While the lentils cooked, I started chopping the red Amaranth on my cutting board watching the two tiny squirrels play catch-me-if-you-can on the mango tree outside.

As I stood there silent, my mind began to wander and I started reminiscing about my childhood days...yet again.

When in school, I and my brother disliked leafy foods in any form. So much so that our school lunchboxes never saw any vegetables other than potatoes and Okra for as long as I remember.

“Who on Earth loves eating this laal chawli bhaji (red Amaranth) mom. It looks so yuck?” I would make faces in vain after seeing the slimy mass on my plate, hoping that she would stop making the same...someday.

A long angry look from mom and we would continue to shovel that slimy Chawli bhaji without uttering another word.