'Son make a list of provisions, as I tell you, get a piece of paper and a pencil, hurry up, its Friday; we must prepare lunch before the afternoon prayers'
'Here, Mom I'm ready, shoot' my son replied, as he dragged a chair to the writing table, almost as if in a musical chair contest. He is always rushing about like the "night rider". I don't mind Thank God he is willing to go shopping for me. I relaxed on the carpet, imagining myself to be a Mughal Princess 9I was reading the History of The Mughal Period my son was the Divan to me)
Coming back to the present I watched the Pakistani cricket team trying to bowl out the Sri Lankans (on tv of course) I started dictating with my eyes on the tv screen
- 2 kilos of meat. Make it beef we had mutton last week'
- 2 kilo of cabbage...Hmmn...Make it 1 ½ we can save some for the evening meal
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- A dozen bananas , fruit is a "must buy" well make it one kilo "anaar; more of vit. C in our daily intake
- 1 kilo potatoes there must be some for emergency guests or the occasional evening "pakoras' and don't forget half a kilo of tomatoes'
'MOM' I need some more staples "O.K. put them on the list and take the fifty rupee note from my purse, lying on the table.Now get going and hurry up".
'Wait a sec, mom, my son quick in his calculations in money matters, being a Virgo perhaps ,after a thoughtful moment said,” Hmmnn 2 kilos of meat and one kilo of "anar" er..pomegranates, that makes 47 rupees I need some more chips'
“OH the ball has gone for four, what was that you said dear? More what?
'I need some more chips mom'.
“Well, can you leave out the staple pins? You can use some of the old common pins that I have saved.They are in the Strepsils box.” After a few moments deep deliberation I added “ leave out the yogurt, its getting cold now” I saw my son draw a line on the paper, seconds of suspenseful silence followed. My son looked at me inquiringly,” cut out the cabbage too, half of it goes in the dustbin anyway, now lets see, we can't do away with the tomatoes so leave out the "anars" then, the tomatoes will provide the vitamin C “
“What will we have with the meat then, mom?
My son was smilingly broadly now
'I think potatoes will be alright” I said, without looking at him I continued, as if giving a lecture on the History of Potatoes, “They never desert you, in any emergency or in crucial moments of your daily life”
My son picked up the shopping bag, put the note in his front shirt pocket still grinning, his eyes gleaming mischievously he waved goodbye "O.K.” KIT I"m off Mom'
I relaxed against the "Gao Takia" the round soft Mughal backrest and closed my eyes.
Just then a wicket fell.
Long Live Potatoes, the day's menu was done.
