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Do you knock on many doors anymore?

When days got closer to vacation in India or a trip, Mumma Lin usually went into severe planning and strategising mode. The key takeaway from her economic major, "maximum utilisation of available resources", blared louder than on regular days. She ensured that she ran the show with everything available until the departure and avoided "procurement" in the last week. 

When the stock was minimal and other tasks were on priority, I always wanted to eat something that was not there at home. If I wanted a burji, there wouldn't be the egg. The potato wouldn't be there if I felt like having mumma's special potato korma. And if all the main ingredients were there - then onion wouldn't be there! After some discussions and convincing, I'd be on my way to my neighbour's home to pick up every missing part of my craving!

These trips were wholesome in every way I can remember. Sometimes, you'd have to go to a couple of doors to ensure you have everything you need. Each stop would easily take at least 10 minutes to cover the small talk with my friends and the big talk with the elders. There were good days when these conversations got longer, and the landline in our neighbour's home would ring with Mumma Lin's warning for me to get back home. 

Then there was getting back home feeling a sense of accomplishment and joy of going to get what I wanted. I usually sat on the slab and watched Mumma Lin bring my craving to life. It was wholesome!


Source: https://www.npr.org/2021/12/01/1060464791/how-to-be-a-good-neighbor

This entire episode returned to me the other day when I opened the door to a smiling face who handed me over a cloth bag. Off late, I've lost count of the number of such faces that have come to my door. In that particular moment, in between what is now the most familiar scenario in most households, it hit me - these faces were now what my wholesome experience was years ago. I gave him the widest grin - my "insta mart" delivery guy. At that moment, it just felt like I always had versions of "blink it", "insta-mart", and the like. 

I now live in a community with many more neighbours. But I don't have many doors to knock on for potatoes or eggs. 

Do you knock on many doors anymore?



 

 


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