Bon Apetit

Cooking is therapeutic, they said. Well, a lazy Sunday afternoon I decided to give it a try. And I realized, they are right. It actually does de-stress you. It did not cure my stomach ulcers, or smoothen those wrinkles around my eyes, but it gave me an immense sense of satisfaction. A joy of creation.

As I deftly stir-fried those baby potatoes, and measured the ‘exact amount of pink hue’ my chopped onions should take, I lost myself to this surreal world of food fantasy. Every coat of masala on the boneless chicken pieces took me a step farther from my mundane worries. The water in the pot bubbled. As I soaked in the air laden with the aroma of freshly ground spices, I was no longer the attorney dealing with tough clients and suspicious employees. I was beholding the artist in me, alive, anxious, to give shape to my imagination.  

After I was through with the cooking, came the most refreshing part. Garnishing. I fanatically looked around in my kitchen cabinets, trying to locate that white bowl with two red cherries painted on it- the only piece on earth which would perfectly hold that exquisite recipe of mine, still brimming hot on the oven. And, as I pour out my delicacy, I can hardly control my excitement. Chopped cilantro or fresh mint? A single leaf at the corner of the bowl or a bunch at the center? A vast canvas, a riot of colors. An imagination running wild.  My masterpiece. Me, the master.  In full glory.

Food was served. One final look at the dinner table gave me a high probably no opium can match. “Ah, lovely!”, came my muttered breath. Others joined me at the table. A sudden pang of over-confidence. “This should be a fine dish”, I told myself, “I have cooked it to precision.” An equally sudden pang of anxiety. “Did I add too much salt to it”, I wondered.

As they delved into that luscious pot of chicken curry, or dipped their rotis into the still-so-hot Dal-Fry, I was almost biting my fingers anticipating their comments. In return, I saw sheer pleasure. Their taste buds tingled, senses all aroused, they were too busy licking their fingers to even notice me! Relief. Followed by jubilation. Yes, I achieved all that I had hoped for that afternoon. Maybe more. What can be more de-stressing than this feeling of achievement? Spas? Oil massage? Maybe. When I have the time and energy, I will try it out. Right now, I am  judgmental in my opinion. Cooking heals.