At the dining table

"Mamon, have you become deaf?" My mom's voice jolted me up at my study table from whatever I was thinking that Sunday afternoon. "Why what happened, I am not deaf, even though I should have become one by this time" , I replied back." I have called you three times to come to the dining table for lunch, how many more times should I call you?". " I have a lot of work to do and what is that you are so engrossed in reading? I am sure it is not your school book, must be one of the Alistair McLean thrillers you always read."

" No Ma really I was studying for school, not a story book thats why I didnt hear you call me, anyways I am ready for lunch where is Tinku? Is he still in the shower? One day he will beat all the girls in taking a shower." I could hear my brother singing in the shower. God how could a boy take so much time in the shower. I sat down in my chair, Baba was already there waiting patiently for us to join him. It was a sunday afternoon the only day of the week we four had lunch as a family at the dining table :)

 Tinku came out of the shower rubbing himself vigorously with the towel and all the time checking himself out in the mirror. Baba looked at me and I looked at Baba and we both smiled. Maa was telling "Tinku is just like your grandfather, just as good looking like him, tall and dark"." Yes Maa,you are right I hope he has got some of dadu's brains also not only his looks, I am sure he will need the brains more."

 "First you worry about your own brains, if you have any" Tinku replied back to me obviously not being able to digest the insult I had just hurled at him. "Yes I will definitely but can you please quickly finish your grooming session and join us at the table? We are all feeling hungry". "What is there for lunch Maa ? I hope you have cooked my favorite chicken curry and not didibhai's favorite fish curry. " Tinku asked.

 "I have cooked both because I have no choice, the two of you never eat the same thing, have you ever thought how difficult it is for me?". "Dont tell anything to me Maa, I am a true bengali and I love my fish , it is more healthy and I cant do without it ". "Tell Tinku to change his tastes, he can only eat Chicken, Egg and Paneer ". "Tell him to cultivate some fine bengali taste otherwise later it will be difficult to get him married ". "Why dont you worry about your own marriage for a change?" Tinku replied back angrily, looking deeply hurt because questions had been raised about his Bengali tastes.

 "Enough of fighting you two, eat quietly whatever your mom has prepared ". Baba spoke for the first time. "Mamon, how is school going for you, did you get to know your score in any of the subjects for the exam ?" "Yes, I scored 97 out of 100 in Maths ". I happily replied to Baba very sure of the appreciation I would get from him and Maa. Just at that moment Tinku interfered "What 97 out of 100, how did you loose the 3 marks? See Maa she must have lost the 3 marks due to carelessness."

 I was shocked at his audacity, I almost choked at the piece of fish I was eating, I almost felt like thinking out aloud, how much did you score in Maths, did you even manage to score 40? But I just ignored his comments choosing not to pay any attention to what he had said. Well every dog has his day, the day my results will be declared, his results will also be declared,I will also see where he will hide himself that day.

 "Tinku just dont eat the chicken, eat the vegetables too ", Baba was telling Tinku. "And after lunch try to study something for school dont watch any television and dont go outside to play in this hot sun wait for it to become evening at least ".

And on and on our conversations went during lunch time on a Sunay afternoon. I never realized I would remember these simple conversations so vividly after so many years. Well looks like I certainly do :)  that picture is still alive at some corner or my mind and it is almost like I had hit the rewind button while writing up this piece.

How much I miss that lunch now, why because now I have my lunch in a different continent :) But, I am sure the next time we four sit down for lunch again history will repeat itself :) :) :)