Ever since I came into this world, my mom recognized, she will be busy in the kitchen. Because this baby , that just got delivered showed a great appreciation for food, taste and embraced pampering it's taste buds.
It was a Friday morning of a long weekend and the blithe mood kicked in, conveniently pushing my work motivation step by step behind. I made a well rehearsed walk towards the kitchen to see my mama bear soaking colocasia , locally known as "seppakizhangu" in water. That moment, my brain ejaculated a dose of endorphins, the excitement levels soaring to such an extent because of the fact that I am gonna have a nice roast fry for lunch prompting me to reach for the Snacks box and murder an oreo biscuit. I ruthlessly spread the biscuit wide open, licked the cream like a lion gulping deer blood and my molars punching the biscuit with great personal urge. The moment the biscuit vanished, the 'other' me, smacked in the head admonishing for my undisciplined snacking and I went to the spice box to grab some cumin seeds and ginger to aid in it's digestion, so that my body doesn't sleep with these calories. See, that's the thing with people who romance food. We exactly know what food makes us happy and when. We also come prepared with a manual to ameliorate the guilt that shoots up during such food rushes. Like for example, when I used to suck in my stomach after gorging on some fine restaurant treat in an effort to remind the stomach to stay by it's waistline boundary.
A whole lot happens behind the scenes people. I came to the desk for igniting my work and was half an hour into it seriously with no distractions. When again, I got reminded of what's for lunch and sent an email originally scheduled to be sent at evening in that sudden flash of joy. And the email subject ? "Tasks Done today". And my boss in good humor messages me in 5 minutes , saying he wasn't aware I had flown to Australia, where it was evening and I had already completed the tasks for the day. I was quick to dodge his banter with the cliched "wrong tap of fingers" excuse , only to receive an email from him , declaring the tasks for the day.
It was a festive occasion, the time of Diwali, when my neighbor lady knocked the door around 1.00pm and as though I had X-Ray vision, I knew she was bringing the snacks she had prepared for her house. I gently put myself in away status in my office chat, made a nonchalant walk across the hall as if I didn't show any interest in what she brought but ogling at the plate she was holding when I suddenly heard my mom say the most shocking thing, making me abruptly stop. She goes "Oh, why did you bring this much, why did you take this much strain and giving this much"... I veered my body towards my mom, placing one hand on her shoulder and another hand on her back gently pinching her like an ant bite , a silent way of disciplining her for the irresponsible statement she just made. She gathered herself to not give away the trash behavior of her melon head son and accepted the plate, only to return some sweets and snacks from our house as a courtesy. I knew, the moment the door closed, there was going to be a "conversation" between mama bear and myself and I braced myself. She closes and goes "Why do you behave as though I starve you for food and you haven't eaten delicious food for years" . I just made a face at her to divide the snacks between me and her. 
You see, I have had a prolonged battle with my elder sister in my growing up years, when we both had to share food, from cream biscuits to homemade snacks to pizzas and foreign chocolates. It's one of the sick reasons I am happy that she got married away that I can have all the food by myself, even as she was begging her darling daughter to have her cup of milk. I just don't stop there. I take a picture of something nice, make a gif of myself eating and send it to her with a kissing smiley. She then will send me a meme as shown here. The delight , in doing this can only be experienced.
Food gives a rush that is unparalleled. I am a veggie , and I make sure I get to eat all those things that are in the boundaries of my palate to a level I can say "Tried there, Eaten That". There is always a phase in my life when I suddenly realize that I had crossed my "previous worst weight number" , only to summon my folks telling them the "plan". The plan will be a very simple predictable plot. Fruits for dinner and minimal food on the plate with 0 sugar and lesser quantity of curd. Sometimes, I throw in some green tea, some herbal decoctions like cinnamon honey lukewarm water in the mornings. But not a flesh in my body, ready to move a muscle in the form of exercise. Previously, before the pandemic, I used to go for long solitary walks and had a religious control over what goes in. These days, when stepping out is such a big deal, I have no motivation to sweat when there is so much good food coming and going. 
I get this overpowering inner voice that demands justice for my taste buds with arguments like "Dude, you are at an age when you can even digest a stone, Dude, don't act miser, Show your gratefulness to god by tasting the food he provides". These voices are so convincing. As much convincing as the aroma that now came from the kitchen around 4.00 evening when mama bear was melting the butter to extract ghee. Our family started from humble tidings and we are wired to make the best use of things and never splurge or waste when in excess. So, I have been trained like a bomb squad dog, to expect a sweet which she does, whenever she extracts ghee. The black condensed ghee, that remains after the butter melts ,is mixed with wheat flour and jaggery powder and palm pressed into small balls for an after meal snack. It usually comes to around 5-6 balls which are conveniently placed on my work table beside the plastic box full of cumin seeds for the post indulge guilt.
The Evening Plot...
I get high with delectable food. A Food High person. See I might not be famous, but I have so much going on between the confines of this house and my own mind-body communication , that are good enough to be captured on celluloid and short films. Evening slowly wades through, as it's time for a cup of filter coffee when the insatiable spirit in me broadcasts a shameless message from my room to my manufacturer asking what's for dinner. She got used to my adorable requests, though I have often been warned to be careful and not let loose. I am naturally a disciplined guy but I am not really in the most justified character when it comes to sharing food or going on diets. My Dad usually puts some divine songs and satsangs on TV to acknowledge the auspiciousness of the evening when that particular day, ironically he kept a show where there as a commentary from the essences of the Bhagawad Gita. My ears spread between the official call I was attending and the talk on the TV. When suddenly, the speaker reminds one of the core truths of the Gita, about how we are not just the body, and we should not over indulge in sense pleasures as it's a never ending desire whirlpool and these sense pleasures range from lust, envy and gluttony , or eating to satisfy a body that is only meant to exist for a maximum of 100 years. Boy, that touched a chip on my shoulder, when I suddenly kept the headphones on the table to storm into the kitchen to take an oath to my mom that I will have only 4 dosas ( a south indian delicacy, made from rice flour, cooked over a heated pan and oil). She looked at me like a gun that was about to be reloaded when I quickly came back to my room with a head held with pride at my self control. I had 5 dosas that day for dinner as she had made Capsicum Chutney . Pray for me. Or atleast, don't invite me for treats or eat outs if you don't have a backup fitness plan for me , if you really loved me.
I think many out there share my sentiments about food, but at the end of the day, Boy. The Brain that is drugged after having some Sweetened Jaggery Rice with melted ghee, cashew nuts and raisins with Deep fried Vadas gives a joy, a reason why still Anna Danam or Food donation is considered the best form of Charity. If you want to help a person, a needy, give them good food , for they will Bless you from the bottom of their heart and soul as you share the joy of good food.
