The call that changed all

She was beautiful. Her cheek shyly displayed a dimple when she smiled. And that she did often. He fell in love with her instantly.
She had that something about her that drew people to her magnetically. So full of energy, she bounced like a ball up and down. With a heart for cooking..they shared the same passion. She was into art and crafts. He into sport. He worked as VP in a multinational. She gave tuitions.

One fine day he proposed. She rejected. Outright. A tad disappointed, but never one to give up he proposed again...several months later.
This time she said," yes".
He, so overjoyed, told his family. She, hers.
The engagement was fixed for the following month. They now were often seen together. At movies, shopping,  at eating joints. Always holding hands. Her photos appeared on his FB page, his on hers.
They seemed..so made for each other.
He couldn't stop smiling.

 Till one day...

when the phone rang. 

They wanted to make sure he would be willing to join their family business.

His parents said, " No". They wanted their son doing what he did.

Misunderstandings followed.

The engagement was called off.

He stopped smiling.

Months later she found a man...got married.

He decided to stay single.

Forever.


(Post written for indispire..
"Just when everything started looking fine, the phone rings.. [Build a story

#TringTring)

Sky is high

'Hey,  just say 'why', my friend interrupted me.
'Why'.
'Because the sky is high', she laughed gleefully and ran away.
One more Bakra.
We often did this silly thing when we were small kids.

I was often in the habit of asking God, 'Why?'
Why did that young lady I briefly saw in the hospital cry? Why did my friend lose her hubby in an accident? Why?
Why did this wonderful Ma'am die all of a sudden? She used to teach so well.
 Why did this humble man of God, so close to us, have to leave this world .. so young?

As I pondered over these questions, it suddenly dawned on me, 'Because the sky is high.'

It was like He was telling me, "My thoughts are not your thoughts..neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.…"

There are things happening around me and  in my life I would never understand...
with my finite mind. So instead of asking questions, I must leave the answers with Him.
It's too high for me.
I would know the answers when I meet Him one day.

So now I don't ask 'why'...
because I know the sky's high.

Morning walk

Wow.
I really enjoyed my walk this morning. I normally walk in the evenings, but as I opened my balcony door this morning, I saw a young girl running around the building.

That prodded me on. I changed and as the heavy aroma of my hubby's famous simmering ginger tea filled the house, I rushed downstairs, armed with my mobile and earphones. I began walking. The air was scented with Jasmine. It was fresh and cool, the heat of the day had not yet set in.
The nightshift watchmen changed clothes, changed guard. They looked different in civilian clothes. A middle-aged couple walked in my direction. They seemed to have done many rounds already. The young girl in the tracksuit seemed to have disappeared.

An elderly looking bespectacled man in a dark T-shirt and shorts walked briskly toward me. I changed course, gave him right of way.
He writes very well. He must be gathering ideas for the the day, I surmised. My phone conked off suddenly. Irritatedly I fidgeted with it, till it started again. This on off game continued for quite some time, till I finally gave up.

The couple had called it a day. He pulled down the overhanging Jasmine shrub, as the wife filled the tiny plastic bag with these white flowers. She kept looking over her shoulder at the fellow washing the car around the corner. Or was she afraid someone would catch them at it?

Some more rounds around the building, and I was done. It was the freshest feeling I have had in a long time.
I had worked up an apetite.
Time for my tea.
 I'm doing this every morning.

I'm in love

I admit I'm in love! Pure love so unadulterated. Unabashed and filtered of all impurity.
I see him every evening. Standing at his balcony. So cute and fair, he stares as if at me.
I want to say hi, but then he quickly disappears back into his room. I refuse to leave my pose until he appears again.
He looks out again as if searching for me. Then stares into the distance as if planning his next move.
I keep looking. If only he'd look my way! I'd blow him a kiss. I wish so much to grab him, lock him in my arms.
But something distracts his attention..must be more important than me.
Then I hear some sounds below, there he is!
Enjoying himself thoroughly.
His sister a year older cycling her tricycle..
and this chubby little fella running, running to catch her!!!

Disaster cupcake

                                    

On a sudden whim, I ran into the kitchen this morning. It was raining heavily outdoors. Maybe the cooling effect of much-sought-after rains..I wanted to experiment with baking. I love baking. Watching my son eating peanut butter, I felt like using it in some dish. I picked up some oats. Why, oats is healthy, isn't it?..and so I mixed honey, baking powder,oats and peanut butter with eggs and wheat flour. Milk was poured from the top(just as it's done on TV cookery shows) and I watched as the muffins rose in the hot oven.

My heart rose too.
I couldn't wait to eat them.

But...
they turned out horrible.
Tasted so oatey..bland.
To redeem my effort, I applied butter icing with a dash of lemon added to it. I applied them generously all over the sad looking muffins.
Yummm..now it tasted nice.
But all health benefits fled with the wind!

I hereby come to this conclusion..
NEVER use oats in your muffin again!
Rather feed it to a hungry horse..
or better still apply it to your face with honey,..
as an excellent facepack!!!

Banana bread

                                                                                  

Ingredients..

1 and 1/2 cup ata
1/3 cup butter melted
3/4 cup sugar powd
1egg
1tsp vanilla and 1tsp soda
4 ripe bananas

Method..

Mash bananas..add butter.
Mix well .Add beaten egg,sugar and vanilla and soda. Mix with wooden spoon well. Soda must be mixed well. Add ata. Mix. Bake in preheated oven at 180degrees till well browned and fork comes clean. About 40 minutes.
Cool. Cut into pieces.
Chew happily!

Homemade Jackfruit halwa

                                                      

I am a big lover of jackfruit halwa. No visit to Kerala ends without my buying at least a kilo of this , to gobble up on my return home.

The other day, Mom-in-law packed some not-very-ripe jackfruit for us to carry back. She didn't know what to do with it. "I'm making halwa,"I declared, without thinking.
I had no clue how to make it.

Yesterday I began. 
"Just eat it as it is..why go into this bother?" Hubby protested.
I was determined.
 The end result was simply delicious. 
Just like the store variety. Maybe even better. 
And it's so easy to prepare!

Ummmm...I just finished the last piece, hubby offered me so lovingly. Grateful, he didn't finish it off!

Here's my recipe.

Ingredients...

1 and half cups finely chopped jackfruit(seed discarded)
1 cup jaggery
a pinch of jaiphal powder
two tbsps ghee
two tbsps finely chopped cashewnuts

Method...

Melt the jaggery completely in a nonstick pan on medium heat. Add the jackfruit. Mix well. Remove into a mixie jar and grind to a fine paste. Now transfer the contents back on the pan and heat while stirring continually, till the paste begins to leave the sides of the pan.
Wow! Smells so good!
Now add the jaiphal powder, cashew and ghee and keep stirring till it becomes a thick lump without any moisture whatsoever.
Transfer it onto a greased plate. Spread evenly. Cool, refrigerate.
Cut into pieces and serve.
Tastes heavenly!