{"id":223341,"date":"2022-05-25T08:10:40","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T08:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjp.org.in\/khoj\/?p=223341"},"modified":"2022-11-09T08:21:11","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T08:21:11","slug":"whats-food-between-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjp.org.in\/khoj\/whats-food-between-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT\u2019S FOOD BETWEEN FRIENDS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The moment Smruti stepped off the bus and Tulsi joined her, these two heads would be closed together chatting continuously, first each midly showing off to the other about the contents of their tiffin boxes. As they grew older the short, sketchy details that each friend had over the years shared about their families elaborated into their own opinions about the goings on in each other\u2019s homes. One such morning, a Monday, Tulsi was bursting with excitement. That weekend, Saturday to be precise, her parents were giving her a celebration for her birthday, the first in three years. It would be a welcome occasion for Tulsi to show off her home and family to her dearest friend. With only minutes to spare before the morning bell rang, and only a few more between assembly and classes beginning, both friends had to wait until the short break to speak to each other. Teachers took care to separate the inseperable pairs in each class and these too were definitely one of those pairs in that year\u2019s Std.VI who needed to be physically separated<\/p>\n

Barely had the first three periods crawled by and the bell for short recess been rung that Tulsi dashed over to her friend\u2019s desk and spilt the news of the impending birthday celebrations. There were a few other friends to invite ofcourse but Smruti had to be the first. Relaying the invitation to Smruti who felt thrilled and excited at the prospect of visiting her friend\u2019s home, Tulsi was eagar to even discuss minute details for that evening\u2019s menu. Both friends looked forward to the weekend with great anticipation.<\/p>\n

The lunch recess later that day was spent by the two drawing up lists of games to be played that day and gleeful details of the pranks that they would play on other friends during the celebrations.<\/p>\n

Talking to her father about Tulsi\u2019s party that night, Smruti\u2019s hopes were dashed. On returning from school that afternoon, she hadn\u2019t been able to wait to tell her mother of her invitation. In return , her mother had only looked at her silently, telling her after a few moments to speak to her father when he returned home.<\/p>\n

But why, Smruti had angrily demanded? Why can I not go to my best friend\u2019s house? Do you not meet your friends often? And invite them for meals all the time?<\/p>\n

Of course, she is your friend, her mother gently explained. You can even plan to take a nice birthday gift for her the day before the party. But, said her father, you know we are strictly vegetarian and Tulsi, her family and her entire community eat meat, chicken and fish.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what\u201d, demanded a bewildered and angry Smruti unable to choke down her tears. \u201cAll I have to do is to let Tulsi\u2019s mother know–who by the way is a very good cook — and they will have special food kept for me.<\/p>\n

What has that got to do with my celebrating my best friend\u2019d birthday with her?\u201d Though her parents were silent. Smruti had the nagging feeling that her battle was far from won.<\/p>\n

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