 'Mom, I will be the BOB today, let me drive you back home'.

I still remember him crawling on the ground with one knee bent inward...

I still remember him trying to stand up ...

I still remember his first run...

I still remember his shaky cycling when the supporting wheels were removed ....

...and now offering to be the BOB?

Where did the years fly?

We were visiting a friend yesterday, when this offer came.

...in my mind I said ...."Oooooommmmmmm" a couple of times and went for my first glass.

The wine was super.  

The hosts are my comfort zone. 

It was a chill Saturday evening.

The food was awesome.

My dear host was ready to refill.

I had a new-BOB.

He nodded, with confidence.

Ok, once more I did a more focused "Oooooommmmmm" and went for my second glass.

A-junior confidently drove me back home. My own home-grown BOB 💕

As I sat in the passenger seat and saw the lights on the road whiz by,  I reflected on this journey called Life.

...Happiness comes in so many different packages.

The journey continues....

I am sure A-senior is also smiling and raising a toast.

..To the new BOB...........Cheers!!

Let me touch you with my music....

Haribhau made me with a lot of love and affection. He used to live in Bombay- maybe he still does. He was a man of music, eating breathing sleeping music.

We, his creations, had a joke between us. 

 Haribhau snores in G# 😀

(Everyday after his favourite Thepla lunch, he used to fall asleep on his small 'gadda' chair in the workshop. We could not escape his deep melodious snoring)

Today.. we are scattered in different corners of the world. 

I am one of them. 

I am a Tanpura.

One day, I heard him talk over the phone with someone. It felt like a long-distance call. He put the phone down and walked over to me and touched my strings gently.

I played back beautifully but somehow the tune sounded sad, that of goodbyes. I understood that it was time to go. 

With a few more of my friends, I started my journey to a faraway land - the land of Tulips and Windmills.

Holland.

We landed in Rotterdam. From there we went directly to Samsuddin bhai. As I looked out of my van window, I could see the beautiful country outside. I wondered how the people will be. I told myself that whoever they are and whatever our cultural (musical) differences are, I am going to fill the country with my music. Both the Guitar and the Sitar on the other side of the van also looked a bit sad - maybe the same thoughts rushing through their minds too. 

How will our new life be in these new surroundings?

The next morning, Samsuddin bhai put me up in his musical instrument shop. I stood there shining and straight, eagerly waiting for customers to walk in. 

Within a few minutes, two pretty women walked in. They went to Samsuddin bhai and asked something. The language was totally new, it sounded very complicated and I did not understand a word.  

He pointed towards me.

It was almost love at first sight for me. Her eyes were also glistening with joy and excitement as she approached me.

She touched my string so lightly and with so much love.

I said, 'Sa.......'

She called her partner and gestured for her to try too.

She also touched my strings, all of them together this time.................

I said, 'Sa.......Pa......Sa......'

I knew they were in love too, with me.

Feline and Mira. 

They took me home and I became their family and an integral part of their daily Yoga lessons.  There was love, there was romance, there was fun - each day was magical, and blessed with music. Being loved is such a wonderful feeling. With both of them around, I celebrated my life and purpose every moment - filling up their home with music.

10 yrs flew by.

Today Feline is no more. I played my tribute to her during her last journey.

"Sa.............. Pa........... Sa..............." 

I miss her. 

Mira needs to move to a smaller apartment and it is not possible to take all the things. Her arthritic wrist also does not allow her to play me anymore. I heard her call a friend and say, "I don't want to sell our Tanpura but want to give it to someone who will use it to create beautiful music, do you have someone in mind?"

Two days later, her friend 'H' was at her door - apparently, he found someone.

I left for my new home. Sad and uncertain. 

I sat in H's car and looked outside the window again- life felt so unfair.

"D"

I liked her immediately as soon as I saw her at the door. Flushed with excitement and overwhelmed with gratitude, she welcomed me with a big smile. 

So much love and happiness on her face - contagious !! I smiled back!!

She touched my strings with a feeling of awe and almost disbelief.

I said , ' Sa.............. Pa........... Sa...............'

She hugged me tight just like a long-lost friend.  

Once again, nervously she touched my strings. 

I replied from my heart and I meant every note,  ' Sa.............. Pa........... Sa...............'

From her hesitation, I could sense she was touching a Tanpura after a long time. 

I guess this is what they call 'destiny'. 

How else can Haribhau, Samsuddinbhai, Feline, Mira, D, H, and myself be connected? This was meant to be.

Now, every morning, the first thing that D does after waking up is to give me a nudge ( I go Sa...Pa....Sa...) and then she switches on the kettle to make her first cup of Oolong tea. After that, even though she gets busy with work, I feel her love every moment.  

A loving glance, a light touch, some quick strumming, some sudden unplanned dusting ..... 

We are 'in touch' all the time, our lives gradually entering the world of Yaman, Bhupali. Khamaaj, Kaafi and more........I feel very happy here and I am in love with D.

....I have to tell you what happened next. Just like a dream!!

Suddenly there was this discussion, about Kaushiki Chakraborty coming to perform in the Netherlands in a fundraiser for Cheerful Child Foundation! 

I heard bits and pieces of the conversation- logistics, food, ticket sales, posters, sponsors ---- so many things to arrange and talk about. 

I could not believe my ears!  Really? How on earth can this be done? This is huge.

D cannot be THIS crazy!!

..and then one day I heard her talk to Kaushiki herself on the phone.....

'yes, I have a Tanpura, but it is tuned in G#, will that work for you?'

O My God.... that's when I started to dream as well!

If you want something with passion, the whole universe conspires to make it happen. And it did happen....

30th June, my dream came true. 

She came for the concert. She tuned me with her own hands. She played me on stage as well.....

Someone, please pinch me, did this really happen?

😍

Look at me. Second from left in the photo.😊

 I don't know where life will take me next.

But I would want to stay in tune and stay with D forever...

"Let me touch you with my music,

Even if I cannot see you with my eyes,  let me feel you through my songs..."

🙏

ps: Mostly true, partly imagination

A solo trip, A book and A couple of wines.......

This journey called Life is the most uncertain, unpredictable, and unexplainable thing that I have come across in the last so many years....yet it is also the most beautiful! 

It is a gift, wrapped beautifully and with a card that says 'Best wishes Always, Love'.

So let me begin by saying 'Cheers - to Life'.

Florence was always on the bucket list. 
However, by the time the proper planning started, Covid19 was there. That and more, changed my life so much that the whole bucket vanished for a few years. Told you, how unpredictable it is !!

This year, thankfully the bucket resurfaced and with it the list. 

But there was a twist in the story - my heart wanted to go solo, my mind did not have the faith, and my entire being conspired with different excuses (mostly fair ones) to listen to my mind. 

The vulnerability meter was tipping on the higher side, the fear factor was dominating and the mind was therefore, winning....

I have done many solo trips in the past - but this time, it was different.

 A solo trip is what I need - A solo trip is what I need ..

I kept on saying this to myself and to my close ones, for weeks, and months. But the mind was always ready with an excuse for not doing it.

A- junior came to my rescue. 

"Mom, the last time I checked, in order to make a trip, you need to buy a ticket and book a hotel" 

[I know where he got that from, A-senior must be smiling proudly]

The next moment I was typing 'www.booking.com' - the rest is history of last weekend.

😀

The other thing that really influenced me a lot recently is the speech delivered by Theodore Roosevelt. It became popular as the "Man in the Arena".

A friend motivated me with this speech, a couple of months ago - the more I read it, the better it gets, the more thankful I feel.

The phrase "Daring greatly" resonates every time.

 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither knows victory nor defeat.”

I dared greatly.

Not easy. I stumbled.... but,  I enjoyed it...and here I am writing the story of my Florence trip while ticking it off proudly on my bucket list.

😊

My love for reading had totally died in the last 3 years- could not focus on more than a page at a time. Quite frustrating but that's how it was.

However, just before leaving the house, I picked up a book for my trip. I knew I would not be able to proceed further than page 8, maybe 9......but still.......

This was a gift from a friend earlier this year. 

As I opened the book at the airport - there it was again. 

"The Man in the Arena" (read 'The (wo)Man at the Airport😊)...I finished 80 pages at the airport itself and the rest in Florence - a sense of achievement! 

Read the book if you can...

Vulnerability is not a weakness. Feel the emotions and do not be afraid to connect when you are vulnerable. This is when you are the most authentic.

😍

......okok, I know.....all this is good, but the title of the post also has 'a couple of wines' in it....

Patience my dear friends! here they come.....

This is Tuscany - home of good wine. A short trip from Florence took me to the Chianti wine region- where the landscape, the Sangiovese grapes, the happy farmers, and their beautiful language served some wines which were totally Mamma Mia - out of the world!!

I definitely 'dared greatly' once again 😀

Life is the most beautiful gift we have - and a couple of good Chianti wines just make it worth living.

The trip came to an end. I was ready to come back home. 

 

Reflections, reflections, and more reflections - not always easy (even with the Chianti wines).

But the bottom line is ...

Dare greatly - Live, Love, and Lead .....if you don't, you will never know!

I am also ready to plan my next solo trip.

ps: I totally forgot to mention that David is really handsome - absolutely stunning!

😊

Regel je Shit

Regel je Shit!! The literal translation is " Manage your Shit"

This is not the ideal way to begin a blog post, I know.

But I think you will love it at the end. 

I mean, the title.

😀

A few days back, there were two identical letters from the local municipality in our letterbox. One was addressed to me, the other to A-junior.

My letter said something like this, 'Dear mother of A-junior, your son is going to become 18 soon so he needs to take care of some things himself from now on"

A-juniors letter said, ' Dear A-junior, you are going to become 18 soon, you need to take care of some things yourself from now on..."

...and with the letter, there was this leaflet (picture below) which said,

Regel je Shit!! [Translated: Manage your Shit!!]

Inside the leaflet, there was a list of things for his information, now that he will become 18 soon. Things like income tax, study loans, housing, health insurance,......he is  literally being asked to be aware of these things from now on because these are HIS shit!.. 

Regel je Shit!!

I was impressed. 

....this is how you are expected and made to "grow up" in this part of the world.

I was also smiling when I read the letter...only the Dutch can be so blunt and direct in saying this...in this way.  Hats off!

Such an important message of life at the threshold of adulthood. Responsibility needs to be weaved into life from early days!! - a very important step in the development of a person's character.

You are almost an adult now, so regel je shit!

Haha, Loved it!!

 I have not grown up in this way. Situation, times, culture etc was different. But I have started appreciating this so much as my son grows up. 

Make your kids work for money as they grow up......let them know what 'earning' means.

Here, kids start doing part-time jobs from the age of 14-15. A-junior started with magazine-newspaper delivery when he was 14, moved on to Pizza delivery at 16, currently working in a supermarket chain loading and arranging shelves.

This gives them their pocket money but more importantly, builds up their personality in so many different ways.

I can proudly say his atitude towards money and few other things changed totally.

There is pride (it is HIS money). 

There is responsibility (he CHOOSES how to spend it or not to).

There is planning (he PRIORITIZES his 'needs').

There is empathy (he SUPPORTS 'Cheerful child foundation' with HIS money. Of course I suggested him to do so, but still.....).

There is the intention of changing jobs (continuously looking for BETTER opportunities)

....and and and of course there is grumbling and moaning about the boss as well, before he leaves for his job. (haha, welcome to the club😀😀)

- a fantastic overall development package. 

I wish I had started working at 15.😀

Speaking of parenting, growing up, memories, etc.....Today I feel like sharing "Neem-Begun".  Dont worry, I will not share the "recipe".

😋

It was never my favourite when I was young. I ate it only because of "the eyes". 

One look and everything on the plate used to vanish down my oesophagus, ignoring the tortured screams of the taste buds.

Now I love it!! (you can call it age, wisdom, ...whatever....)

This plant was a gift from AS during the early days of Covid. 

A-senior smiled and asked, "Holland a Neem gach?" [a Neem plant in Holland?].

The plant grew at its own pace, one tiny leaf unfurling at a time, under constant critical monitoring by A- senior. His work-from-home-chair was nearest to the plant, so he was able to notice every micron of the plant's growth. 

Inspite of its visible increase in size, everytime AS visited us, his question would be...."ki gach dili, ektuo barche na!" (what a plant, it is not growing at all)😝

Few days ago, we took out some of the leaves, fried them with eggplant and ate a plateful of rice.

Brought back zillions of memories.......childhood, 'the eyes', A-senior,........

Part of life as I take one step forward every day.😍

 Universal applicability of the words "Regel je shit", but still A Gift of Life.