independence day...

I washed my clothes and cooked my own food today, not out of interest but because it was the thing to do. I was supposed to do it. These two activities made me feel a sense of independence, more than what i feel on the 15th of august.

I was told casually by folks at home..."make something for yourself...", no leftovers, mom gone outstation, and me: sick of maggi noodles. I had cooked rice, curries, dal before but either under guidance or as a response to "show-me-you-can-cook-when-you-live-alone" challenges. I had usually made my way out by arguing the point (Why the heck would i live alone??..#*&) but once or twice i had taken it in a good :) way. So, anyway the point is that it wasnt exactly a challenge anymore and i HAD to cook because there was NOTHING that could fill me, not even cash so that i could order something. 

Washing clothes by hand in the weekly (i make it monthly) schedule is a by product of having expensive clothing which are too delicate to be spun and whirled and churned in that big old washing machine. Plus setting up the machine for other clothes. 

As a guide to independent living i'll give a short procedure on how to wash (dirty) clothes :

>>Take a big bucket. 'How big' depends on number and size of dirty clothes. 

>>So take a sufficiently big bucket considering two things: one, garments settle down when they are wet but then theres got to be space for the froth that comes up when you add the detergent. So basically, your estimate in the beginning would mostly have been correct.

>>Dump the clothes in. Make sure they arent entangled or folded.

>>Start filling water into the bucket by means of a half opened tap. Now this is an important step. As water pours in, add the detergent powder. (Apologies, this algorithm isnt for detergent bar users.)

>>Quantity of detergent is like quantity of salt in food (as per taste), here as per requirement. Usually, add till you get good amount of, but not too much froth.

>>Let this setup last for 2-3 hours.

>> Dont expect things to have changed when you walk into the bathroom. The bucket would look and smell pretty much the same. 

>> When the top layer of water is unsettled, only then can u see the water beneath which has (hopefully) changed color from transparent to black?? Ok, so now you have the first one in your hand.

>> This is the most troublesome part. Hold the garment in such a way that you can rub it to a part of itself with brute force. Do it, and keep it under running water. When you feel the soap's gone away, drain out the water by making the fabric crumple as much as you can. (watch out for that last drop....)

>> Do this ( the last step) or all the clothes, preferrably more than once, if you have the patience.

>>Take out each one of it out, uncrumple it (a mix of 'whoosh' and 'thud' sound should be heard as the fabric hits the air). Dry them. (Two words but a lot of work...hangars...tied ropes....stool...etc)

A procedure for setting up the wasing machine isnt given here as it depends on the brand. Refer your manual instead or ask your mom.

Coming back to food...i decided to make rice and dal for myself. Here's my version (borrowed from mom).

>>One katori rice. Wash it.

>>Two katori water in it.

>>Little more than half a katori tur dal. one and half katori water.

>>Both rice and dal in sufficienly big steel vessels.

>>Set up the pressure cooker. 

>>>Some water at the bottom to avoid burning and half cut nimbu to keep the insides clean.

>>>Whistle at the top.

>>>Keep the rice vessel at the bottom, a plate above it and then the dal vessel on top of it.

>>>Close the lid as per the direction shown.

>>Keep the cooker on a high flame.

>>It should be a little over ten minutes before 2-3 whisles are heard. Lower the flame, and let it be for another 5minutes.

>>Let the pressure ease of and the lid will fall. Rice is ready!

>>Heat water in another deep vessel on medium flame, add salt, haldi, a little jaggery to it. Add the boiled dal and mix well till it becomes consistent. Let it boil till it becomes sufficiently thick. (At least 8-10 minutes) 

>>Mix both with home made ghee on top, some nimbu ka achaar, find that it doesnt taste as good as mom's does but satisfy yourself with the thought that YOU made it.

P.S.: Those who have gone through all this before might understand my plight, for the rest of you not habituated to all this, my mom's classic..."What will you do when you are all alone!".