"Where else could we be born, where else could we belong, if not of memories?"
Mamang Dai

Amongst various aspects, the ability to perceive the present and past is what makes us sentient. And, our ability to recollect and cherish our past in the form of memories is what makes us humans. It is difficult to imagine a life without memories. They teach us a lot, whether they are sweet or bitter. I recently read River Poems, by Mamang Dai, that mentioned this beautiful phrase and I immediately felt connected with the thoughts of the author.

Today, while preparing Sheer Khurma; my brain was fiddling with some cherished old memories of mine, that involved my dear friend Fatima. I went back in time to relive the past, when we enjoyed our college days, free from worries, when wasn’t as demanding as it is now. Fatima and I shared common aspirations and similar views about the society; which is why perhaps we bonded better.

Fatima belonged to a renowned Pathan family, where education held significant importance; which was unconventional at that time. I used to call her mom Khala (meaning mother’s sister), who was an amazing cook. I often enjoyed sweets and savories made by her but one dish of hers that mesmerized me always was this Sheer Khurma, which I first tasted on the occasion of Eid. Roasted vermicelli diligently cooked in reduced milk, flavored with sugar and dates along with a generous helping of nuts. When all this combined with the aroma of green cardamom and rose essence, the result is very hard to ignore.