We love Grandma, and yet are never on the same page where food is concerned. She cannot appreciate the subtle flavors in a pasta or pizza, or the convenience of having carbs, proteins and fats all in a single meal. She is so stuck up in her concept of a traditional Indian thali meal. Who has the time for that kind of luxury eating?
Yet, today, as I celebrate a festival away from home, I miss the unique, delicate flavors of different dishes. I try to put a meal together. I am more Indian at heart than I realized.
(99 words)
P.S. Thali is a large metal plate which accomodates several smaller bowls for main dishes, while the flat breads, rice, condiments,salads and fried snack accompaniments are placed directly on the plate. ‘Thali meal’ denotes an elaborate traditional Indian meal.
September 13: Flash Fiction Challenge #Carrot Ranch Literary Community
Creative Experiments and More 
Oh, I love this one! It reminds me of my grandparents who were so Anglo-white that pizza and marinara seem too ‘exotic.’ I found it so incredibly cool that someone with Indian heritage can have so similar an experience, and yet so different!
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The sub-modalities of tradition can be different, but the overall concept is the same. Thanks!
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That’s lovely, Reena. The thoughts and traditions of home can’t be beat.
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Thanks 🙂
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So well done, Reena. I have enjoyed vegetarian thalis, which have given me the opportunity to try many dishes with condiments, bread, and dessert. So wonderful. I love how the narrator feels melancholy later. Beautifully written.
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Thank you so much, Sascha! Full blown thalis have become a rarity in modern Indian households, other than festive occasions. People do go to restaurants to savour such meals.
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Reena, I love how you show the narrator as embracing the new and realizing that what is missing is the actual luxury. Well-crafted flash!
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Thanks!
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