Convent educated. Brightests amongst her sibblings and daughter of father in a well placed government job. She was the epitome of a new generation of
Manipuri girls, who left behind boys in academic excellence.
Attitude, she had plenty. Supplementing her brain was her looks, which had many an admirer. Add to it, her slim and lengthy frame of 5.8 ft, quite extraordinary
for a Manipuri thorough-bred, well complemented by the black shining hair.
As she landed on a plum job with a private firm after her engineering course, her value soared all the more, mainly amongst the guys. In between her school and college
days many a guys have burnt their hearts hoping for a YES from her. Some refused to give up only to draw her ire.
From a prospective in-laws' point of view, she was a perfect candidate for a daughter in-law. And for a guy, who else can be better than her to have as a better half?
So there she was, my lovely cousin sister, everybody's darling.
But the beauty of rose sometimes camouflage the thorn and one realises it only when it pricks....
The only times she entered the kitchen was when she had to have breakfast, lunch or dinner. 'Cooking' is a word she occasionally comes across when she reads her
favourite women's magazines, recipes...she can utter by heart, but practicals? She is no way near her performance in her school and college labs.
To her cooking meant 'burning' breads in the toaster, breaking a few eggs to make a scramble, not even making an elliptical omlet!
'Dusting' does not exist in her dictionary. "Sumjit", whoa what's it? Washing, oh where's has the washing machine gone?
Yet, the reality of life had to catch up one day or the other. And when it did, it was rather a comic situation.
The shameless 5 ft guy who had been bugging her since her class XI days finally won over her. (Yes Love Is Literally Blind)
The pair looked like Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhadhuri reversed. He is amongst the potential spondiolitis candidate, for constantly having to look up to see her face.
Parents happily agreed to their relationship and it was time to tie the knot.
Just a month to go for the marriage, she was literally on a crash course of "How To Become A Mou Anoubi"....
Morning: How to make tea? ...ummmmm Boil water (as many mugs for as many persons) for five minutes..(where's the stop watch?)...mix sugar and milk powder in 2:1 ratio,
add to the hot water.....boil...add a spoonfull of tea leaves....boil for another 3-4 minutes...
CHAK: Easiest way...take the pressure cooker (not the BIG ONE HUH) fill it halfway with water, then add the washed rice; make it sure the water is at least two tangs
(finger joints) above from the level of rice....then close it. let it steam three times....OH easy!
EENSHANG: ahhhh. hawai (dal) thongba is the best...full of proteins..take the bigger pressure coooker. put oil in it, heat it till it steams, then add the cut onion, yaingang, tomato, jeera and maru-marang.
Take two bowls of dal, wash it cleanly. add it to the pressure cooker. (JOOOW......there should be a sound like this). add water, not too much (how much..?) just one
tang above the level of dal). add salt, about 1/2 teaspoon. then close the pressure cooker and let it steam 4-5 times. then cool it, open and boil again. There you are.
Easy!
The same goes for dinner...
No She Was Not In The Kitchen, she was in front of her comp, typing it taking dictation from her elder sis back at Imphal.
Having spent more time in front of the comp then in kitchen, she had to abandon her crash course as she left for Imphal for the BIG DAY OF HER LIFE.....
Things went off as planned..the marriage was a huge ceremony. 90 odd cars lined up and the locality could just admire with envy...
However, for the family members it was not a time for relief but tension all the more. How would the Mou Anoubi fare in her first real test?
The next day on the customary visit to her new place, my cousin brother in-law came out wiping his hands in a towel....
"Oh I was in the kitchen cleaning up, and doing the dishes..."
Shh speak slowly....
Well, my poor cousin brother, how can one envy you?
Pengba Aruuba Eshingee, a Pen name, contributes regularly to e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on 05th August 2005.
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