When will one get used to being around people again?

The khichuri was made in short grained ambe mohor ice from Maharashtra and topped with Jharna ghee from Kolkata

I had khichuri for lunch today.

It was not raining. The skies were overcast though.

There was kaatla (which I had bought from Poonam at Khar market) in the fridge and it seemed like a great idea to pair it with khichuri, for khichuri and maachh bhaaja is a classic combination.

Khichuri with maachh bhaaja

Khichuri in Bengal is associated with rainy days. 

And pujas. Durga Puja, Lokhi Pujo, Saraswati Pujo. 

Even winter picnics. The choice of dish to make, after mutton curry of course. Made on site, on a big vessel on wood fire.

For us Bengalis, khichuri stands for celebrations. For joy. For festivals. For nostalgia.

It is not ‘sick-man’s food’ for us, unlike what khichdi is considered to be in some other parts of India.

Our cook, Banu, had made today’s and fried the fish too. With recipes I have given her. 

She did a good job this time and the #kittykarmakars surfaced from below the bed to welcome me home to make lunch a happy one.

I had earlier gone out for what turned out to be an hour and a half long outing. I had to buy a pair of sneakers and a pair of sandals. Both had given way at the start of the lockdown and buying new pairs was not an option then. Online shopping started later, but shoes are not something to be bought online I feel.

I finally stepped out today. I drove down to Linking Road and got what I wanted. Needed three stops for this. One at a sports brand shop for the sneakers. The others at shops which make ‘comfort footwear.’ 

I came back home after another stop outside a fruit-seller to buy bananas.

We have hardly stepped out in the last 9 months, barring for essential things. Grocery shopping before online shopping began, couple of times to the iPhone store to get my phone replaced, couple of haircuts and a few vet visits for Baby Loaf and little Nimki. That’s all since the lockdown began.

We have decided to err on the side of caution as far as the pandemic is concerned for now. Plus the boys have got so used to having us around. They are hardly aloof, unlike what cats are meant to be! Quite needy in their own ways. How could I leave them behind?

I had postponed the shoe shopping for long, even if meant going to walk in tattered sneakers, till today. How was it, you ask?

The first store was big and two storied but I flinched when the shoulder of a young boy touched mine in front of the display. I was mortified when in that shop, and in the next, there was a customer (different people) beside me in each case, engaged in protracted discussions with the sales person. In both cases, the masks of both the customer and salesman were down at the chin. What followed was a ballet with my trying to go the other end of the shop when they moved. Everything was fine in the third shop, but it was rather small though I got what I wanted. All three shops were of reasonably premium brands. Most of the sales staff were wearing masks. As was I!

And then the fingers of the banana seller inadvertently touched mine while giving the change from across the rolled down window of the car and I looked as dismayed and perplexed as the Queen did, when lady Di hugged her in the latest  season of the Crown in Netlflix.

I realised that it will take a bit of time for me to get used to the physical proximity of people again. Not that I am in a hurry! 

How was it when you first stepped out after being in lockdown? How did you feel? Was it business as usual? Did things seem different? 

Do tell me. I would love to know.

Here’s my khichuri recipe. Please do subscribe to my channel for more such easy recipes: