An exciting expedition

I have hated kitchen more than anything in this world. Despite of being a foodie, I never crossed the threshold and made an effort in doing something constructive in the there. Coming from a family where everyone cooks well and enthusiastically, my parents always ensured that I didn't have to spend time in the kitchen. Whenever Mum could not give time, Papu would handle it and after a certain time, if none of them could, my brother Yash, six years younger to me, fed me without any complaint. So life was pretty set. Whenever Mum Papu showed any concern regarding my culinary skills, I would dismiss the thoughts, saying I would hire a cook. Back in college, once I had a conversation with Yash which went like this:

Yash: Jijji you don't know how to cook. How will you feed your kids ??

Me: We'll have a cook at my place. Not to worry.

Yash: What if they want to eat food cooked by you ??

Me: Maggi always helps

Yash: What if they want to eat the proper " Maa ke haath ka khana"??

Me: I'll send them to you. You can cook for them. They'll get the love of double Ma from Mama.

Yash, if you are reading this,you'll be glad to know that I know how to cook an pretty well today. If ever I have kids and they want to eat maa ke haath ka khana,I assure you, they won't be disappointed.. 😁

As for Vinod, though he had been living away from home from past many years, yet didn't know how to cook. He had some awesome friends who he shared his residence with and both of them were equally good and eager for cooking. He was mostly used by them to peel the garlic and taste the food. So in a way his life too was well on the track. Things went wayward when he got to know that the girl he was going to get married to didn't know a single food to cook and neither was she interested in learning. He surely must have had sleepless nights, but never let his feelings out. 😂😂

To all those who are wondering what happened next, let me tell you, life was pretty tough during the initial days. People say life takes a turn after marriage and ours too did. In a positive way. We realized hiring a cook was not the solution to our problem. Both of us had to learn to cook. I have a tendency to be fiercely independent and wanted the same for my husband too. So if I was to take a step, I had to make him come along with me. Thankfully, he did and thus began our journey in the kitchen. 😊

We christened our kitchen "Jha's laboratory" and started working together. We had to work without any supervision. Phone calls to different people would help us get recipes. Situation was so pathetic initially that we couldn't differentiate between jeera powder and dhaniya powder or even tur daal and chana daal. I terribly missed my family and am sure Vinod too would have, either Mummy or the set of friends who fed him. Patience and perseverance were the most required virtues and we had to cooperate with each other. Calling each other's inedible food tasty, ignoring the look and feel of the food, defending each other when others pointed out anything, these were the most we could do.. 

We have traveled quite far together. Today, we cook and pretty well. Rather, I feel I have outshone Mum in Kadhi and kheer making and Vinod can cook the world's best mutton. I believe we have reached a point where we can actually hire a cook because despite of all the efforts we put together, Kitchen is the last place we would like to go to,even today. 😉