It was a foggy winter morning in Chowkidingee. Inside the smoky kitchen, Pehi sat on her stool, sharpening her bothi with a sly smile. Today’s mission? The classic Assamese Haah aru Kumura curry.
On the prep table sat Haah (Duck) – bold, wild, and proudly meaty. From the Upper Assam ponds, full of spice and swagger.
And beside him – Kumura, the soft, pale ash gourd from the backyard patch. Sweet, gentle… and a little shy.
They eyed each other cautiously.
Haah smirked.
“So… you’re the veggie they dump in my pot every winter?”
Kumura gave a slow blink.
“And you’re the duck everyone boils till rubbery?”
Pehi ( Aunt) paused, eyed them both, and chuckled.
“Hoh! Tumar golpor shuru hol ne?” (Oh! Have you two started your story?)
Haah puffed up.
“I’m the main act. The star of the curry.”
Kumura smiled softly.
“Even stars need a little coolness to shine.”
Pehi chimed in, shaking her head.
“Moi to dhori asu… dusorir khobor.” (I’ve got a feeling… something’s cooking.)
As Pehi picked up Haah for marination, he muttered,
“I’m wild, spicy… I’m not made for settling down.”
Kumura teased.
“Maybe you’re just afraid of a little soft touch.”
Pehi rubbed mustard oil onto Haah with a grin.
“Hoh… dekhim kun kune kene bhaal lage.” (Let’s see who softens whom.)
Then came Kumura’s turn. As Pehi peeled her gently, Kumura whispered,
“Spice is fine… but it’s the softness that holds the flavor together.”
Haah called out.
“I bet you’ll melt before I do!”
Pehi chuckled.
“Eibar to dujona ek potot. Khel khotom!” (Now both of you are in the same pot. Game over!)
As the curry bubbled, the teasing continued.
Haah bumped into a tejpata.
“Really? Even the tejpata’s trying to get in on our story?”
Kumura laughed.
“Looks like we’re the new couple everyone’s watching.”
Pehi stirred them gently, humming a Bihu song.
“Besi kotha nokobi… love needs time to simmer.”
Haah whispered.
“I thought I’d overpower you.”
Kumura smiled.
“Turns out… we make each other better.”
By the time lunch was served, the family couldn’t stop praising Pehi’s curry.
“Pehi! This haah aru kumura… it’s perfect!”
Pehi smirked at the pot.
“Of course. They stopped fighting… and started blending.”
In love, like in curry, spice needs softness, boldness needs calm…
And sometimes, it takes a sharp-tongued Pehi to make sure the pairing is just right.
By Upasana Changkakoti
Upasana Changkakoti – A small scale business woman by day, a counselor & addiction advocate by passion. TSS is my love child and the reason for my confidence and growth.
Aww, love love love
Made for an interesting read.