A mainstay from my parents’ kitchen to my own
The very first cup of tea I was introduced to, by mummy or papa in the form of 'dhoodh-chae' (tea-milk) which became a daily ritual for the next 2 decades and is till today. Breakfast is incomplete without that 'dhoodh-chae'. That first dhoodh-chae from maybe a sipper or small cup with stories from either of them and soft instructions'jaldi karo beta school ka time ho raha hai'(finish up quick, its time for school). Small sips became full gulps — the mini cup gave way to a steel glass. A glass full of dhoodh chae till I left for college, BUT, I didnt leave the dhoodh-chae behind. It was still a daily ritual at the hostel mess, just the glass changed. Getting married brought in yet another change, not to the dhoodh-chae, the glass was now a ceramic mug. Breakfast was still incomplete without it. Visits to mums whenever possible, day starts with a MUG of dhoodh-chae made by papa, tastes just like it always has. I tried to hand the tradition down to my little one...
