The Carotene Day

The day was splendid, everything was fine and peaceful. Until my brother younger Jijo woke up. He was so naughty and playful. He didn’t like to go to school. My younger sister Rohna was straight opposite to him, she was elder to him. She loved going to school. My brother enjoyed the lockdown days, playing video games, then Grand theft auto vice city on the laptop, then clash of kings on a mobile phone. Even we said him to stop, he didn’t listen to us.

“Jijo, don’t spend your time entirely before screens”

“Now is a holiday, please don’t scold me”

I loved him so much. As days passed his eyesight was decreased. He told me that he had a headache and a problem with the eyes.

“see, your actions have damaged your eyes”

“My head is aching,” he said in sombre,

“Okay, dear don’t play games”

I comforted him. He didn’t play after that. I told my sister to keep away from the gaming gadgets. Still, he had problems in his eyes. My dad took him to the hospital and they said he lacked Vitamin A, carotene. The doctor instructed him to eat a lot of orange and yellow colour vegetables. When we think about orange colour vegetables, the first thing that comes to mind is carrot.

I love carrots so much, but my brother he hates veggies especially carrot. We bought fresh carrots from the vegetable vendor, he didn’t even touch it,

“Come on, eat one” my younger sister Rohna forced him

“No, I don’t” he refused and went to his room.

“What to do sissy?” Rohna asked me, I thought for a while and came up with some ideas.

“Rohna come, help me in this”

“What you’re doing?”

She was perplexed; I smiled and told her,

“We’re making carrot halwa”

“Will those taste good?”

“Yes, Jijo will love it”

And we started doing the treatment. I asked Rohna to grate the carrots; she did it with the food processor. In a heavy Kadai, I added all of the grated carrots and poured full-fat milk. I mixed the grated carrots and milk. Then I cooked that mixture on a low to medium flame. After some minutes, the milk began to froth first and then started reducing slowly and slowly.

Then I added ghee and mixed it very well. Next, I added sugar as required. Then I added cardamom powder for mesmerizing aroma and mixed it very well. When the halwa had reduced like that of a pudding consistency. I added nuts; I didn’t add dry fruits as my brother didn’t like them.

So I added cashews, almonds and pistachios, I mixed again and continued to stir and simmer. The milk evaporated completely and finally, Carrot halwa was ready.

“Wow! It looks beautiful” my sister Rohna commented.

“Okay, let’s take it to Jijo”

We went to his room; he was lying on the bed,

“Jijo, come taste this halwa”

“What! halwa,” my brother asked with glee

I gave it to him, he enjoyed it.

“Hmm, very yummy”

“You know, I made this from carrots”

“What!” he was surprised,

“See, carrots do taste good”

He nodded in approval. 

“So, do you like carrots now?” I teasingly asked him,

“Yes, only carrot halwa” he replied giggling. I was very happy that I finally made my brother eat carrots, he ate half of the halwa.

“Today is a tasty Carotene day,” he said in joy.

 And we enjoyed the rest with the beautiful view of the sunset.