By Aanchol Amit Mitra
Food – As much as most people love eating it, I love making it even more. I don’t think
anything gives me as much joy or a feeling of zen than when I am cooking. Not
to exaggerate but if you wake me up at two in the morning and tell me you’re hungry then
as crazy as I am - I will probably be the most delighted to whip something up for you. So, am
I going to become a chef in the future? The most obvious answer would be yes but no I am
not going to become a chef. Why, you might ask – because I don’t want
to put work, money, and cooking in the same
equation. I’d much rather keep it a hobby and enjoy it than get tired of it and earn money
from it. But does pressure from society and parents and people around me play a role in me
not pursuing cooking – Maybe but a very small part of it that is. Honestly, it’s not even the
food itself, but I think the expression and words of praise I get that makes me want to do it
even more. Not to brag but I do cook well. Not my words – just people’s mouths and the
Mmmm sound I hear have led me to get to this
conclusion. But I don’t make everything, it’s mostly things my mom can’t make on a daily
basis so basically everything except Indian food. I can make the most complex Italian dish
but not a simple Indian curry. Ironic, no? But I think we only do things the most when we
are deprived of them. Taking me for example I maybe make more of other cuisines
than Indian at home because I can get it very easily at home. Is there something I like more
than cooking? Yes, baking. Oh, that’s a whole other story for a different day but to be brief –
I love baking even more than cooking. I think it might be because of the science in
it, considering I am a bio–math student it’s only fair I like science. One small mistake in
the measurement, kneading, or even just
the amount of pressure you apply to make something can affect the whole
outcome. I realized that it may be the thrill to get it right every time that draws me to
baking even more or even just its versatility. But hey I don’t cook for just
anyone. I really need to like you emotionally for me to make something
for you. This is another major reason why I can’t pursue cooking or baking
professionally. Imagine I am the chef and someone who I don’t like is the person I am
cooking then I would probably make the food terrible for
them. Everyone has something they find comfort in, something that they can use to
temporarily escape from worldly affairs. For some, it’s music, for some books and
for some action games, and for some playing sports. For me, it’s (you know it, but I’ll still
repeat it.) cooking and baking and eating. I eat when I am angry, cook when I am sad, and
bake just all the time irrespectively of emotion. You will laugh when I tell you what I do in
my pockets of free time – google types of pasta, sushi, rice, dal, and cheese or just anything
foody. I know right it sounds like I am completely
obsessed, I might even be but I also know that it’s in a healthy way and that it doesn’t
affect aspects of my life. It’s just a part of who I am. It will always be my go-to activity
for times when I need to relax or get my thoughts on track.
By Aanchol Amit Mitra
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