You know that feeling? That ravenous tantalizing aroma of
sizzling brownies, with a generous helping of hot and silky glazed chocolate
sauce. That inexplicable sensation when the crust of the samosa strokes the
insides of the cavern of your mouth leaving a trail on your lips. That enigma
of the last ooze of the jalebi trolling down your chin which u whip up and lick
with your tongue and, you know you have tasted heaven. The aroma of the Dum Biriyani,
a personal favourite, cooked to perfection for hours together, that I could
wait for hours to get a mouthful. The textures of the masala packed with
vegetables and the softness of the rice, and with one mouthful down, you are
drowned in an aura of sheer happiness. Yes! Happiness! What the hugs cannot do,
what words cannot soothe you, the parotta and the dainty coconut kurma accomplish
and you, have no idea what more they can. The joy that you get when you have your
favourite Pasta cooked to perfection with the choicest of cheeses, olives and
sundried tomatoes so much that you just want to lick the sauce off your plate,
pardoning the glares your way and the bemused waiter at your table waiting for
you to mop the sauce off your hands and order dessert, until you give him that
sheepish smile and order desssseeerrrrttt!!
The ecstasy that you derive from a hearty meal is
uncomparable, somehow delight, exhilaration, glee, bliss, contentment, joy, and
all of its synonyms in one compound package. While the world is obsessed with
slim stick figures and spidery long legs, they are simply people who can’t relish
food in all its abundance for crying out loud’s sake! Do people really think
eating just fruits and vegetables cooked rare or al dante get them to their
healthy lifestyle? Healthy lifestyle is eat what you want, be happy and pass on
that happiness! Curves have been around for as long as zero-flab has been, but
somehow the world took to the latter. I have however seen and observed more
exquisiteness and loveliness in curves and being a little round never really
hurts. If it makes you happy to eat, just eat. You have no idea how much you
are complicating yourself by curbing what your body wants. As its owner, it’s
your duty to deliver it. Non-gheed aalo parathas, un-creamed coffee, raw
carrots and other veggies, I know they are supposedly healthy to your body, but
is your mind satiated with it? I was on a diet, eating “right” eight months into
2012, I had passed the test of the last six months without rice and lost nearly
23 kilograms of myself and turned unrecognizable, that I constantly glimpsed at
the ‘before-after’ pictures. By the time I was through with it, and found a new
me, I was desperately craving for all the potato curry, the appalam and the full meals I had missed. However, to my
own disappointment, I had grown conscious of what I ate and every time I ate, I
would feel guilty, which was never a problem earlier because all that mattered
then was to eat to my heart’s full! I, however wanted to indulge and savour my
knocked-out tastebuds and I sprung back into action and resumed my trademark
foodaholicism. And then, obviously as a result of which I have gained a bit of (more)
flesh. Like DUH! I still try to “cleanse” my system at times and try to lose a
couple more pounds, but I realized when I am actually happy and that is when I
have that full brownie all to myself, those creamy pastries, the sensual sponge
choco truffle, that Dum Biriyani I can’t stop eating and that deep fried
Kachori I realize I can’t live without.
I had been criticized for always being
on the sad side of weight for long, but people turned around when they saw what
I had pulled off (quite literally) and bewilderingly, showered me with
compliments. I have been to Pizza Hut for a friend’s birthday dinner and sat
around sipping a single glass of lemonade through the two hours where I could
inhale the wafting whiff of Garlic bread and CHEESE! I had tested every ounce
of self -control I had, but watching all my friends hogging on the prime dishes
at the most renowned restaurants, right in front of my eyes, though made me
resolute, made me gloomy. And then, I understood what meant my life, but what
was consuming me. Bingeing is never something you forget! I love food! I
realized that, I re-discovered myself to balance how to satisfy my body’s crave
for health and my mind’s gratification for the world’s finest food by simply choosing
to be conscious (sadly, obviously). Happy fooding, folks!! J J
