Kady's Gift

No sir, I am on a long leave and it starts from today.

"I completely forgot that it's your first Deepawali Kady, enjoy and have fun" said Rohan on the line.

Thank you sir and if any emergency do ping me! Kadambari replied back with a smile.

Yes, it's Kady's thala Deepawali tomorrow and she is staying back today today to learn the art of preparing delicious Indian sweets from her mother-in-law.

It's been ten days she got married to her best friend and from then she hasn't got a leave due to the festive season. Being a foodie and an excellent cook, she started her own restaurant few years back and now it's been ranked as Çhennai's most favourite restaurant among all age groups for her unique sowrastrian recipes and food contests! The reason behind her success goes to her best friend who is now officially her husband and her parents, she says very often in all her interviews and her personal blog free of ads.

Post-wedding the couple haven't spent time with each other and hence she has decided to take a long break to spend some quality time with family and friends.

As Diwali is round the corner, Kady has organised an inter-village event where participants of any village can cook what they excel at within a time span in front of all the top chefs at a same venue using the ingredients provided. Out of which the best three will be selected and offered a cash price of fifty thousand and one year catering service, whereas the the next ten winners dishes will get included in the speical menu which Kady is working at. The announcements were declared three months prior through traditional media and the entries for this competition are overwhelming. This event will certainly will make her climb the ladder of success, all commented and she is eagerly waiting for it as others.

In this due time, she managed her restaurant and the family beautifully surprising all her patrons and friends especially. The hard work has come to an end and now it's my time to enjoy, she said standing in front of the mirror.

In two minutes, she changed from her chef costume to her favourite crimson red crop top and ink blue flowery skirt.

Wear something loose, so you feel comfortable her MIL said unplugging the gas connection. She immediately wore a loose tee that her best friend had gifted recently.

Ma, do you want the apron she asked to which her MIL said, no dear, not necessarily with a smile on her face.

Will I be as flexible and energetic like her, she asked herself looking at her MIL who was now busy arranging the stove on the floor along with the ingredients required. My MIL is a beautiful angel living on earth and her hospitality will make you fall on her feet and that's how I started adoring her even before I fell in love with her son. And not to forget, her masala has made me lick my fingers thoroughly. She accepted me for what I am and of course for my love towards cooking tasty food!

Will you learn the culinary techniques from me she asked when I met her for first time as her DIL and till date she amuses me with her culinary skills and she learns something new from me everyday and keep sharing it on our family group making me feel proud.

First you need to know the character of all ingredients and it's measurement, she said. Without using any measuring cups or spatula she mixed flour and sugar. I mixed it until all foams vanished. By then she poured oil on the pan and switched the flame into medium mode. Fast and furious, I commented and she snapped her finger and said next year you will do all these things without my help. I burst out laughing and till midnight I learned doing 7 cups, adirsasam, muruku and bondi.

When I took my phone for insta stories, she signalled no. Don't touch other things until you cook and I listened like a student. Seeing all this my guy smiled and documented our thala diwali memories.

My mil and I posed with our spatula and handlebar.

After finishing all the cleaning work, my MIL said wake up early tomorrow as it's an important day for us. I said yes and went to sleep. My eyes closed immediately and he saw me sleeping peacefully after one hectic week.

The next day Kady got up early, cleaned the room and decorated the sweets on porcelain plates her husband bought yesterday. Following it she decorated the pooja room with flowers and entrance with mango leaves and rice flour rangoli.

By then all gathered and exchanged wishes and did the pooja together. Her in-laws gifted them silk saree attires and gold jewellery as Diwali gifts. When she was about to change her dress to silk saree, her phone vibrated.

To be continued