POTLUCK PLEASURES

The world of shared meals and shared memories of community and connection at a potluck.

- Dr Ritu Kamra Kumar

It is a quiet evening. With our son and daughter-in-law settled in a different city, our evenings are mostly disciplined with walking, watching a movie or web series, and a simple supper. Occasionally, we have outings with family friends. On one such weekend evening, as we sat, we received a call from one of our family friends who said, "Long time no see." Due to the pandemic when everything became standstill, our lives too got confined within the four walls of the house, and now when all's well, our friend invited us to bond at a potluck.

My husband promptly agreed. When he put the phone down, I exasperatedly told him that we have humble yellow moong dal and rice for dinner. He casually said, "Get ready to binge on delicious dishes. Others are also bringing food. Moreover, it is potluck, less pot more luck." But I was so apprehensive that I suggested we must get some Paneer Butter Masala to add some glamour to our simple meal.