By: Panchi Changkakoty
It was Uruka which meant it was time for family members to gather in Queen’s second home for a beanfeast. Abhinav had a sizable family from his father’s side. Queen’s elder sister-in-law and her husband arrived in the morning from Dibrugarh. A close affiliate of Queen’s father-in-law, a police officer, presented 2 kilograms of fresh goat meat to him as a gesture of goodwill. Queen wondered in what way her father-in-law could have possibly assisted that police officer to receive such a handsome offering.
Queen’s mother-in-law believed in the concept of early concocts so the luncheon is likely to be appealing to the guests. So, Queen set out to help her mother-in-law in the kitchen by preparing her father-in-law’s favourite dish ‘Mutton Curry’. She knew exactly how to prepare the dish so as to entice his taste buds and that later he sang praises about Queen in front of the guests. For Queen, it was not about the praises she might be showered upon but more about fitting into the tribe. She longed for the approval and the idea that finally she might be accepted as the first citizen in that family.
When thinking about ‘Mutton Curry’ a certain kind of craving kicks in one’s mind; a craving for the familiar soul-satisfying potato-mutton curry, followed by a food-coma-induced sleep. It was a meal that took Queen back to her childhood and the weekend’s ritual of food and family, a desire for a time when life was slower and could be relished. Queen began with washing the mutton well under running water. Then she proceeded to marinate it with yoghurt, salt, turmeric, ginger-garlic paste and chilli powder. After an hour or so she started chopping the onions very finely so that when it melts into the curry mixture one can experience the savoury taste of the caramelised onion.
Noticing her alone in the kitchen, Queen’s sister-in-law (Nina) stepped in.
Nina to Queen: What are you cooking?
Queen: I am making ‘Mutton Curry’ today. It is Papa’s favourite dish you know.
Nina: I know it very well. You don’t have to tell me. Besides, Papa enjoys it more when I cook ‘Mutton Curry’ for him. He always applauds my culinary skills. You know what you should let cook the dish instead. You can look after other preparations.
Queen was perplexed and confused since she sincerely wanted to impress her father-in-law yet if she didn’t obey Nina’s orders she might land up in an unwanted argument. In an Indian household, the elder sister-in-law shares a position analogous to the mother-in-law. Nina’s orders must be obediently followed by Queen in order to institutionalize and establish her superiority.
Queen (to Nina): Okay, Sister I will go and look after other preparations.
Queen’s mother-in-law was eavesdropping during the conversation from her bedroom which was adjacent to the kitchen. While Queen was washing the lentils and rice, her MIL took advantage of the situation and seized the work from Queen’s hands.
Mother-in-law (to Queen): Queen how many times I have told you to let the rice soak in water for at least 5 minutes. You are quite absent-minded, aren’t you? I will take over from here.
Queen: Then I have nothing left to do. At least let me help you both with something.
Nina: You can make the Bhindi fry (it is a stir-fried ladyfinger recipe where the ladyfingers are slit and stuffed with spice mix). Then, later on, you can clean the dishes.
It was a simple side dish which even a 12-year-old can easily cook up. Also, it could be easily overlooked when given a choice to replace with an exquisite ‘Mutton Curry. Abhinav’s cousins arrived and the feast began. Everyone enjoyed a hearty meal put together by the ladies of the house. Abhinav’s elder brother Madhav asked Nina to fetch him some more Mutton Curry’ and while doing so he enquired, ‘I believe our new sister-in-law is behind fixing up this great meal today. Is that right Nina?’
Nina (to Madhav): As a matter of fact, all this food was prepared by me and my mother. Queen didn’t contribute much.
Apparently, Queen was listening in to their conversation and those words by Nina pierced through her ears like a sting and dropped like a wrecking ball on her heart. She thought to herself, “What on earth did I do to deserve such bad-mouthing in front of Abhinav’s relatives. Why do women judge each other, troll one another mercilessly, all for what purpose?” It is often observed in general, women many a times inflict their unhealed wounds on other women, perhaps in a way passing on the pain to someone else. Like if I suffered it, you too better.