The Craving For Biriyani

Food is something we all enjoy, irrespective of our different choices and favourites. Everyone prefers different kinds of food, and our tastes often vary from person to person. Sometimes, food is deeply connected with memories, a craving can suddenly crawl out from a hidden corner of our mind and linger until the flavour once again dances on our taste buds.

I recently missed the Chennai biryani I used to eat while staying on campus. The memory came rushing back while I was talking to my brother. Soon after, I found myself searching for biryani recipes online. There were so many cooking videos that choosing one became difficult, mostly because, apart from the craving, I didn’t really have the motivation to cook.

Today, since my mom was also at home and wanted to taste the biryani, I finally decided to make it. The beginning was a bit chaotic and messy, but I eventually managed to get all the ingredients right.

Here’s how I made it:
First, I sliced some onions and tomatoes. I heated oil with a bit of ghee in a pan and sautéed the onions until they turned golden brown. Then, I added ginger–garlic paste and cooked it for a few minutes until the raw smell disappeared. Next, I added khade masala, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, and cloves to enhance the flavour. After that, I mixed in some chilli powder and a spoonful of curd, followed by the chicken pieces, blending everything well with the masala.

Once the chicken was cooked slightly, I added the soaked rice and poured in water. For the final touch, I squeezed some lemon juice and closed the lid to let it cook.

After a few minutes, I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to add salt! I quickly opened the lid and sprinkled some in before it was fully cooked. Then came the waiting, and soon, the air filled with the rich aroma of biryani, making both my mom and me even hungrier.

After what felt like forever, we finally opened the lid, served ourselves a bit, and enjoyed the meal together. It wasn’t just delicious, it was a plate full of nostalgia and satisfaction.

An Evening Walk

 

An evening walk is always refreshing, so today, after a long time, I decided to take a short walk in the nearby park, which sounds quite fancy for a lazy person like me. It was a bit late, and winter was approaching, so the sky darkened faster than usual, leaving the park almost empty before eight.

Before stepping out, I was in a bit of a dilemma, half-hearted and unsure, but eventually, I made up my mind and went for a walk. The park was nearly deserted, and the cool breeze felt completely opposite to the warmth of my cosy home. The first few minutes were fine, but the silence soon felt overwhelming, so I decided to listen to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. The story was so engaging that it helped me keep my mind off unwanted thoughts.

After a while, my eyes began to wander. I noticed how unusually bright the park looked despite having only two streetlights. Usually, only parts of it are dimly lit, but tonight it seemed brighter, perhaps because many houses still hadn’t taken down their Diwali lights, which continued to twinkle in the distance.

Halfway through my walk, a few children entered the park with badminton rackets. They first sat on the swings, chatting and laughing, before finally deciding to play. A little later, a dog arrived with his owner, wagging his tail and excitedly pulling at the leash. His enthusiasm eventually faded after a few rounds, and he tugged his owner out of the park.

I kept walking until my eyes began to sting, and I felt a bit breathless, probably because of the lingering pollution from the crackers. I silently wished for rain to clear the sky. Feeling tired, I decided to sit on the swing and rest for a while. It was peaceful, even with people around. I closed my eyes, enjoying the moment, before finally deciding to head home, thus ending my short evening walk.

DIWALI : colours, crackers and quite reflections

 Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of those days when the entire city seems to come alive. Every street glows with a thousand colors, every home radiates warmth, and every heart feels a little lighter. As I look outside tonight, the streets shimmer with diyas and fairy lights, each one adding to the grand mosaic of brightness that defines this day. It’s as though the darkness itself has stepped back to let light take over.

Yet, beneath this radiant celebration, the world feels different to each of us. From my home, which faces an open ground, I can hear the laughter of children as they burst crackers under the watchful eyes of their parents. Their joy echoes through the night innocent, pure, and contagious. It’s heartwarming to hear their giggles rise above the noise of fireworks. Moments like these remind me what festivals are truly about togetherness and joy shared among loved ones.

Yesterday evening, on my way to the shop, I noticed how Diwali transforms even the most ordinary corners of the community. Houses were decked with strings of golden lights that glowed softly against the night sky, casting a comforting warmth that reached even the quietest alleys. Today, I saw a young girl outside her house, carefully creating a rangoli. Her hands moved gracefully as she filled the patterns with vibrant colors, her face glowing with satisfaction. Nearby, others were lighting diyas around their doorsteps, ensuring that no shadow remained.

But amid all this beauty, one thing continues to trouble me the sound and smoke of firecrackers. They come in so many kinds some dazzling, some deafening. While the colorful bursts in the sky are undeniably mesmerizing, the loud ones often drown out the peaceful side of the celebration. As each firework fades, it leaves behind a thick cloud of smoke that lingers in the air, dulling the brightness that once felt pure.

Yesterday, the noise was mild, almost tolerable. But today, the sound of crackers seems endless. It’s constant and overwhelming, making the air heavy and the head ache slightly. Now, when I open the door, the smell of burnt powder mixes with the fog, making it hard to breathe. The once-clear night sky now seems veiled by a smoky haze a reminder that joy, when uncontrolled, often leaves a trace of sorrow behind.

And yet, despite it all, Diwali remains a time of beauty, joy, and reflection. It’s a celebration that teaches us contrasts light and dark, noise and silence, excitement and peace. Perhaps, as we enjoy this festival each year, we should also remember the quieter side of Diwali the calm after the lights are dimmed, the serenity after the last spark fades.

The festival’s true spirit lies not just in lighting diyas or bursting crackers but in illuminating our hearts with kindness, compassion, and hope. As the lights fade and the night deepens, I’m left thinking that the most beautiful glow of Diwali is not on our streets, but within us.

A fruit basket

 We all love fruits as they’re healthy, refreshing, and exciting. However, not everyone might agree, as the taste of fast food seems to dance on their tongues, almost erasing the flavour of something fresh and natural.

Many of us haven’t even tried the wide variety of fruits that exist, each unique in shape, colour, and taste. It’s fascinating to see so many types of fruits online that we’ve never seen or even heard of in real life. These exotic fruits spark curiosity and make us want to try them at least once. Since they’re not as common as bananas, oranges, or apples, they’re often quite expensive.

Dragon fruit, just like its name, is a fascinating fruit. I had always heard about it and wanted to try it. The first time I tasted it was during a trip to Kerala. We visited a mall where fruits were neatly cut and arranged, and customers could choose the ones they wanted. I picked dragon fruit along with red and green apples, papaya, and watermelon. I didn’t like the green apple much since it was quite sour, but I enjoyed the rest. Later, while strolling through a local market with my mom, I was surprised to see dragon fruit being sold there, something quite unusual for that area. The taste isn’t as extraordinary as its appearance, but it’s definitely pleasant.

Custard apple is one of my favourite fruits and is usually available around this season. It seems to be more common now than in previous years. Every time I visit Kerala, I see raw custard apples hanging on trees, but they are rarely ripe before I return home. The first time I got to taste one freshly picked and ripe, it was delicious, creamy and naturally sweet. Since they don’t ripen in large numbers, they remain a rare treat enjoyed in small quantities.

Avocado is another fruit that has become quite popular lately. For a while now, people have been making videos about it, especially for recipes like avocado sandwiches or smoothies, since the fruit itself doesn’t have flavour. When we bought one for the first time, my mom decided to make avocado juice. She added several ingredients to bring out its taste, and the result was surprisingly good. On its own, avocado tastes quite plain, but when combined with other flavours, it becomes delicious.

Lastly, the fruit persimmon, which looks a lot like a tomato, caused a funny mix-up at home. My mom thought it was a tomato until I explained otherwise. The first time I tried it, it was sweet and juicy, but the one I had today didn’t taste quite the same.

Fruits may come in different colours, tastes, and textures, but each one holds a story, a memory of where and how we tasted it, reminding us of the simple joys that nature provides.

Steps towards serenity

Today, my trip to college was quite different from usual. The morning started off poorly, but I managed to make it better as the day went on. Since I didn’t have to leave early, I started a bit late, and the roads were already crowded. The sun was out, but the heat wasn’t as intense as it usually is. When I boarded the vehicle, it was packed with people pushing through, even though there was barely any space. I got stuck in the middle, unable to move. After a few stops, I finally found a spot where I could stand properly and breathe.

After some time, I began to feel uneasy. It was getting difficult to breathe in that cramped, closed space. I wanted to get out, but I was stuck on both sides and couldn’t move. Since only two or three stops were left, I asked one of the ladies sitting nearby if she could let me sit for a while, as I wasn’t feeling well. At first, she seemed hesitant, probably thinking I was making an excuse, but when I asked again, she kindly offered me her seat.

As soon as I sat down, I started sweating heavily and soon fainted. The women around me were startled but immediately helped me. One gave me water while another wiped my face with a wet cloth. By the time my stop arrived, I had regained some strength, and one of them helped me get off. I was truly grateful to the three women for their kindness and care.

After reaching halfway, I boarded a bus to Greater Noida. I sat down, relaxed, and waited for the bus to move. The open windows let the cool breeze hit my face, refreshing me completely. When I reached Knowledge Park, I decided to walk to my college instead of taking an auto, just to calm myself. I plugged in my earphones, played some light music, and walked along the footpath. There were fewer students around since classes had already begun. Had I been a bit earlier, the place would’ve been bustling with students from various colleges.

On my way, I saw a few herons standing gracefully around a buffalo, probably enjoying the warmth of the sun. As I walked further, I noticed butterflies fluttering around. One tiny yellow butterfly sat on a plant, and I mistook it for a flower until it flew away. There were also small dragonflies hovering in the air. The sight was peaceful and beautiful. Sometimes, a simple, relaxing walk is all that’s needed to let go of the heaviness and uneasiness within. By the time I reached college, I felt completely relaxed and free, the suffocating feeling from earlier replaced by calm and gratitude.

The Engagement That Engaged My Heart

 

Dear friends,

Today, I would like to share my day, which was both tiring and lively after a long time, as I met many familiar faces and discovered new sides to them. To put it simply, I attended the engagement ceremony of a lovely couple who will soon begin their journey together in marriage. But this story isn’t only about the couple, it’s also about the people around them, the joy that filled the place, and the little details that made the day memorable.

The day began as usual, though the sky was a bit gloomy, quite the opposite of the couple’s bright and cheerful mood. We left home a little late since it had been raining in the morning. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, we decided to take the metro instead. Being the first working day of the week, the roads were busier than usual, and the rain made it even worse. The metro, however, was relatively empty when we boarded, so we managed to find seats. Our destination was the last stop, so I spent the time listening to music. As the train moved along, more passengers boarded, most of them were tired returning from the office after a long day. We looked completely different from them, dressed up and full of energy, while they seemed exhausted and ready for rest. I realised how hectic working life can be, especially when long commutes are part of the routine.

After reaching our stop, we made our way to the venue. Inside, I saw several familiar faces, friends and relatives greeting one another with excitement. Many people who barely knew each other started conversations, turning unfamiliarity into warmth within minutes. However, I noticed that the event wasn’t as lively as the weddings I remembered from years ago. Some familiar people were missing; I heard many had moved back to their hometowns, while a few had travelled long distances just to attend this special day.

The crowd was quite large, making it difficult to move around freely. One of the most exciting parts of any celebration, of course, was the food, and everyone eagerly rushed to the various counters to taste different dishes. The starters included pani puri, aloo tikki, pav bhaji, chilli chicken, chicken fries, kebabs, and a variety of vegetarian options. There was also a South Indian section serving appam with stew, along with different kinds of dosa accompanied by sambar and chutneys. Desserts were equally tempting: jalebi, kulfi, ice cream, and a selection of refreshing drinks. There was a main course as well, but I was already full from the starters and couldn’t eat any more. Children seemed to be the happiest of all, running around excitedly and trying every dish that caught their eye.

After the meet and the meal, we decided to return home as it was getting late. We took the metro back, it was much quieter now, with the rush hour long over. The journey didn’t take too long, and I found myself dozing off, completely exhausted from the day. As I sat there, I replayed the events of the day in my mind and realised how much time had passed since I last saw many of those people. Some didn’t even recognise me as they remembered me as a school kid. Everyone had changed, and so had I. It struck me how quickly time moves, taking along with it the people, the faces, and the moments that once felt so familiar.

By the time we reached home, my tiredness had taken over, leaving me with one quiet thought: time never stops, and neither do we. People change, moments fade, but the memories remain, reminding us of how far we have come.

The joy of soul

The joy of soul,
jumping all around,
so full of excitement,
for the moment at hand.

The day began differently
dull, lazy, lifeless,
But everything changed
Once I found the right place.

Music surrounding,
claps in rhythm,
feet gently tapping
to the beat within.

It isn’t my joy alone,
but the people’s delight,
their happiness reflected,
shining on every side.

How long will this joy last?
Is it fleeting, or forever?
Time will reveal the truth,
the answer to our wonder.

And the answer feels sweet,
like ice cream after a meal
filling not just the stomach,
but the soul as well.

                                                 _ Beera