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Where I am from ...

by Zulekha Bangee

January, 25th, 2017


 

Dear India,

You are the chutney to my samosa
& the vadaa to my pav
Without masala I won't eat dhosa
But your chillies green & scary; these often I must leave

The pani in your puri I keep guzzling
Sweet, sour khatta, meetha
Open wide in it jumps
Crispy crunchy, pop goes another one or five
There,I'm a gol gappa addict can't you see!

Delectable dum biryani would be nothing
If your saffron wasn't pure
Close your eyes, breath in, see how
It adds that rich aroma

Nothing compares to that for sure

Dare I eat the sweet jalebi, plump gulab Jamun or white rasgullah balls?
Swimming in their syrup,twirling & swirling around  
Please India, enough no more sugar I say

This stomach’s had enough & needs a drastic trimming down


On to your dhal & its bestie chawal
Mango pickle always by her side
I hear her khitchri rival shouting
'Eat me, not her, here look at me, have me me me

I come with the added extra;

that all important spoonful of Dadi’s desi ghee'

And lastly but by no means least
In my dear (albeit often smelly) Bombay
I find myself in such food heaven luck
That my tastebuds are even allowed

to devour some of your rather special unquacking duck!

Fancy that

 

Thank you India for the never ending culinary tour around your shores.

Much appreciated by my tastebuds but not my waistline

 

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