Today is Monday, the 14th of July. 17 years back also, 14th July fell on a Monday. That day, a 32 year young girl, (? even now I call myself a girl ;) ), took her maiden flight to Saudi Arabia. Newly married, 5 months into her first pregnancy, she left behind her mom, sisters, hometown, country, and most importantly, her NAME. A pampered child, headstrong and career oriented person, she had just been promoted to the position of GM in the advertising agency she was working in, when she resigned to join her husband. She left all things known and familiar, for an unknown country, a different culture, and a newly embraced religion. She boarded the plane, full of apprehension, not knowing what awaited her during, or at the end of the flight. After the initial jitters, she settled herself, to look outside the aircraft window. It was drizzling outside, but she could not understand whether her vision was blurred due to the water on the glass or the freely flowing tears from her eyes. There had been some sort of bandh in Mumbai that day, so there were hardly any passengers on the flight. She got three seats to herself, and a royal treatment from the crew, owing to the bulge ;) After a while, she looked outside, it had stopped raining, or maybe the plane had crossed the clouds, and the most beautiful sight awaited her - A RAINBOW! Imagine seeing a full rainbow on the clouds, from such a height, with endless space and nothing else to hamper your view. A feeling of being one with the universe, something that can only be experienced, not expressed. The maiden flight turned out to be the best one of her life, truly amazing. She landed in Saudi, and was so upset in the beginning, that she came back home 7 times in the first three years. Then, with two lovely girls, a loving husband, and her spirit to look for the best in any given situation, she started finding her footings in the host country. She soon started working in a school, found a new calling, of guiding and counselling children and parents, mediating between the management and the staff, writing for the school newsletter, magazine and annual day scripts, compering, organising, designing costumes, choreographing, and what not. She made lots of friends, and carved herself a nichè. In all this, she never realised when the host country became her home! Today, as she completed 17 years in Saudi Arabia, there is no other place that she would rather live in. And the rainbow was Gods message to her that day, that after the dark clouds and drenching waters, the sun always comes out and brings with it, lovely colours of the rainbow. This was the story of the transformation of Rupal Parikh into Reem Khan. And this khana? This is the bhutta (corn) sabzi that I made today. Monal made the whole wheat tandoori parathas, steamed white rice (not in pictures) and onion/capsicum/green chilly salad. Arrey, what are you looking for? Theres no connection between the food and my story, except that they are both cooked by me :P Hope you all enjoy the read as much as we enjoyed the food :) Aur accha nahi laga, toh theek hai, next time dont read ;)
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 19:15:45 +0000