Cold Chappati

Off late, I have been having some really good chappatis*, courtesy Pillsbury frozen rotis . As I look back at my nomadic existence for the past 8 years, I realise that I have never been satisfied with this most important component of Indian dinner. People from southern states of India might debate my claim and would like to replace chappati by rice, thanks to their doting grandmothers who pampered them on a "curd rice & pickles" diet.

Search for greener pastures contributed to my nomadic existence for past 8 years and I ended up tasting the wheat flour reciepe, baked by different hands. During my High School (Junior College), the mess (canteen) was closed most of the days and I ended up eating Naans** is nearby cheap hotels. Chappatis were surely "naan-existent" during this phase of my life, save the weekend jaunts to my home. During my undergraduate years at IIT, I was fortunate enough to have a well established canteen ............and sure enough there was chappati for dinner. 6 years from then, I am still trying to chew down the first bite of the chappati that I had on that eventful day. The latest news about the "IIT-chappati" is that it is under investigation by the army for its deployment as a bullet proof vest. During my graduate studies, I lived 250 miles away from Edison, NJ, and in the absence of a 4 wheeler, I had to satisfy myself with the mexican version of the same. Finally I started living by the dictum, "If you don't have chappati, eat bread."

However, all is not well with the Pillsbury chappatis that I am baking and feasting for dinner. As I diligently stand in front of the cooking range and bake them, I realise that by the time I am done with making my 5th Chappati, the 1st is already cold. Infact by the time I begin to eat them, most of them are cold. The fact that I am a slow eater doesnt help for sure. But I am gripped by a wave of nostalgia when I recollect the time when my mom is used to serve fluffed chappatis for dinner - and each one of them was straight out of the fire, as hot as it gets.

But what was disturbing to me was not the nostalgia, but the chappati's on my mom's plate. With no one to serve her with the fluffed up bread, she was probably having her 4th & 5th chappati's as cold as I am having today. I have had this plight only for a forthnight, but she has been doing this all her life, and yet I have never heard her complain. I am sure the story is the same for millions of mothers all over India, as they unselfishly sacrifice a few degrees of heat off their plate to serve love and warmth to others. I never thought a small thing like heating a chappati would make me reflect on something monumental as this, as they say 'Only a wearer knows where the shoe pinches'.

I might be able to throw in a few dollars and please myself with Pillsbury.....but sure enough, there are somethings in life which money can't buy.


*Indian version of wheat tortillas, much tastier than the tortillas though.
** Leavened flour bread