 |
| Kerala palaahara kotta from Marina Balakrishnan |
The first time I had a Diwali holiday was in ‘97. I had just moved to Mumbai to start my ‘work life.’ Office had declared an extended weekend and we had 4 days off. I didn’t know what to do with my time. Some of my friends had gone back to their homes in Delhi, Chandigarh, Chennai and Bangalore. Being Bengali, Diwali didn’t mean much to me. It was Kali Pujo at home and just a day off with crackers burst at night and mutton curry on offer. So I chilled and read books in my Pg. Went for walks at Linking Road. Lazed.
 |
| Baby Loaf this morning |
I was in a very high stress work environment at that point. I’d been hired in Kolkata where we were mollycoddled and the office was considered to be a nursery from which great market researchers would graduate. In Mumbai we were thrown into the thick of things. You were expected to learn on the job. As I’d moderate focus groups with men, my evenings and weekends were spent conducting groups. Weekdays at office transcribing them till I began to loathe the Walkman with a vengeance. The Diwali break was my first real break after I moved to Mumbai and I returned to office feeling most refreshed.
 |
| Nimki this morning |
I don’t work for anyone anymore. I am a freelancer. While food writing is my profession, I had begun it as a hobby. I still write and post for the joy of it. Most of it does not earn me any money directly. That happens when I am engaged by a media outlet or a brand. The content that I create builds my brand and gets me those gigs. I understand that my position in life is different from that of a young influencer who is starting his/ her career through posting content in food. Their pace, approach and intent will be different from mine.
 |
| Maharashtrian style puri bhaaji by #kayteecooks |
I woke up feeling very lethargic today. Almost wishing that our house-help didn’t come to work so that I could sleep longer. They did turn up thankfully. I got up and fed the boys, taught #kayteecooks how to make katla kaalia and had puri bhaaji made for my breakfast and now we have a clean house to rest in. And I have a headache!
It struck me that perhaps I need a break again. A Diwali break.
 |
| K made me breakfast for lunch before I popped a saridon and napped Thankfully my back which was paining from last night is better |
In this case, I have to sanction it since I have no boss! Insist that I stay away from social media posting or writing, even though I enjoy it. Well, that’s the plan till Sunday. This is not like a Trappist or Vipasana vow of silence. I might surface if I have something that I ‘have’ to tell you, but if you don’t see me too often till Monday, you will know why.
Wish you a happy and healing Diwali.
 |
| The laddoos are part of the Malvani meva Diwali basket from Chaitanya Restaurant |
