"What are your hobbies? " I was asked by my lecturer during an introduction session, a customary session that no one can avoid whenever they are new to an institution.
I answered in a low voice, "Cooking, Sir", even though I had have zero experience in it.
He put forth another question to me out of curiosity, " What's your favorite dish? "
I thought for a second and replied, " Biryani".
Even before my reply ended, he bid me, in an instant, with a broad smile, " Come with your Biryani for all of us", as if I had informed him that I was the winner of Master Chef India.
I replied in a hurry tone, " Sir, I don't know to cook it ", much to his disappointment.
"Okay, what have you cooked then? " his next question to me.
I answered meekly, " Rasam", and the class was filled with laughter.
The laughter didn't affect me much, because I had faced severe criticism when I had prepared my first dish.
Nobody can become a master in an art in a single day. It requires time and effort to be a master. We have to wait patiently for that state, while we are working hard to achieve it. In the case of cooking, mere theories are not effective, practical session is the only effective way to become a master in this art. So, I had been cooking some small dishes, easy sweets and snacks, till one night I had a desire to cook Biryani. Without giving a single second for my mind to change, I took my phone immediately and searched in the YouTube, "How to cook Chicken Biryani in Pressure Cooker", and then I found a video with simple method. I decided and informed my family that I would cook Chicken Biryani the following day; and I waited for that day with eagerness and excitement.
I wanted everything to be in a perfect way, especially in cooking. Everything had to be followed perfectly as by the instruction. Now, I'm learning to change from my way of sticking to perfection. I'm learning to accept my imperfections. I believe that the truthfulness we show in our work is needed more than thinking about perfection, as thought of 'perfection' always gives me terror and pushes me to procrastinate.
Now come to my Biryani preparation!
After finishing all the pre- preparation, like cutting onions and tomatoes, and preparing masala paste, I started the cooking. In a cooker I poured oil and added spices, followed by onions. I was surprised by the onions - they were large in quantity at first, then after some minutes it got shrunken, as like the problems in our life. Then, I added finely chopped tomatoes, and the masala paste. When all these ingredients were mixed well, but some more moisture was needed, that's the perfect time for the entry of coconut milk. After adding it, I was attracted by the beautiful colours, I saw in the cooker, by the collaboration of all the ingredients. Actually, this is my most favourite part in Biryani making, where all the ingredients with different qualities combine together to look beautiful and to taste delicious. This reminds me of the beauty of our life, which is the amalgamation of various different things. As a final touch, I added chicken and rice, and after some minutes my Biryani was ready. My first big dish! To my suprise and delight it came out very well!
Life is also like cooking. The time and timing is important in cooking; likewise, we have to give proper time to work, to get success in a perfect timing. Planning and pre- preparation pave way for a tensionless cooking; we must plan and work for our progress in life. Moreover, many things are added and combined together for a single dish. As I already told, life is a mixture of many things, to learn life as well as ourselves. We have to live every moment, as we do every step of preparation, without skipping, for our plate of Biryani.
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