The cutest SI Lalthanzautie Betlu my Mizo roommate (We shared the same room in PTC )and we refer her as Betlu, during our stay she introduced me to various Mizo cuisines, her typical chicken curry , I tried several times later but could not bring that taste and her white bottle of pork fats which she adds to every curry or salads, she often offers me some green leafy veggies stew without salt and if she offers me at night I refuse her each time saying this may upset my stomach leading to formation of gas and each time she laugh saying ours is Assamese stomach and hence forms gas after having veggies.
Whether its drill ground or the firing range every time Betlu will reach with a bottle of tamarind juice, the moment she takes out her bottle my cheek gets squeezed, the saliva finds its way and a big swallow but luckily she gives me a sip. SI Arpana Baruah next in the row for the tamarind juice. Many a time while cross country race I find Arpana picking tamarind under tamarind trees and later chased by the Guruji (drill instructor).
During my stay with Arpana at Kahilipara, Guwahati one day while crossing Ganesh guri market we bought a ball of tamarind, next day while lunch break we hurriedly headed to our room for lunch, usually we prepare lunch in the morning itself, me the designated cook. We had our share to be followed by the tamarind juice inspired by Betlu. Arpana was busy arguing with someone over phone, I took out more than half of the tamarind in a mug, added salt and sugar did all kind of mixing and tasted a spoon…..aaaahh! shared the drink into two glasses and offered one to Arpana, but this poor soul busy fighting over phone with a big bang on the table replied me she won’t drink any juice. I too straight way went to the kitchen and poured the entire juice into the sink, hurriedly she followed me and pleaded for the drink and I showed her the last trail of brown liquid slowly seeing off through the hole, apology in her eyes pleaded me to make again but this time I was the boss and refused to make any, this time she took out rest of the tamarind and followed the process and we both of us with great satisfaction had full glass concluding with a smile and left for office.
We both of us reached Reserve Office we exchanged few words with the officials, after half an hour I hold her wrist tight and she shook her hands and loosen mine, I told her that, “I have to say her something urgently!” and she replied, “I don’t have time to listen anything !”. I conveyed her my nature’s ringing of emergency bell and she said with her frowned eyebrows.. even mine! we rushed to the toilet in the backyard of our office, since we were new in that place, we had no much idea of the area, I got a gallon with it lid cut, took water from a water tank, relief, only after a minute or two I could realise the banging of the door shouting Ullah! Ullah! (come out). Arpana nearly pushed me out and got in for her session. After a mintute or two she came out and both of us promised not to drink the juice with lots of tamarind in it, however a lighter is okay.
Tripti Gogoi 