Chappathi, fish curry & Laughter

 Selena Aunty was another amazing cook I know. Her signature dishes were chapathi and fish curry, and my all-time favorite - her special chicken biryani. The aroma of that biryani, which she made every year for Eid, still makes my mouth water. With all the spices, pineapple pieces, and its delectable look, it’s unforgettable.

But there’s a story behind the chapathi and fish curry. Every time I went to her house, Aunty would prepare her special fish curry and chapathi for me. I was a very slow eater, and I would sit in front of the food for hours, which showed how patient my poor mom had to be.

One evening, I was at Selena Aunty’s house in GhusaisSheikh Colony. As usual, I was tearing my chapathi into tiny pieces and dipping it into the fish curry. The apartment door was open because Hijas was playing with some Arabic boys outside. They were running around the house and the corridors. Suddenly, one of the boys ran past me, snatched the chapathi from my hand, tore it in half, and stuffed it into his mouth. I was shocked and frozen. The whole thing happened in less than a minute. Selena Aunty, Moosa Uncle, and Harischettan saw it all and burst out laughing at my reaction. I started crying—not just because my chapathi was gone, but because I was embarrassed and upset that they were laughing at me. Aunty came over to console me and offered me another chapathi.

It’s been 37 years now, and none of us have forgotten that incident.

Mom’s kitchen, my memories…

 I always thought my mom was an amazing cook. I loved many of the dishes she made, especially her buttery chapathi, which was my all-time favorite. I still miss it. She also made a special chicken curry, which she called Chicken 65, and it was the best chicken I have ever had. I wonder how she made it. Losing her at 10 meant I never learned her secrets.

She also made a delicious vegetable curry with cauliflower, green peas, and potatoes, which she paired with her buttery chapathi. Sometimes, she made noodles with her own masala, long before magic masala packets existed. Those noodles were the best I have ever had, and nothing can replace them.

Her prawn fry and prawn thoran ( thoran is a dry kerala dish with grated coconut) were my favorite Friday dishes. I still remember her making spinach thoran, which my brother and I disliked. I laugh when I think of him stuffing spinach into a rice ball with pickle, just to swallow it without tasting it. But as we grow, tastes change, and today spinach thoran is one of my favorites.

Another memory is of kadala curry (black chickpea curry) and puttu (steamed cake), my all-time favorite combo. Mom used to remove the skin from each chickpea and give it to me. I have continued this habit ever since I was a toddler, and even though it takes time, I still do it. It reminds me of her and all her delicious food.