Growing Up Desi
Cold Paratha Before the Bell
By second period, smell bag se bahar aa chuki hoti thi. The real lunch had already started before recess even got a chance.
By second period, smell bag se bahar aa chuki hoti thi. The real lunch had already started before recess even got a chance.
We were supposed to wait for recess.
Wohi rule tha.
But school rules ka kya hi karte.
Paratha subah se bag mein pada hota - books ke beech, notebooks ke neeche, thoda garam, thoda dabaa hua.
Second period tak oil Hindi notebook tak pahunch jaata.
Seedha page pe.
Proof.
Koi na koi dekh leta.
"Lunch leke aaya hai?"
"The real lunch happened before the bell, while the tiffin still felt private."
Bas wahi se start.
Tiffin poora nahi kholte the.
Bas itna ki ek folded paratha nikal aaye.
Andar bhindi dabbi hoti - beech mein soft, side se thodi thandi.
Jaldi jaldi bite.
Classroom ke corner mein, ya door ke paas khade hoke.
Aadha khaya, aadha wapas.
Jaise kuch hua hi nahi.
Recess pe sab proper hota.
Tiffin khulta. "Le, tu bhi le." "Yaar thoda aur de."
Sab normal.
But woh pehla bite alag hota.
Thoda jaldi. Thoda chupke.
Aur thoda better.
