Kalyana Samayal Sadham - A tribute to my cousin

Sunday was one day we looked forward to. It was the precursor to Monday, yet we waited for Sunday Morning as it was the only day of the week in which an elaborate breakfast was prepared at home. Sizzling Hot and Crispy Vadai, Idly, Sambhar and Chutney were placed on the dining table as my two cousins, my brother and I gathered around it to grab the weekend treat and pile our plates. Our Mother, Grandmom and the household help had to constantly shuttle between the kitchen and the dining table to refill the bowls as the food would vanish instantly. Seated next to me on the table was my endearing cousin, Vaisha. She would forget the idlies, sambar and chutney and focus all her attention on the vadais alone. With a knife and fork, she would dissect the vadais into six radial portions what were approximately of equal size. She would then coat the vadais with chilli powder and use a fork to eat them. She was a person of perfection when it came to food. Some of the best gastronomic encounters that I can recall from childhood were with her.

I was a foodie who thoroughly enjoyed to eat, on the other hand, Vaisha paid more attention to the nitty gritty details. She was a natural who loved to experiment with cooking. At the age of  ten (I was eight then), we decided to make Chocolate fudge. We ransacked our fridge and found a bar of Amul Butter. We had a microwave oven that was only a week old. We fetched a glass bowl and melted the bar of butter. I being the taller one fetched a jar of drinking chocolate. The entire content of the jar was then mixed with the melted butter and our fudge was ready. Our grandparents and parents silently ate the fudge complimenting our new venture, without complaining about the waste of chocolate and butter.

Just as a child's scribble graduates to drawing with practice, Vaisha's (and mine) culinary skills matured as we grew up. A decade after the failed chocolate fudge experiment, we baked a chocolate cake together. This time our family actually liked the cake and did not compliment us for the sake of encouragement.

Vaisha has been more of a sister to me than a cousin. Our shared childhood has taught me a lot. When I see our childhood photos or taste my not-so-bad cooking, I realise that we have grown and have parted ways. However the memories we shared will always be an integral part of my life. As my dearest sister, prepares to take her wedding vows tomorrow, I feel a pang of pain as I am unable to partake in this important event of her life. All the important milestones in our lives from birthdays to graduation were celebrated with a feast and this is one feast, one celebration that I have to miss as I am thousands of miles away from home.

Cheers to my dearest cousin, Vaisha and brother-in-law, Ved. Hope you both have a fun filled and fantabulous wedding and life together.