In the mid 1980s, maternal grandma came to visit them for a few weeks in Jaiharikhal of Uttarakhand. At that time, their food was limited to dal, roti, chawal, puri, kheer, paratha and various types of pahadi cuisines - mutton, churkani, dhubke, jholi etcetera. Restaurants and roadside eateries were not common in that era. They ate outside only when they used to travel for pilgrimage or to their ancestral village. Inline with traditions and customs, their father always preferred pure vegetarian satvik dhaba.
Their father got a new black and white TV for them that had only one channel ‘Doordarshan’ and more than Maggi its advertisements were becoming popular. Commercial had a group of children playing and singing. Once they were exhausted, they asked for quick food from their mother, who cooked Maggi in 2 minutes. It had a nice jingle-
“Khel kud ke aaye hum, bade gajab ki bhook lagi.
2 minute rook sakte hain, sar ke bal chad sakte hain.
Maggi chahiye mujhe abhi”
Learned by TV ad, kids in home enacted the entire act of playing, singing and asking for food. Whenever they asked for food - mother cooked Suji or Pakoras which took a minimum of half an hour. Instant food after play were biscuits or morning’s parathas which they didn’t like at all.
Even though their place was deep inside himalayas, they had never tasted noodles. Inspired by commercials, kids demanded instant food in 2 minutes and they insisted on Maggi.
Father brought few packet of Maggi. Mother read and cooked it exactly as per instructions. All of them witnessed the cooking in the kitchen. Mother transferred it to 6 bowls, which she kept in the tray. She took the tray to the living room where Naani and father were talking. She was followed by Pappu, Sanju and Bholu who had water in their mouths. Kids were excited and their mother was beaming as they were about to eat their first foreign meal.
She being the guest, mother served Naani first and then distributed it to all of them.
Naani looked at small threads like noodles floating in the soup and said- “Chhee, yeh ke chhi kitad jas” meaning “Yak, what are these worms?”
She was so disgusted that she almost vomited. This had a ripple effect and every one had a very bad feeling of vomit.
All bowels were emptied in the dustbin. Kids developed such a distaste that they never asked for it again, it was never cooked at their home again.
Sanju was so averse that he didn’t eat it even outside.
After several years, his engineering friends persuaded him to try noodles once but he always refused. He had a great fear and aversion inside. Finally, one of his engineering friends succeeded as he ate his first noodles as chow mein in Aliganj Lucknow in a roadside eatery.
And, Maggi was brought back home by the next generation in 21st century.
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