" Mummy do you need my help for cooking? " said purvi as I was making mantel notes for cooking dinner. " No , I am good. why don't you go out and play with your friends while there is still light outside. " I told her. she will be more social if she goes out often.
" But mummy I don't have any friends. " she said in a matter of fact tone like that's how it should be...but that's wrong. But of course one step at a time.
" sit with your little brother and play with him. " I told her and she happily sat with her brother. why is she so simple and sweet ? She just melted my heart.
" Purvi what do you want for dinner ? " I asked her. " Make what my brother's like mummy I will eat with them. " she said while pinching the little nose of the baby and making him laugh. she is the best sister those brats can ask for.
" yes , but what do you like the most ? Any particular sweet you love to eat ? Anything you want ? " I asked her again. This time she gave it a thought and said " I like to eat kheer mummy. " she said with a cute smile.
" Alright , mummy will make some for you. " I told her and came back to the kitchen. Purvi has already washed my previously used utensils. Now it's time to make dinner for the family.
I will make rice , daal , a saag , any fry with it and kheer. Yes, that will do for now. And for those brats...they will soon know who is the boss. I may not be a perfect mother but I will do my best to raise them nicely. since I don't know how to get back in my timeline let's just be here.
I washed the rice and put it in an earthen pot with water to get ready. Now let's get some veggies from the yard. I walked in the yard , it's spacious , so many plants are here chillies, tomatoes , corriondor , flowers and so many plants. I plucked some fresh chillies, corriondor, pulled out some onions, ginger , garlic , it's perfect for cooking.
I washed everything first , now I will daal. I have to boil pulses and then give tarka. while my daal is getting ready I decided to make saag first. I will make coriander leaves saag. It's a delicious dish, my grandma taught me how to make it.
" Mummy brother is sleeping... should I help you. " said purvi sitting next to me. " Please wash the coriander leaves for me...and those neem leaves too. " I told her.
" Neem leaves? what will you make with it mummy ? " she asked with curiosity. " It's for your brothers...they will eat it. " But why mummy ? They will not like it. " she said getting concerned.
" You want your brothers to be good boys right ..not a naughty one ? " I asked her and she nodded. " It's important to be strict with people we love for their own good. Trust me ...it's for their betterment. " I explained her and she didn't argue anymore.
Here modern equipment is not there so I have to use shil nora for the saag. In case you wonder what is shil nora then its - A pair of grinding stones. Quern. Sil is a large stone and lodhi is a smaller stone for pounding.
First I grinned garlic, chilies and cumin seeds...when it was a fine past I slowly added coriander leaves and made a fine paste , than added salt and garnished it with oil. It's going to taste soo good.
My daal is ready I have tarka with onion...it's going to be a tasty lunch. I fried some potatoes and made little kidchiri for my little one.
I made that bitter medicine for my naughty ones and kheer for my lovely child with lots of dry fruits with it.
All three returned fully covered in mud , looking like ghosts. " Go clean up and eat lunch . " I told them. " It's a little mud mummy ... let us eat we are hungry. " said Pradip and that's not even a request.
" Do as I say or there will be no lunch for any of you. " I told them and they kept standing thinking I would not do what I said. I waited for two minutes then I served purvi food. she looked at her brother's .
" Purvi don't look at them ...eat your food. Trust mummy. " I told her and she started eating her food. I took out some food for Arav and placed it in a big bowl to cool down.
" Are you not going to feed us mummy ? " asked Aakash with a childish voice and I almost fell for that trap. But I controlled myself.
" Not before you start listening to me. " I told him. Hope that happens soon. The three little heads are filled with ego but as soon as they got the delicious smell of food they ran to wash their hands and feet and came back neat and clean.
I served them food. which they have enjoyed wholeheartedly. Then I brought my master plan...I gave purvi a bowl of kheer to eat and handed them each big spoon of neem paste.
" Yak...mummy it's so bitter. Why is my sister eating everything nice and we are eating bitter food? " asked Pradip making a face. " Your sister helped me with work and that's what I rewarded her...what did you do ? Didn't listen to my words, made your clothes dirty , made the floor dirty....why should I reward you ? " I asked them.
" But granny said we are boys we get what we want. " said Aakash. " well this is my house and here you listen to me. what I say goes here. Everyday there will be sweet and bitter food. Children who will listen to my words , help me at work will get sweet and others will get bitter food. Now you decide what you want. " I asked them.
" we will help you mummy and help sister with work. " said Pradip. His face shows that really doesn't want to do it but anything for the kheer. I have to let them try the kheer or next time this trick won't work.
" Alright" I told and handed them their bowls and sat down to feed Arav. The little guy is too naughty but it's hard to get angry with him. After lunch all the four siblings fell asleep only the little guy was awake.
I sat with him in my lap playing with his little hands , hope I am doing it right. When Advik returns I hope I can maintain the same posture and do well. wish me luck.