When I was young I believed, certain chores are only meant for my Valiammachy and Amma. I still believe they were the best and it’s hard to emulate and get the same perfection in taste and finesse as they did. The consistency, quality and taste of their deliverable were exceptional.
Cooking and embroidery is definitely a few of the many. Cooking Inchi Curry, Meen Vevichathu, Irachi Ularthiyathu, Moru Kaachiyathu, Pacha Moru, Thakkali Curry, Chakkakuru Pachady, Neyyappam, Kuzhalappam, Murukku, Lace Appam, Vattayappam, Konchu Theeyal, Manga Chammanthi, Achinga Mezhukkupuratty, Naranga Achar, Kadumanga, I can go on and on, the truth is I have never ever tasted anything as close as what they made, last was 9 years ago. And it will never be there ever.
Valiammachy would jump on a KSRTC bus from Kayamkulam to Kollam, without any notice, with her green plastic crochet bag which she made herself. She was so independent and seldom took favors from anyone unnecessarily; her drive to serve, share and give was so strong.
I still remember the XXX Rum bottles, Valiammachy used to fill with kaachiya moru, the Horlicks bottles with mouthwatering inchi curry, naaranga achar and a few of her uppumanga with the chembooky mangoes. (Good bottles with perfect screw cap, either alcohol or Kissan Squash. Horlicks and Jam, Tins of Bournvita and plastic bags etc. used to be collectibles when we grew up). Her inchi curry was out of the world, the tiny coconut pieces in it, the saucy consistency, and the deep brownish red color, just enough oil on top to keep it preserved for a long time. Believe me it never lasted for more than a week. The uppumanga was held close to chest by all and Amma would hide them in the meat safe, just for a few hours, before we attacked them.
I can never forget the double sparkle in my Appa’s eyes through his thick framed glasses, seeing the goodies, which Valiammachy would carefully take out and assemble on the dining table, the bottles would all be wrapped in Manorama Paper, One important packing lesson I learnt from childhood, any glass or breakable and any food with liquid content wrap in newspaper all the time.
When I started packing, I used the Aluminium foil cut to a size bigger than the mouth of the bottle and then close with the lid, just like a sealed packing when we buy anything new with a running consistency. It’s safe to carry oil, cream, pickle anything when you want to check in a flight or for any travel…
I still wrap in newspaper and then into another bag, always remember do not mix good clothes with pickle they are a killer, oil stain with turmeric and chilli powder etc. is hard to go..
Amma would make a strong tea for Valiammachy as soon as she comes in, the strange part was as soon as she comes in she will start hurrying to go back saying Appachen is alone. Amma used to ask her, whether she is one of the Doctors who came for rounds in the general wards of the District Hospital.
I used to ask her, why she had to take all this pain and come, to run away before she walked in.
She had no answer but would say Appachen is alone.
She loved my Appa so much she would do this all the time, whenever she made inchi curry at Kayamkulam, she would jump on a bus to Kollam. I was always keen on dropping her back by car to Kayamkulam, however, that was not possible all the time, she would be dropped at the bus stand and she would catch a bus and return in one piece.
When I was young, even though I was actively involved in household chores, and always willing to do any job at home, I never ever thought I would be cooking any time in my life, I believed Amma or Valiammachy would always be there to give, whenever I wanted, whatever I wanted. As kids life was full and complete with all the loved ones around us. Life was simple, never complicated; we only had to deal with the people around us, generally everyone was good, it was very rarely that anyone was defined bad and for that they had to do something really weird, the only other challenge for kids in every home was about passing SSLC.
There were no challenges of social media, or gadgets that are governing our lives now; there was never any apprehension or doubt of being on our own. There was always family around us.
I still remember the first time I wanted to cook on my own, to bake a cake on my own and to cut fish on my own…
Only for one universal law: Love, that was the only driving force that made me do what I had never done before in my life. Love made the difference. Till date it’s only “Love” for people that gives me the drive to cook, feed, serve, clean and do every single chore I do.
My Valiammachy and Amma loved us and they sacrificed their life for us, they were so selfless, they kept on working hard for us, even when they were sick, they did so much for all of us without a question and a frown, they did their best, gave us their best, the tastiest food ever. They never gave a thought about their wellbeing; they always wanted to do the best for all.
I try hard to emulate just that, to cook with love, to serve with love, to share with love.
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