Book published in 2022 | Fiction

Out of the Woods is a book that delves into the mind of a boy caught between the real and an ‘alternate reality,’ while examining the toll that mental health illness takes on an individual and those in his orbit.

During a recent trip to Nagaland, I decided to pick up a book or two written by local authors, and ‘Out of the Woods’ by Neikehienuo Mepfhu-o was one among them. One of the key reasons to pick up the book was the book blurb – there was no tiptoeing around the subject of the book, no promises of happy endings and salvations, no hiding the fact that this could be (and is) a painful read.

Out of the Woods is a book that may act as a trigger for individuals who have dealt with mental health issues themselves or as support for families. Because Mepfhu-o captures the emotional turmoil not only of the afflicted but the immediate family too. It took me a good while to read through the book as it brought back memories from the days when I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, the battle that ensued and the struggles that my immediate family, especially my parents, faced in the interim.

The Crux

Mepfhu-o’s ‘Out of the Woods’ is the story of a family struggling to cope with the trials and tribulations that village life brings with it, while also grappling with the trauma of caring for a growing teen who is struggling to find his place in the real world that collides with the alternate world he lives in. The book traverses the life of this family that is caught in an endless, harsh loop of loss, pain, trauma, the struggle to find the cause of the boy’s behaviour, and the penultimate discovery of the road to healing.

The Highs & Lows

One of the highlights of the books is the strong hold the writer has on the language (which could be attributed to the fact that she is an educator based in Kohima and has won an award for a previous book). The author uses simple language as effectively as a painter uses a paintbrush – her words transport you from the eerily peaceful and happy alternate world the boy lives in, while effectively drawing a picture of the home and world the boy inhabits with his family. She uses words to explain to readers the thoughts and emotions that rush through the boy’s mind, in vivid contrast to the family’s helpless anguish and frustration, tied together by their love for him. What is disturbing – and true – is that it is this very love and resultant uncertainty that govern their lives and threaten to break them apart. The book is a deep dive into the mind of a young boy dealing with an undiagnosed mental health disorder.

I keep writing ‘the boy’ because that is what he is through the book – ‘the boy’ – and that, in my opinion, works to create an awareness that the teenager and the family could be anyone, in any part of the world.

The relatives, the villagers, the pastor and other sources that claim they can help the child act as a commentary on the society’s struggles to accept the reality of mental health issues. This would, perhaps, be more pronounced in pockets that continue to remain relatively disconnected from the rest of the woke and allegedly more aware world.

So, does this mean Out of the Woods is without its follies? The very strength of the author works against the book – the words. By the time you reach the halfway mark, you may be hit by the ‘this is repetitive’ thought because it is for several pages. Thankfully, there is a shift from the normal to the parallel reality which shocks the reader out of the lull.

Another aspect that did not work for me is the end – the journey from the intervention, to seeking medical help and the manner in which the doctor explains the situation, as also the boy’s return to ‘normalcy’ is not fulfilling from the reader’s point of view. Personally, tighter editing could definitely have helped this book.

However, for the sheer gumption required to write an entire novel that depicts the emotional trauma and exhaustion of mental health, Mepfhu-o’s Out of the Woods is definitely a book I’d suggest you pick up.

Asian-style stir-fried lettuce with any and all greens in your refrigerator makes for a quick side dish or main with steaming hot rice.

Rounding up the Lettuce Series (I should have dubbed it ‘trilogy’) with the easiest recipe ever – a stir fry! Wash, tear, dump, toss and tadaaaaaa…

And did it go down well with the parents? Oh hell yeah! So much so we’ve had repeat requests and it’s been paired with steamed rice, dumped on toast, stirred into noodles and eaten as is.

I added a variety of lettuce and some spring onion greens (just because!); feel free to throw in a handful of the greens you need to finish up. There’s only one recommendation for this particular recipe – line up your ingredients coz you got to be quick!

If easy recipes are what you want to bookmark for those hectic weekdays, then you can check out the Chicken Lettuce Soup, Pumpkin & Potato in Mustard Oil and Rosha among others.

A one-pot soup meal made with leftovers and greens, this is great for a working day dinner or when you’ve got surprise guests

Part two of the Lettuce Series as I’ve dubbed it was about throwing things into a large pot to put together a soup – the kind that makes life a whole lot better (read: bearable) when your home has been invaded by painters and you are sneezing your head off courtesy allergies. The Chicken Lettuce Soup isn’t a planned recipe but it’s the kind that, after you’ve sampled, you realise needs to be shared with the world. Or the little pockets of the world this blog reaches.

The best thing about this soup is that the mothership liked it and trust me when I say, her liking food that has chicken (she’s developing a dislike for chicken and meat) and lettuce (read part one of the Lettuce Series) made me feel like a parent whose child has accomplished something major in life!

For those of you who’re coming into this rodeo late, check out the Lettuce Sourdough-wich recipe to know all about reverse parenting. And for those of you like all things soup, check out the recipes for Masala Chicken Soup and Pumpkin Carrot & Spring Onion Soup for some inspiration.

A lettuce and cheese-loaded sourdough sandwich that’s a tasty, filling way to start the day

Remember those childhood days when the parents used to come up with innovative ways to make you eat those dreaded greens? There’s a role reversal situation on that front at home here, where I have to find ways to make the parents eat ‘foreign’ vegetables, namely non-Indian veggies or those they haven’t grown up with aka lettuce, broccoli, zucchini, etc. I get the reluctance, I do. But as I tell them, “You got to eat your greens.” #payback

With lettuce, I started with the tried and tested salad route which worked well for my father – he loves salad. But my mother? Nope. She was and continues to be reluctant. And because I was determined to get her to eat them, I tweaked a few recipes, and voila! She ate the lettuce-loaded food and I got what I’m dubbing the ‘Lettuce Series’, starting with the Lettuce Sourdough-wich.

The parents have developed a taste for sourdoughs and since all three of us love pan-grilled sandwiches, I snuck in a few leaves in our breakfast sandwich one day and delight oh delight! It’s hearty, tasty, and has that golden crunch when you bite in… mmmmm.

You can use vegetables other than tomato here but there’s something pure and nostalgic about the combination of bread+cheese+tomato that I adore. Just one thing to remember, these sourdough-wiches (sandwich – sourdough-wich… get the drift?) are pretty heavy on the stomach so ended up skipping lunch and had supper and a late-night snack.

Things to remember

• You can use vegetables of choice but as I’ve mentioned, tomato and cheese is pure nostalgia and classic.  
• If the idea of pan grilling terrifies you, pop the sourdough-wich into a sandwich maker – whatever makes life easier!

Published 2017 | Self help

Dostadning: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson, elaborates on the Swedish concept of ‘death cleaning’, offering practical tips as useful for everyday decluttering as they are for life’s larger reckonings

‘A fond and wise little book’ is what the New York Times called it, and I would agree. I stumbled on this book at a time when I had desperately turned to the Internet for ways to convince my mother to declutter. She is a habitual hoarder who has preserved everything — from gift boxes that came our way over 15 years ago to frying pan sets and, of course, the usual photographs, baby clothes, etc. And considering the fact that I hoard books because “what if there’s an apocalypse and I have all the time in the world”, it’s best I put a pause on the commentary.

The Internet listed this book in its set of suggestions, and I was caught by the musically assertive-sounding word – “Dostadning”. As I read the blurb, I was intrigued.

The Crux

Margareta Magnussion’s book isn’t a preachy, morbid book that laments death. Instead, it treats death as a fact of life, which, despite its heartbreaking nature, it is. The author, a professional ‘death cleaner’ advocates the idea of taking care of your possessions, to, among other things, ensure what you value goes to an individual or place that appreciates it and your immediate family or loved ones do not have to bear the burden of sorting through your things after you’ve moved on.

Following the introductory chapters, the author has divided the chapters according to the things or concepts that are integral to life and must be dealt with later — artefacts and articles, knick-knacks and photographs, pets, clothing and more. The author downplays the gravity by interspersing her suggestions with instances from her life, with memories attached to her own death cleaning, personal and professional.

To Read or Not to Read

What stands out to me in this particular read is that the tips Magnusson has given are practical enough that they need not be limited to the concept of death cleaning. These tips are helpful when you are changing homes, moving to another city/country or downsizing/decluttering! I recommend this book for those looking for such practical tips, and have added it to my mother’s bedside pile of books she should read.

I would, however, also add a ‘trigger’ label to this particular book for those who’ve seen death at close quarters – it may bring back memories that aren’t necessarily good, it may remind you of moments of grief that may throw you into despair. That is not the intention of this book in any way, but there is no discounting the unpredictability of the human mind and emotions, so I’d recommend that for those who continue to struggle with the concept of death, take your time with this book, if at all.

P.S. Available to be borrowed by fellow bibliophiles in Ahmedabad.

A spicy, robust pickle made with garlic and potent red chilli from Nagaland, this pickle will add the good kind of heat to your palate

As an introvert, I tend to avoid stepping into spaces that are traditionally marked as belonging to the ‘family’ – for example the kitchen, the dining area, the family room, etc. But all of that respect for space went flying out of the window in the face of the Khonoma’s bone-numbing cold that had my teeth clattering out unheard of tunes. A and I shuffled into the kitchen looking for something warm to ensure we stayed alive until dinner… and the taste of this garlic chilli pickle made me sit up, quite literally!

Offered rather tentatively by the homestay owner – she was probably afraid to let us face the wrath of the local red chilli that Nagaland is famous for – the sharp, spicy and robust taste opened up the sinuses and had my blood rushing to all those cold-number places.

I am a garlic girl through and through so of course I loved it a lot but oh my my…

Understanding the recipe was a bit of a struggle as the homestay owner grappled with words and terms to explain the process, until we resorted to hand actions. Made with pantry essentials and ingredients that are available in most Indian (and non-Indian) kitchens, the Garlic & Naga Red Chilli Pickle makes for a deliciously fiery achaar to your dal chawal, the drizzle to your sad sabji, the exquisite touch to your sourdough cheese grilled sandwich and more.

I’ve used the local garlic I bought in Khonoma village along with the red chilli powder I picked up from a farmers’ market outside Kigwema village. The mustard seeds, mustard oil and tomato are from the provision store and vegetable vendor a few steps from my home.

And obviously, you won’t have the Naga garlic and chilli so feel free to use whatever you have… I’m sure it’ll taste brilliant!

Things to remember

• Roughly chop the garlic cloves but don’t mince; we want the garlic pieces to roll on your tongue when you eat the pickle
• Be patient with the ‘let it sit’ portion of the recipe; the more you let the pickle sit, the more it’ll develop flavours and potency
• Be sure to store in a clean, dry glass jar.

If you like to keep your refrigerator stocked with condiments that uplift the mundane, check out the recipes for the Apple Chutney, the Mixed Fruit Chaatni as also the Tomato & Dates Chutney.

This apple chutney flavoured with butter and star anise is perfect as a dip, a spread and an ideal addition to your grazing plate for parties

Not every kitchen experiment is a success. But it isn’t necessary that the ‘not success’ dish is unpalatable. In fact, some of these end up being delightful, tasty surprises, like this apple chutney.

Inspired by a friend’s superwoman-like ability to make relishes, I’d set out to make an apple relish but with the wrong core ingredient – the apples I’d picked (or rather, found piled on the fruit tray) had a strange texture. Rather than being crisp and crunchy, they were of a soft, brittle variety that started to crumble when peeled. But hey, no one called me a quitter! I forged ahead, determined to make something out of the apples I’d peeled to the tune of Kishore Kumar’s ‘Mere saamne wali khidki mein’ – please note, tunes are important during the act of peeling because ‘good mood is important to make ‘good food’!

The mini mound of roughly chopped apples ready to be dealt with, I reached for butter, because darlings, irrespective of what it does to your arteries and your hips, it makes the world right. In went all the goodies into the pan and with a little bit of this and that thrown in, I had this apple chutney which eventually got a huge thumbs up from the parents. It has now been made twice, is being used to slather on butter-toasted sourdoughs sprinkled with sumac powder or smoked cheese shavings. It is also being used generously on rotis and parathas to make rolls for the instant hunger moments.

NOTE: If you aren’t in a rush, then let the apple chutney rest for a day. It tastes so much more deliciouser the next day.

Give it a shot and stick around for when I get the apple relish right! Until then, happy cooking.

Golden, sweet yellow moong dal is roasted, tempered in whole spices and cooked with a handful of vegetables for a dish that soothes and satiates.

There is a joy in simplicity, after all, it is the simple things that make your heart sing in delight. And that, my dear friends, is an attempt to express the depth of emotion and devotion I feel towards the Yellow Moong Dal with Vegetables.

The Yellow Moong Dal with Vegetables is one of those Bengali dishes that uses minimal spices and aromatics, thus allowing the hero – the roasted yellow moong dal – to shine. The addition of fresh vegetables bumps up the nutrition value and lets you serve the dal as a main course with steaming hot rice and a bhaja (fried vegetables or fish) on the side.

Another USP of this particular dish is that it comes together in a relatively short time, especially if you put it together in a pressure cooker, which is what we prefer to do.

2019 | Korean | Romance

Set in the cosy yet competitive world of publishing, Romance Is a Bonus Book is a slow-burn Korean romance that explores ageism, career breaks, friendship and love. The story unfolds through the lens of a woman rebuilding her life — quietly and without spectacle. Gentle and meandering, the series is rooted in emotional realism rather than dramatic twists.

I believe there’s a right time to read a book — and the same holds true for watching a series. Romance Is a Bonus Book proved this to me. There have been times I’ve started a series and stopped it after an episode or two because it didn’t appeal to me. Romance is a Bonus Book is one such drama. RIABB was recommended by the friend who introduced me to Korean dramas in 2019. Back then, I’d given up on the series after episode 4 or 5, for reasons I don’t really remember. But my 2022 viewing of RIABB has been smooth sailing. Here’s the good and the bad of this series…

The plot of Romance is a Bonus Book

Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young), a 37-year-old, is scrambling to upgrade her life. The former advertising copywriter has separated from her husband, who cheated on her, and is now an unemployed single mother. Adding to the struggle of finding suitable employment after the long career gap is the fact that her house is being razed. So, to make ends meet, she is working as a housekeeper… at her best friend Cha Eun-ho’s (Lee Jong-suk) home, and he doesn’t know it!

Eun-ho, 32, is a successful author, chief editor and one of the founding members of Gyeoroo Publishing. He has been in love with Dan-i since he was a teenager but obviously, the latter is clueless. In the present (of the show) Eun-ho is unaware about Dan-i’s struggles. Eventually, Dan-i finds a job at Eun-ho’s publishing house, and the latter finds out about her state of affairs and drags her to live with him until she finds her footing.

The story progresses in tandem with Dan-i’s professional and personal growth. She impresses her colleagues with her hard work and creative flair, makes new chingus and love comes knocking. Of course, the journey isn’t smooth as the duo navigate through personal and professional highs and lows but then, what’s a series without some drama, right? 

The Good…

A very generic and mundane description of this series would be that it is a mature friends-to-lovers romance, the story of a divorced woman fighting against the odds and winning. But just as life isn’t as simple, the series isn’t as generic.

Although branded a romantic comedy, Romance is a Bonus Book may not be a series that viewers in their 20s may relate with because honestly, most of the issues that the protagonist faces are the 30s problem – especially the ‘age discrimination’ and the various societal pressures that ‘aging’ women have to face. And when I say ‘age’ here, I mean women in their late 30s and 40s. It’s subtle but evident in the way Dan-i has to fudge her resume to land a menial job, the way she is berated for trying to take a job that ‘belongs’ to someone younger and her thoughts about exploring a romantic relationship with someone younger.

The highlight of this series is Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk’s acting. The former slays as Dan-i, effortlessly showing the character’s inner struggles, determination to survive, presence of mind, and self-belief. She adds to the existing layers of the character, and in doing so, she becomes a heroine viewers will relate to and empathise with – because, trust me, we’ve all been there at least once in life.

And please, I simply can not mention Lee Jong-suk. The man with the cute face can make your heart flutter and how! Jong-suk’s broad shoulders carry the role of Eun-ho with as much ease as they carry off those amazing long coats and sweaters (a little swoon here please). His admiration, love, and support for his noona are evident in every single frame, like that warm comforter you want to snuggle into after a hard day. There are several emotional moments, and the duo does a brilliant job with these without going overboard.

A key point of attraction here is the setting – Gyeoroo Publishing. It makes me want to apply for a job there right away because that’s what a dream job would be, right? Your work is an extension of a genuine love; you get to live in the world of books day in and day out, your bestie works at the office, and your love interest does too! And not to forget the colleagues that range from scary and tyrannical to weird and adorable. All the supporting characters – including the potential love interests Ji Seo-joon (Wi Ha-joon) and Song Hae-rin (Jung Yoo-jin) – are well etched, each with backstories that justify their behaviour and add to the storyline.

One of the best moments of the series is in the last episode, when a letter drawing a comparison between life, relationships, and books is read out. It’s poignant and heartwarming, and the reason the title of the series makes absolute sense.

… and The Bad

If you are the kind that needs drama and speed and a cliffhanging end to every episode, then Romance Is A Bonus Book isn’t something you want to want. The series, albeit interesting, is a bit scattered, and for non-Koreans, the references to books and authors can be a little confusing since we aren’t familiar with them.

There is no shock value in the series, not even the unravelling of the mystery creates conflict. Moreover, with much of the information dropped in the first half of the series, the remaining episodes are more about tying up the knots and feel dragged out. I’d say chop off an episode and a half!

It’s soothing, but sometimes, soothing can put you to sleep too.

Pumpkin & potato are tempered with nigella seeds and slow-cooked in mustard oil for a dish that heroes the pumpkin’s sweetness. 

Calling all home cooks looking for quick and healthy weekday/weeknight meal ideas – add this pumpkin & potato in mustard oil dish to your repertoire! It’s the kind that comes together in a jiffy, requires just one spice (coz salt and turmeric powder are MUSTS and don’t count) and pairs well with rice or Indian bread of choice. 

The Pumpkin & Potato in Mustard Oil is a version of the Kumdo’r Chechki, a traditional Bengali side dish wherein the pumpkin is grated or (extremely) thinly sliced and slowly cooked in its own juices. It’s the kind of dish that celebrates the natural flavours of the vegetable. If you’d like to try a traditional chechki, head over to the recipe for Mulo Chechki (provided radishes are in season). 

Tips to remember for the Pumpkin & Potato in Mustard Oil 

• Julienne the vegetables and try to maintain consistency in size; this helps all the food cook evenly. 
• Remember to add the pumpkin later, as it cooks faster than potatoes. 
• You can make this without the potato; just increase the amount of pumpkin.
• Always use double the amount of pumpkin as it reduces when cooked.