Pepper Vs Chilli Flakes

I steadied myself on the stool.

“Wow,” I muttered. I would have fallen down. I tried to press my feet to chase the tingle under it. I blew out. Slowly raised my hands to pick the box which was placed above the cupboard. It was covered by cobwebs. I pushed it away and picked the box. I pulled it towards my side and try to weigh it. It was not bad. I can carry it. I pulled it closer to me and picked it from the top of the cupboard at the same time.

Thud.

I blinked. Again. I looked down on the floor through the empty box which has its underneath torn.

I jumped from the chair. I placed the box near me and looked at the things which fell from the old box. I sat next to it. There were old albums which probably filled with dead people. Some unnecessary objects must be precious to the owner. Few small boxes with needles and Coins. Cobweb colour threads. Few insects and bugs. A small book.

My mother came from the door. Her face was peaceful till she saw me sitting with the old boxes.

“Pink. What are you doing? Get up from the dust. Now.” My mother’s eyes spat fire.

I always admire my mother’s ability to turn from an innocent, elegant lady to a devilish commander in a minute.

Should I tell her that I am 23 and not 2.3? Well if I try she will reduce 2/3 of my lifetime.

“Ok, mom.” I saluted her and got up.

“Well, what are you doing?” My angelic mom is back. I am safe.

“Cleaning our new house? This room is filled with the last occupant. I like their golden heart, Mom. They cleaned the whole house and placed all their items which they don’t need in this room. Out of all the rooms, the last room in the third floor. How kind? We have to take all this from here to downstairs to throw away.” I bit my lips looking around.

Half of the room is filled with dirty boxes and broken furniture.

My mother laughed. “Go. Go and wash your hands. Help your father in the kitchen.”

“He is cooking again?” I lifted my eyebrows.

My mother nodded and tried to control her laugh. I huffed. My father is cooking. What am I going to eat for lunch? Already I am hungry. I looked down and my eyes locked on the small book. I picked it up.

“Pink!” My mother yelled.

I ran before she wanted me to put it down. I slide her right and ran downstairs.

When I was on the ground floor I opened the book.

“Ha!” It is a recipe book. I can’t believe my adventure became nothing. Few locations about the hidden treasure in the house would have been what I expected. I looked closely at the book.

The handwriting was printed. The notes were clear. The measurement of every ingredient was mentioned. Why those ingredients were needed is also mentioned. The book was filled with recipes.

“Must be tasted horrible. Otherwise, no one will through away their recipe book even if their kitchen blew away.” I jumped from the voice next to my ear.

I turned to see my father looking down at the book. I placed a hand on my heart to calm down. I huffed.

“Dad? Do you want to conduct my funeral before housewarming?” I demanded.

“As mother so the daughter.” He rolled his eyes.

“Stop digging our new house and help me in the kitchen. Come.”

“Why did you fight with mom this time?”

“You don’t need to know that. When you are a child, be a child.”

“I do need to know. Every time you fight with her. You refuse to eat her food. To save money and time, mom wanted you to cook. And I hate your cooking.”

“How dare you? I raise you by caring for you in my chest. You won’t eat my food. I cook way better than your mother. Even she can criticize me. Not you. You ‘water burning’ cook.” He held my ear and dragged me to the kitchen.

He placed me in front of the sink and went to the island.

“Go and wash your hand. We try from that book. Clean that book too.”

“Ok. I put it in the washing machine along with myself.” I ducked the spoon, my father, throw at me. I cleaned the book and washed my hands.

I took the book and looked for a recipe.

‘CHICKEN BRIYANI WITH EGG GRAVY’

I showed it to my father. He plucked the book from my hand and started to read the ingredient.

“What are you doing? When I call out you are supposed to run to pick the ingredients. Those days we used to fly when we work.” I huffed and went to the opened boxes and searched for every item.

We found every item. Well, almost.

“Pink, come and read this item.” My father tried hard to read it.

I looked at it. It was smuggled. And was not clear. My father looked at other papers and every pace has the same smudge. The problem is it was not there before when we saw it. I looked at my father. His face is filled with realization.

“How did you clean this book?”

I blinked. I won’t tell him. But he guessed. I peeked at the book.

“Why we need that ingredient?”

I read out loud, “For spicy, add two teaspoons. Let’s add pepper.” I suggested.

“No, let’s add Chilli Flakes”

“Pepper.”

“Chilli Flakes.”

It went back and forth for few minutes. We started our own theories to prove why our item is best.

We followed the recipe and cooked it in-between. The time comes for spiciness. We push each other to put pepper and Chilli Flakes. The smell reeked from the pan was horrible. We blinked. Actually, we both don’t know what to do. It’s my father’s cooking with me so the food will definitely taste ‘too good. We are cooking someone’s recipe who we don’t know. If the food was not good we will blame that person. If we put my ingredient I will be blamed. We both huffed. We looked at each other and smiled. Because we both realized it.

“Dad, I should listen to you. Let’s put you…”

“No, you found the book so you…”

My mother came. She studied us. We tried to cover up our fight. My mother placed the small basket of Green Chilli and left.

We looked at each other and nodded our heads.