My worst food nightmare

-- SANSKRITI HAGAR

There comes a time when you feel like mocking and condemning a situation both at the same instant. You want to turn around and laugh and yet curse your luck. Funnily, most of the times it is someone you can’t argue with (In my case it is my mother- LOVE YOU MOM), who drags you along at such places or events where you feel like running at the drop of the hat.

Such an event came into my life like a blitzkrieg when I was cajoled to attend the wedding of a close friend (whom I hardly met in the past 10 years). Obviously I dallied. When it didn’t work, I resorted to revolt and a little theatrics. Why wouldn’t I?!! I had no intention to leave my cozy room in the chilling winters. And all of a sudden I heard my mom say “There will be amazing shaadi ka Khanna”. Of Corse she is my mother. She knows me too well. I am not ashamed to accept that I go to weddings for the lavish display of those huge dishes that contain the reason of our existence. Food. It’s not just food that is laid out in those shiny stainless steel containers that have seen many- er-weddings before. It is about “sugar, spice and everything nice” all under one roof and eat till you drop, minus the standing in line like famished beings (Sic). So there I come in all my glory with a Botox smile scavenging the aisles of food.

Weddings are a fail proof place to eat to your heart’s delight and not feel bad about the extra kilos. For few it’s a guilt free pass on checking out prospective grooms and brides for some distant relative whom you are adamant should get married. You’ll find a group of fashion police aunts who’ll try to outdo each other in bringing out everything wrong with the bride’s outfit. Everyone’s trying to look pretty and coy. I on the other hand want to get right to business. But the night as yet to unfold apart from all the regular stuff that happens. When you have kids spilling food on your brand new kurta, men embarrassing the poor bartender while drunk, the chaat dripping through your fingers since the chaatwalla doesn’t really care who eats it, you or your shoes, you just know it’s time to hand over the gift and leave.

And that’s how this one night changed my perspective about weddings. Though I have been at quite a few weddings before, it gives a perspective when you closely observe things around you. I am not saying I am cynic, but I am believer in not being self-righteous as well.

#food #thetravellingfoodie #worstfoodnightmare