Compliment
"Mira, this masala gobhi is incredible! It brings back memories of my mom's subzi," Manoj exclaimed, savouring a piece of gobi with chapati.
"It's actually aunty's recipe, Manoj," replied Mira, his childhood friend and hostess.
"I love it! My mother was a great cook. We would sit around and she would serve hot rotis to all of us simultaneously! It was simply amazing! You know, she rolled out the chapatis and......"
Madhavi tuned out having heard the story innumerable times! 'Manoj never tired of telling the story to anyone who would listen, and with the same adoration and wonderment in his voice too every time! Unbelievable! And here she was, married to him for over 3 decades, cooking 3 meals a day and she had never heard him speak like this ever about her cooking. In the earlier days of marriage, she would ask him how the food was. He would reply pompously saying that if he ate without commenting, that meant that the food was good. So where were all those principles now? He had no problem praising somebody else's cooking! How she hated these double standards! She herself had fed not 7 but many more people at the same time but what of it? Manoj probably didn't notice it even', Madhavi thought bitterly.
"Don't you agree Madhavi?" She heard her name and came out of her reverie.
"Sorry what did you say?" She asked.
"I was saying the subzi is very good, just like amma used to make. Why don't you take the recipe from Mira?"
Manoj was peeved that Madhavi was not paying attention but tried not to sound annoyed .
"Oh yes! But I don't think I need it. I learnt it from your mother directly, you know", Madhavi's voice was syrupy sweet.
After dinner, they drove back in silence.
The next day brought some excitement as their son, Arun was coming back from one week of college excursion. Madhavi made some of his favourite dishes for lunch. Arun arrived as expected.
"Amma! I am famished.Can we please eat? I know it is a little early but please? Can we?", Arun's hands folded in mock supplication.
Madhavi burst out laughing.
"Of course! Wash your hands and come while I serve lunch", the indulgent mother in her spoke.
"Amma! You are the best!" Arun gave her a quick hug and went to wash hands.
Comfortably seated and having satisfied his hunger a bit, Arun started chatting. "It was so much fun amma! Sleeping in tents on the lakeside, chatting with friends, the football games, the adventure sports, all of it! And the muruku and the sunnundalu that you packed were a huge hit with my friends. They were life savers for us growing boys!" Arun guffawed!
Madhavi beamed at her son, flattered at the compliment!
'He is such a foodie! I only hope he doesn't become like Manoj belittling his wife in public!' Madhavi thought, feeling a pang of pity for her yet non existent daughter in law!