Ajwain (known variously as carom, ajowan, or bishop's weed) leaves are a favourite for making bhajias.
Easy to grow (from cuttings), with their smooth texture, amazing flavour, not to mention nutritional benefits and slightly stiff physique, they are ideal material for coating and frying, on a rain drenched Mumbai monsoon afternoon.
While we enjoy, it suddenly comes to mind, that it isn't such a pleasing prospect,if you are an ajwain leaf......
An ode..... to those who simply wait and get fried in life .....
एक रेखीव , मउ , हिरवे आयुष्य ,
जोडी जोडीने किशोरवयात पदार्पण करणे , वर्षा ऋतूच्या शिडकाव्यात ओले चिंब होणे चण्याच्या पिठाच्या विरहात तुटून जाणे , आणि आसमंतात भिनलेल्या ओव्याच्या वासात गुंग होउन भजीच्या पिठात गटांगळ्या खाणे …… अचानक गरम तेलात पडणे, मोठे होणे, आणि फुगून जाणे . रेखीव , मउ , हिरवे आयुष्य कसे एकदम सोनेरी, ओबडधोबड , चकाक्त बनून गरम चटका देउन जातं नशीब , आयुष्याच्या शेवटच्या क्षणी घोटभर चहा बरोबर होता…. |
A green, soft life, full of direction, a birthing and growing up in identical pairs, a teenage getting drenched in monsoon showers. A 'Besan'ic* pining for the soft yellow flour, and a sudden drowning in its fragrant paste amidst whiffs of ajwain celebrating in the air... A sudden growing up, confusion, and a puffing in consternation as they fall in hot oil. The green soft life is history, as they now singe the mind, in their latest hot golden, shining amorphous avatar. Thank God, they had a cup of tea for company in their last moments.... |
*Besan ~ garbanzo flour, staple cover of all bhajias
No comments:
Post a Comment