Author’s note: IT’s been two whole months since a “The 7 to 9 Chef” post!!! I was going to do this in December but unfortunatley my semester got stretched by a whole month. I was free so I decided to make this post. I really apologise for the blurred pics. Plz dont mind. The pasta was super duper delicious so do try it.
Baked pasta and The Story Of Some Memories
It’s almost 2 in the morning and we haven’t really found anything important to support our case..God! If I hang around for a moment longer with my sis, I’ll become a lawyer too..Ewww!…I should probably get some sleep.
“Vicky I can’t stand this any longer also…I’m gonna go to bed, you better go too.”
“Yeah good idea!”
As we get up to leave, my eyes fall on a box which stands out from the rest. OMG!! That’s my…my purple box..
So many memories flash back and I just collapse. Vicky then comes over and starts rubbing my shoulder telling me it’s alright. I stretch my hand and pull the box towards me.
“Come Cass…let’s go sleep..It’s already late..”
I pay no heed to her and start ripping of the brown tape that was sealing away my memories. Memories that gave me nightmares but yet they were so sweet. I remember dumping everything that reminded me about my four years at under grad into this box one morning. I had wanted to burn it but never really got the guts to do it.
“You don’t have to do this, Cass…”
“It’s time I either discard it or open it..” It’s easy to make a brave picture of yourself but really hard to put up with the same. My hands start shaking a bit. But it’s fine, I’ll pass…
Well it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It was nice to see my old stuff…Well until now, till my eyes fell on that one frame, I had loved once…I don’t know why I’ve this urge to pick it up…..I pick it up and brush my fingers across the half cracked glass..
Haha..Lenny had taken that pic when…when..when …Avv…even the thought of his name makes me feel so weak..Probably Vicky was right, I better get some sleep.
“Cass , let’s go. Come on..” Probably she heard me.
I thought sleep would give me relief but I was so wrong.
“Ruth, I’ll be waiting for you..You better be there..” His words keep ringing in my head making me want to scream. I sit up straight and turn on the light. It’s 3 in the morning. I walk back to the storeroom.
I pick up the frame once again from the box. How annoyed I had been that day!!! I was sitting on one my college benches and reading a book. All of a sudden this guy comes over and pours a cup of ice tea over my head. A few of his friends were laughing and clicking pictures.
“Sorry..really sorry..It was just a dare.” He had said before I could punch him.
“So? It doesn’t mean you can just do stuff like this. I had just streaked my hair yesterday. Do you even have a clue how much it had cost? I didn’t even click proper pictures with those curls the stylist had done.” I had cried like a baby that day. Those dark blue streaks at the tips of my hair are visible in the pic.
“Really sorry miss. I’ll pay that money. Please don’t cry…”
“No it’s alright.”
“I should be able to do something that can make you feel better.”
“Just get her that butterscotch pastry from the canteen…She’ll be fine,” said my friend, Vinny.
“Just a sec.” He says this and vanishes. A few minutes later he returns with the pastry and hands it over to me. I take it my hand, pick it up and take it close to my mouth. But I didn’t take a bite, I rather tossed it at his face. He was shocked.
“We are even now,” I had said. His friends and mine start laughing.
“By the way I am Avi..and you?” Cream was dripping down his face and my hair was drenched with tea. We had laughed so much that day.
Avi was my senior by a year. I was in my 1st and he in his second year of engineering when we became friends. Over the years we were in college we had become great friends…
“Cass you didn’t sleep yet?”
Vicky’s voice brings me back to my senses. It felt like someone just woke me up from a beautiful dream.
“I couldn’t.”
“Cass!” For once Vicky seemed to be speechless as she kept gripping the water bottle harder and harder.
After a minute’s thought she says,” hey, why don’t you teach me something to cook.”
I was wrong Vivky always finds a way to brighten my mood..
After making the kitchen look like it was just hit by a hurricane, my sis and I were finally done with our baked pasta. I took some pics and I think by now everyone would have figured out what I would have done. Stupid guy, pays no heed these past few days..but once he sees me today with this haircut and my new ‘old’ self, he is gonna love me.
I mean, I didn’t even tell him anything directly the other day. HOW CAN HE JUST ASSUME STUFF AND WALK AWAY like that???? Rightfully I should be the one angry if you ask me…He had to understand I was just scared about the promotion…But somehow I liked this fight..It is weirdly nice..All relatioships can’t be perfect all the time.
“Cass, I seriously don’t get you at times. You are sad for a minute, then you get hyper and now you are blushing..??”
“Then don’t try so hard. Just go with the flow.” Both of us start laughing.
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced onions
- 1 cup ground tomatoes
- 1 tbsp+1 tsp oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup pasta
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup of red, green and yellow bell peppers diced
- 6 babycorns- cut in cubes
- 1/2 cup boiled sweetcorn
- 1/2 cup zucchini, thinly cut
- Kashmiri paprika powder
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1tbsp butter+ few tsps
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated cheese
Method:
- Boil the pasta in 2 cups of water with the bay leaf and necessary amount of salt. Strain and keep aside.
- In a pan, add 3 tsps of butter and roast the baby corn unitl cooked. Add salt and some chilli powder. keep aside.
- In the same pan add a tsp of oil and a pinch of sugar. Add the bell peppers. Roast on high for a minute to avoid color change. add salt and keep aside.
- In the same pan roast the zucchini and keep aside.
- Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan. Roast the onions until golden brown. Add 1 tbsp oregano. Stir well and add the tomato paste along with 3 tsp of kashmiri paprika powder and 1/4 cup water. It gives a great colour and also a good flavour. Add a chopped garlic clove too. Stir until tomato smell completely vanishes.
- Add the zucchini, sweet corn, baby corn, and capsicum. Adjust salt and pepper. turn off the stove.
- In a sauce pan, melt one tsp of butter. Add the flour. Stir until it attains a paste form. Add the milk and mix until it thickens. Add th cheese. Loosen the lumps formed with the end of our spatula. Turn off. Add salt and a tsp of parsley. Add the boiled Pasta and mix evenly.
- In a greased tray layer the pasta over the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle some cheese and oregano and bake for 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degree celsius.
Having pasta at four in the morning with your bestie is the best thing ever!!!!!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
People at work seemed like they were just struck by a thunder as I wished them a good morning. I giggled to myself. It felt nice to be noticed again.
“Cassie! Cassie! My dear Cassie..In all these two years you have been here, I think this is the only day you look alive.”
“Well Ananya, as they say you can’t be dead for a long time..”
“Haha.!!”
“If that puny brat thinks she can steal Ray from me with her sweet talks and hyena like laughter, I think she first needs to get herself a life!”
“Woah! Stud!!”
“You have seen the dull, boring, lazy Cass..but I guess it’s time to see the real Cass..” The ‘real’ Cass meant a lot more to me than it could mean to anyone else.
“Hmm…I just hope you have saved some of this energy to go meet Hemanth? He told me to tell you to come over to his cabin..” She laughs.
I could sense the energy aleeady draining out, but..but..but..I will N-O-T let it happen. After all it can’t vanish so fast..it just came..
“Yes I do! But before that I have to make a call.”
It’s been a while since I spoke to Mama. I am sure she will be worried dead.
“Hello baby doll! How come YOU have called ME??” She seemed surprised.
“Nothing I just felt like talking to you. I got a haicut finally and bought myself a few colourful clothes….”
“Wow sweety..That’s..that’s great..You sound so different honey..More like..like.” I could sense some wet eyes on the other end.
“I know what you mean Mama..More like my old self. I am so sorry for being so awful these four years. Mama I’ve to go..Talk to you later..Love you bye..ummmahh!”
“Wait..wait..”
I decline the call…That horrible brat of a Mia is again with Ray. What does she think of herself? Suddenly I make eye contact with Ray. He seems shocked. Probably seeing my new avatar. Really he has to know that I won’t be sitting around and crying at home just cause he broke up with me…like..I have been doing for the past few days.
WAIT…WAIT…WAIT…Did he just smile at me..OMG!! YES he did!!!! I smile back. But he avoids me and starts talking to the brat again.
I fill myself some coffee from the expresso machine and start walking towards my cabinet. As I get close to Mia, I pretend to trip over and spill the coffee on her. Ray eyes me with shock. I glare back at him. Mia gives a shriek.
“Oh shit..I am so so so sorry.. You see I am more of a wedges person, so these stilletos are making me do horrible stuff today..” Mia looks perplexed.
“It’s…It’s…fine.” She looks like she’ll cry any minute…WOW! The pleasure I am experiencing right now is just toooo awesome!!!!
“Wait..let me help you out..” I put my hands into my purse to get her some tissues and pour the remaining coffee on her too. She gives a shriek again. Looks like she is going to blow up any second. Poor baby. I can’t control my laughter.
“Sheesh!!..I think I better leave..” Ray looks at me and gives me this funny smile. I knew he would remember it! I had done this same thing before to the girl my crush had liked back in 12th grade and Ray was my partner in crime. I run back before Mia could even get time to get angry…..
Well you see, some scores have to be settled by hook or by crook…
…………………….to be continued
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