Lau(Lauki/Green gourd) got his life back

Happy Birthday, bro….Bro? B

Bro where are you?

I know you are hiding somewhere in this room, I will catch you.

But I didn’t get any trace of my bro anywhere in the house. It was like a terrible dream for me. My mother just can’t live without him. So then immediately I called one of my best friends named Chingri(Prawn) to help me out. Once upon a time, we used to be close buddies. I will let you know about the strength of our friendship some other time. But now I want to get my brother back. When Chingri came I broke down crying in front of him. He and I then searched the whole room thoroughly in the hope of getting some kind of trace which might help us to get my brother back. Then I got a letter from my bro and handed it to Chingri for reading. He started reading full of hesitation in his voice.

                         Bye bro… It's high time now. I don't want to live with you anymore because unless and until you are there I can never prove myself. As my name Begun(Brinjal) suggests, I am good for nothing, I even cause allergy symptoms like coughing, stomach pain or cramping, hives, itchy or tingly lips, tongue, or throat, vomiting, and diarrhea for those who already have an allergic tendency or for excessive consumption. I even do not look good and cause acidity. Pregnant women are told to avoid me in pregnancy. In most of the cases, I am cooked alone as I do not taste well mixing with others. Even all my crushes like egg, bari have always been your great fan, not mine. You are multitalented as you can be served as a sweet dish also like lauki kheer of lauki halwa, so your mother loves you the most. So Where am I?

After hearing all these Lauki was fully surprised and heartbroken but Chingri made him strong and told him "let's not waste time, we should try to find him." Then suddenly Dahi(Yogurt), one of Brinjal's best friends called Lauki to inform him about Brinjal. Then both Lauki and Chingri went to Dahi's house and after seeing Brinjal over there, Lauki hugged Brinjal tightly after a tight slap on his face telling "Why the hell you took the step without asking me." He then told him the actual story:-

     

                                

                           You are not my own brother but much more than that. I took you on the lap from childhood so I can't live without my bro. Yes, bro, you have many misconceptions in your mind. You told me about your defects but you do not have any idea of your benefits. You are a high fiber, low calorie, rich nutrient food who controls sugar, helps in losing weight as you are low on carbohydrates. The healthy enzymes in your juice help to maintain the natural shine and luster of hair. Not only that, better brain function, decreased anemia, and prevention of cancer is possible because of you. Other than Karela(Bitter Gourd), you are also a blessing for diabetic patients. You are famous not only in India but also in the USA as Eggplant. Doctors refer you to patients when they suffer from vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin B6, thiamine, niacin, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, fiber, folic acid, potassium, and many more. 

Then suddenly Brinjal told that their uncle Green Chilly told him that he is considered as a poison in human life. Then Chingri laughed and told that this is a half-truth, the full truth is you are harmful if 36 raw eggplants are consumed by humans otherwise people are benefitted and mad for your tasty dishes such as Brinjal curry, Begun bahar, Baingan bharta, Brinjal fry, Roasted Brinjal. Then surprised lauki uttered few words Green Chilly like uncles are good unless and until they are within limits, but when they cross their limit they are hell to someone’s life and do not allow the flavor of others to come out. This gradually started melting Brinjal’s heart for lauki but still, something was resisting him to go back with them. Then Chingri started telling him some unknown facts such as Lauki has exposed your profile to many Indian and foreign countries only for your betterment where they have already started experimenting with you and invented really some exotic Eggplant and Brinjal dishes. When your two round pieces are properly fried and your ½ inch diced pieces are fried and mixed with finely minced garlic, cloves, 2 tbsp tomato paste, dried oregano, salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice at the end and this mixture is then placed in between your fried two round pieces, one at the top and other at the bottom and fully covered with parmesan cheese and baked in the oven for just melting the cheese at about 180-degree Celsius it is named as Shrestha’s fusion baked eggplant. This is not the end because you are gradually recognized in Kerala as Kerala Brinjal curry, in South India as Chettinad Brinjal curry. You have already made Shrestha, a great food lover, as one of your great fans because she has experimented with you in a numerous way such as when she mixes your pasted form with a fine paste of fried onion, crushed coconut, mint leaves, oil, green chilies, fennel seeds, jeera(cumin), ajwain(bishop weeds), tamarind or lemon juice and place the whole mixture first beside a bowl full of burning charcoal covered with a lid and then placed in bowl-shaped green capsicum, she name it as” Roasted Brinjal Stuffed Capsicum. In absence of your knowledge veg, king potato has already taken his initiative to do a great deal with you as Aloo Baingan Masala when he roasts himself with salt, pepper, oregano, lemon juice and mixes with you in the cubed form with chaat masala, fried pudina leaves and garam masala on the top. This has all become possible for your lovable big bro. So don’t let this exceptional friendship break down like anything else because you both have made lau Begun Neem bhaji possible for all where grated Lau mixes with small cubed begun in salt, turmeric, and crispy fried neem leaves which is not only good for health but also tasty as a starter with rice. Brinjal’s eyes were yet to open when he cried and asked what about the sweet dishes of Lauki? Chingri asked who told you that you are not famous among sweet dishes? You can be sweet and sour at the same time named as a sweet and sour Brinjal recipe

“Never get jealous of anyone, always try to improve and update yourself

God has gifted each of us with some special talents but we may not be aware”

This has ultimately bound Brinjal to leave his hard feelings for lauki and in this way, lauki finally got his old brother back. They then celebrated Brinjal’s birthday with a special performance of lauki and Chingri as lau Chingri’r ghonto.