Lunch box makes my soul sing

I opened my lunchbox today with excitement. My lunch was packed perfectly just the way I like it. I was enveloped with joy just looking at the food, even before tasting it; a kind of happiness that is hard to put into writing.

If this was a Bollywood movie, this is the time for the perfect background music, Sharukh khan standing on top of a cliff surrounded by breathtaking scenery, lifting his hands with a smile on his face, breeze in the background - all 90s kids who grew up in India would understand.

Peas Pulao, Zuccini and Beans with coconut

Since you have no idea of what I am talking about, let me try writing about it -the feeling is like my soul is singing “Thom Thom Thom”, uplifting my mood, the smell and sight of the food flooding me with the happiest thoughts from my life.

You may ask dear baby, Why so much emotion over a lunch box? My lunchbox today is one of the few things money cannot easily buy. It is not about the contents of the lunchbox (of course, the contents were yummy and did fill my not only my tummy but also my heart and soul), but it is the surprise element and the expectation from the lunch box. I understand that my statement is an oxymoron, let me explain.

You see, I did not know what was in the lunch box before I opened it. Thatha ammumma had packed it the day before, hence the excitement in opening it. I knew for sure that the food will be excellent, but was eager to find out about the treat that was waiting for me. Opening this lunchbox is like opening a gift that you know you would love.  

The first two decades of my life, I opened my lunch boxes, ate the food, often complimented on the food and occasionally complained. But now when I open it at 35 years of age, I have a different perspective to it.

For the last few months I have been packing your lunch boxes. Now I know the thought process behind it, the planning, the preparation, tweaking the amount to get it just right so that my baby will finish it with the right amount of satisfaction, that fine line before overeating but satisfaction.

Rice with egg curry, beetroot and eggplant

My parents have perfected this art and know how each one of us like their lunches. When I open the lunchbox, I go down this memory lane of smells and sights of the many lunch boxes that was packed for me in a loving way. This is why I love the “commonness” of the lunch box. The sight and smell is so familiar but only to me.

According to Hinduism, you have to had many lives of good service to be born a human being. You need more punyam (good deeds) to be born for parents who pack lunch religiously for you, tweak it the way you love it with the best ingredients available. We both won the lottery on that one. But I think I won the jackpot to enjoy this into adulthood and have Amma and Appa who still pack my lunch with the special care as if I am a 2 year old. I hope baby girl that you will also be as lucky as me and I pack your lunch when you are 35!