When was the last time you walked away from a discussion, only to think of a Perfect Come back hours later? Recreate the scene for us, and use your winning line.
I remember once my friend Mini and my classmate Hasina were discussing different ways chicken can be cooked. That day we invited our Provost to dinner, Mini volunteered to cook, we let her I didn’t want to cook, I was not sure how good my cooking skill was,I only cooked simple things when I was seven, I was fascinated by my mother’s cooking, I used to imitate my mother’s famous pound cake, it was miniature cake I only ever tried,my mother praised me every time I tried to cook anything. I probably was too confident about my skills.
When Mini said she’d cook korma I was thrilled it happened to be my favorite dish. I watched the spices she was adding in the pot to fry before she added the chicken. When she put whole red peppers with the rest of the spices, I objected, “My mother does not use peppers in this recipe”, I said.
Both looked up and started laughing,”this is the only way korma is cooked, you don’t know anything”, I was offended with this remark, I stomped out of the kitchen and went to the common room to read the newspapers which was my way of cooling off.
All this time I was burning with anger, I told myself they didn’t have to be so mean. Then the thought maybe this recipe is used differently, my mother I knew did not use peppers, perhaps some people do to make it hot and spicy.
I went back to the kitchen to see what the girls were doing, Mini looked up and quipped, “so do you still think peppers are not used in this recipe?”
I was a bit annoyed at this remark, rather than have a shouting match with her, I calmed down,looked at them and replied, ” There is more than one way of cooking this particular recipe with and without peppers, I like my mom’s recipe better”, I left the kitchen with the thought I’m glad I stood my ground!
“State of My Year”: I went back to January 1st 2014, to find out all the prompts I’ve done so far. I know it’s not possible to include all of them. I have therefore picked one prompt for 1st of each month.
On January 1st our Prompt was : Do you believe in Magic?” : I’m only including a sentence, I’d like to have the power to cure certain incurable disease;, wipe out hunger; transform evil people and so on. If you are interested you can go back to January 1st to read the whole thing.
February 1st the writing prompt was ‘Flangiprop”: How I can invent something to rein in kids who are too active.
March 1st: Tagore song: I ask my mind can you remember who you left behind?
April 1st: Daily Prompt: If I Could Turn Back Time; I want to go back to my past when my father was alive and we were happy.
May 1st 2014: Five Minute Fiction: Freedom : it is a story about how they got their freedom.
June 1st, Tagore song: Aguner Pososhmoni : Oh God for the sake of gain lead us to the right path.
July 1st: Daily Prompt: Back of the Queue, I’m thinking of writing a book since last year.
The above are some of the prompts I wrote about. When I look back I’m happy to note I’ve written about varied topics, it makes me feel good.
Describe a little thing— one of the things you love that defines your world but is often overlooked.
I remember when I was in college I was a very shy teenager, I stayed away from people who talked too much and had a very big ego. I disliked that part of their personality and kept myself aloof from them.
I met a senior student who came forward and introduced herself,she was taught by my sister, she felt I was lonely and did her best to make me comfortable.
One day I thought maybe if I introduced my sister to my classmates they might try to be friendly with me. Hoping my sister wouldn’t mind I asked her to accompany me to my college. At first she said she would, but when I was ready to go back to college ,she told me she was unable to go. Her reason, she had more important things to do than go to my college. I was angry,I picked up my bag and left the house.
Hours later she came to my college, her important work did not materialize, therefore she decided to visit me. It was too late I did not forgive her.
It was only a little thing I asked for, my sister overlooked it, I was disappointed , at my age then I viewed things differently I felt my sister rejected me because to her I wasn’t important enough!
No, said mom you are Not allowed to go out today. But why said Nafisa I was good all week, “please let me go.” Nafisa cried. As if by magic Naughty knocked the door, mom opened the door she found a dwarf staring at her.
At first mom was Nervous, his googlie eyes frightened her. She was determined to be calm. Naughty looked at her and said, “I know you are a Nice lady, you love Nafisa, I have come to take her out to Nancy’s party, please let her go.”
Mom was anxious, she started thinking what can she do, should she say yes or No, all this time Naughty kept his googlie eyes focused on mom. “What’s it going to be, Yes or No” he said.
Mom replied in verses, ” No is a nasty word that I know
English: Lady with Musical Instrument in Bengal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I probably wrote more about Tagore’s work than anything else. The task is,how can I weave all this in a book quote, film quote, or song lyric that’s hovering all around me,is something I never gave any thought. I know I’d have to pick one from the aforementioned topics.I wonder which one will be smooth sailing.
There is a song of Tagore,I heard it when I was in my teens.This song and its lyrics reverberates in my mind.It seems to be stuck.It wants to make a permanent house in my ears. The lyrics are very meaningful.
In the song Tagore talks about his death.He views everything to remain normal,except he will not be part of it. He knows his fans will miss him. He tells them not to remember him or try to call him.
I will embed the video of the song and translate it.
Sabethville 