Forbidden Rendezvous...

Forbidden Rendezvous ...

We were friends since I think the age of 5 yrs... She was exactly my age and used to live opposite to my nana-Nani 's home in Aligarh .. Her name was Ruchi  .. Ruchi was kind of my that nanihaal Wala - vacations friend..A friend u spend ur warm winter afternoons  and cool  summer evenings with...playing hide and seeks and ghar-ghar while the whole family naps or relaxes.. We never went to same school but still since my Nani - nana lived close by in Aligarh my after school hrs  used to be equally divided between my home and my grandparents place.. Vacations used to be our freak out time..my Nani used to pamper both me and Ruchi with yummylicious goodies..remember her keema bhare samose so clearly.... That were Ruchi ke hot favs too.. Now  Ruchi used to live in a huge Punjabi joint family.. Opposite to my grandparents  place.. Very happy , family oriented and warm poeple...there was one catch though .. They were strictly vegetarian people.. And were living in a predominantly Muslim area... No issues with that.... But  for the only fact that Ruchi though was prohibited from non veg used to love to hog on non veg goodies with me.. I used to smuggle the yummy stuff made by my Nani to our secret place in a near by mango orchard behind Nani's home and we both happily used to have our secret rendezvous party....Eating and playing away to glory..me bieng the blasphemous Adam tempting the gorgeous Eve with the forbidden stuff...anyhow...

Hold on there was one more catch in the story.. Now me being a big time chatori.. I was deeply and madly in love with the mouth watering pickles, kachoris and aloo paranthas that Ruchi ki dadi and mom used to dish out from their rasoi.... I loved the way the whole family used to sit in a row on the sparkling floor in thier rasoi with dadi and Ruchi ki mom serving to all family members one by one.. There was such a together - family and warm feel to the whole scene ... I used to pine to be in that family footage  too .. On the floor.. With sparkling Thalis, glass and Katoris glittering in front of me.: the huge acharis ( achar containers) lined up infront of me to pick and choose from the mouthwatering options..but alas ! I could never do that freely.. As Ruchi ki Dadi was clear about one thing no Muslim will ever enter her rasoi and eat there.. No meat eater in my kitchen .!!!  She once told me and Ruchi when we  were pestering her to allow me in.. Ruchi and me exchanged secret smiles with each other at this.. !! Nevertheless.. I was not allowed.. Came back.. Halfheartedly...Was reading a book in the afternoon when I heard a tap on the door and found Ruchi lurking out.. " come over with me right now".. She said with a utmost secretive air and urgency.. I followed her wordlessly.. Thinking maybe she has discovered a new secret tree or corner for our afternoon siesta..I just went after her.. I was surprised when she took me to her backyard and started entering her kitchen from the backside of her house .. " sh sh !! just follow me" she ordered me holding my hand tight.. My eyes were twinkling with excitement by then .. Looking forward to some unknown adventure.. I followed her blindly and then first the familiar aroma of mouthwatering kachoris and achar hit me..I almost sleep walked in.. Under the glow of blazing lakdi ka chulha I saw the warm face of Ruchi's mom.. Dishing out the golden kachoris for me in the glittering Thali with my choice of achar on the side.. " Baitho na" Ruchi pushed me down on the eating floor.. " But Dadi" I murmured doubtfully.... " dadi is sleeping don't worry".. her dad tiptoed in the kitchen whispering to me " aap aaram se dil Bhar ke khao".. I relaxed a bit and smiled back for the first time.. Though the guilt was still on me a bit .. But couldn't help basking under the warm hospitality of Ruchi and her parents.. My fav place in her kitchen .. Thalis.. Katoris.. Acharis .. Then aunty ke haath ka khana.. Bliss ... Dadi or no Dadi.. I decided let the " fikr and hesitation  go and take a stroll .." .. Looked at Ruchi .. We both nodded.. grinned and attacked the food like there was no tomorrow and no " Dadi".. 😂