InklingsInsight

In the last week of September 2023, I went to my book launch event in Kolkata. Kolkata, the city of joy, welcomed me with light rain showers and pleasing weather. I arrived at the airport on the morning of the event but had to travel 1.5 hours more to reach the hotel. As soon as I got to the room, I went straight to dress up as I had 2 hours to leave for the event to be there on time. By 3 pm, I booked a taxi to go for lunch. I did not research the places in the city before going there, so I had to settle in a small restaurant for lunch. I do not even remember its name. I had a bad experience with my lunch. I decided to head to the event and wait to get along with my friend after the event to go to a nice place to dine. When I reached Booker's Lounge for the event, I met authors and readers who came to attend the event amidst the rain showers that turned too heavy from light. At the event, I got an opportunity to meet different regional authors and readers. It was a great experienc...

Traveling is incomplete without a few things. Let me highlight what I carry and why: Chocolate: Chocolate plays as a quick booster. When I went on my first trek with friends, we packed enough energy bars and chocolates to keep our energies in check while walking on the trail. Due to caffeine and sugar content, they become the best companion while traveling. Water Water is life. It helps to keep me hydrated, prevent fatigue, and keep my physical health in check on long journeys because while traveling, there could be places where water is not available. So, it is best to carry water bottles. Fruits While traveling, keeping yourself hydrated and having enough food to avoid ruining one's journey is necessary. Fruits can be a suitable source of nutrition and hydration, keeping your stomach light. So, fruits become my go-to choice when I am traveling. Snacks Although I avoid packaged food, sometimes I have to take their support while traveling. While traveling on a bus, it is the bus dr...

It may sound simple, but potato curry is my favourite cooked by my mother. Whenever I cook potato curry, I remember my mother and never miss to call her to show how I made it.  You would wonder why I am emphasizing this simple dish. It is not about the potato curry but the form we give it after cooking. Rolling it as tikki to stew it gently in ghee makes it worth eating and cherishing. It is simple yet tasty, making me feel fulfilled after eating.  When I started cooking two months back, I was a newbie. One day, I decided to make my favorite and the easiest dish. So, I boiled potatoes in a cooker and waited till the cooker whistled fifteen times. I know it sounds unusual. But, it is true. After boiling, I peeled off the potatoes to cook potato curry with a pinch of ghee, mustard seeds, and a green chili.  Once it was ready, I noticed it did not look as my mother cooked. I immediately called her to show up and ask what might be missing. She inquired about the ingredients I...

Ever imagined a life without food? Tanya woke up chirpy and excited because it was her birthday. She planned for days to celebrate this day with pomp and show. When she climbed down the stairs to find her mother, she noticed her mother was sitting while resting her head on her palm in the dining area. Also, her father, who would immerse in reading the newspaper at that hour, appeared worried that day. Tanya felt annoyed and irritated as her parents neither wished nor noticed her. She ran to her mother first and shook her, but it appeared her mother was in a trance. Tanya kept yelling Mumma, Mumma but there was no response. She then went to her father but received no response from him as well. Feeling hungry, she rushed into the kitchen, hoping to find her favorite dishes cooked by her mother. But to her surprise, there was no dish in the kitchen. She explored the fridge but did not find even fruits or last night's food.  While checking through the drawers, Tanya thought to find at ...

Recently, I started cooking for myself. I must say it is therapeutic for the heart and the soul. From deciding what to eat to what to cook, it has been a journey in itself. I cannot deny I have days of burnt chapati and curry, yet there is no going back to find another resort except for food cooked by my mother. Two months back, I shifted to a new place without planning how I would live in a shared flat as I had a picture in mind that there was a cook who would cook for me. But, when I came here, I realized that girls cook their meals by themselves. It was shocking for me because it was not in my plan. For a few days, I tried my hands at kneading and preparing curry that I liked, and the thought of having a cook went off my mind. Now, when I have to make something I did not try earlier, I would call my mother and ask a few things without knowing that my papa would ask me how the dish was the following day. Sometimes, if he was with her, he gave his advice to make the dish fine, and my ...