On a visit to my affectionate maternal uncle in Lucknow one late evening, not being offered dinner hurt us deeply, and we tended to cherish feelings that were not in good taste. However, a rethink made us change our perception.
Whenever out of town, my priority is meeting relatives & friends there, and interacting with local people, something my wife doesn’t relish in equal measure. For the compromise she makes, I accompany her to a couple of tourist spots though not full-heartedly. This time, our visit to Lucknow meant spending some time with the once very close maternal uncle, now aging and ailing. It could be the last time we were to see him.
Next evening, we left our two kids behind with my brother’s family. “Shall we wait for the dinner” asked the brother’s wife. Not to tax the working couple, I told that the affectionate uncle shall not let us return without meals.
By the time we reached uncle’s home, it was dark. The octogenarian uncle was dependent for all his needs on his son and his wife. Despite his faltering tongue and diminished hearing, we shared many sweet memories of good old days. It was almost dinner time but lo, the table was being adorned with delicacies in array – dhokla, pakodas of various descriptions and sweets. Reading between the plates, I whispered to my wife “Forget the dinner now.”
And so it turned out! As we were ready to get off, uncle & aunt insisted that we bring both the children on next visit for dinner, after telephonic confirmation. The advice came as a jerk – my sole uncle displaying uncharacteristic formality. At this moment offering just plain daal and rice without asking and an order to come with children anytime would have gratified us far more. Their wording dampened our desire for revisit.
Way back, the few dhabas from Shahbad railway colony to Vikas Nagar were closed due to recently set wintry fog. There were no autorickshaws either in that pre-Uber era, so we decided to traverse three km distance afoot, not a burden in those green days. As we lost all hope for meals, and purchased packets of noodles as alternative, a roadside dhaba without signboard beaconed to us. On query, the manager-cum-waiter with humane demeanour scratched the cooking pan and affirmed that he shall manage two plates.
Before receiving the payment, he asked with folded hands, “It wouldn’t be as delicious as one at home for sure, yet did it serve the purpose?” We thanked him as much for the nice stuff we had, as for his presentation. With our bellies full, we now felt sorry for charging the poor uncle & aunt by depriving us of dinner, otherwise ever so kind to us. They might be helpless due to indisposition of other inmates now in command. We felt triumphant that the grudge against uncle did not hold us long.
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Published in Deccan Herald on 14 May 2020 under ‘Right in the Middle’ column with the title, “Dinner was never so palatable”.
Link: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/right-in-the-middle/dinner-was-never-so-palatable-837975.html
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