How Bright Is Your Silver Lining?

Say What Now?! — Edition 5

I love current affairs, but not more than being a gossipmonger (because no one can be immune to the heady combination of vicarious voyeurism and virtual dissection). I love alliterations too, as you may have already gathered from the strings of words in the previous sentence that scream — Sashi Tharoor.

It’s not all bad though, I can get by smoothly in a discussion about Machiavellian concepts and the Utilitarian way of life. I am also adept at throwing big words at you, to make you feel like taking place of my Beauty Parlour Aunty on eyebrow day.

While I can confidently say that I am quite proficient at those activities. but in case of this one, I’d rather run for the hills. More than two decades on this blue blob and I still haven’t figured how to peel hard-boiled eggs with finesse. Did you know, I used to actually watch a lot of YouTube videos to just get the trick?

Trust me, you would be surprised as to how many videos are uploaded on the topic — peeling eggs, on that media platform.

For those who’ve been aware of my Sunday breakfast routine, know that it holds a special place in my heart by being the weekend reward of an egg sandwich or two.

The basic ingredients here are hard-boiled eggs, brown bread, a hand toaster — the one you hold on an open flame, and try your best to not burn your pinky finger? That’s the one.

We, my brother and I, usually divide the duties of slathering Schezuan Sauce on the bread and peeling off the eggshells; between ourselves.

Every Sunday, without fail, I try and come up with an excuse to not do the peeling. Mainly, because I always end up leaving bits and pieces of the hard shell lodged in the egg.

This always gets me stares from my brother, in addition to the well-intended, slightly angry, umbilical whiplash, courtesy mother dearest.

Today’s morning was not unlike any of the other Sundays. I woke up with my dog’s drool on my face (not gross! it’s his secret signal of asking me take him down for walk). Although, who he wants to keep it a secret from has always puzzled me.

Getting back to the story, dark clouds started to form all around my head, as I made my way to the living room. I was determined to ensure that today is different. No particular reason, except for the irritation about getting the egg peeling right.

Raising my voice a pitch over the sound of yesteryear’s songs on the radio (a staple in my household), I announced that I will be making breakfast for everyone. Frown lines formed on my mother’s face and my brother’s face broke into a sly smile — both for the same reason.

Ignoring those two, I placed all the ingredients on to the kitchen top, put the eggs to boil, started with the slathering process, the works. About 45mins later, I had seven misshapen sandwiches, which you just couldn't tear into equal parts.

Needless to say, the dark clouds were about to envelop my head from all sides.

My dad walked into the kitchen, took one look at the sandwiches, and said — Haay Kay Aani Naay Kay! It’s Marathi for it doesn't really matter (in the bigger scheme of things) anyway.

This used to be my grandfather’s penchant phrase. He’d say it whenever he’d help me solve a problem or play a game properly, as a kid. It was his version of a pat on the back and a high-five at the completion of a difficult task. His take on life was always an optimistic one.

Memories, as dusty as this one, when triggered make you cherish them even more. My father, quite unknown to him, had asked me to look at the silver lining of my dark cloud.

And guess what? There definitely was one! Today, for the first time, I had peeled all the eggs in the most perfect manner — no lodged eggshells at all. It was like a clean sweep, a flick of the hand with such finesse, well, you get the point.

Simply put, it was a personal victory that has plastered a smile on my face, till I click the publish button of this column. Probably even after I take the column live.

In the past week, I’d forgotten the art of finding the silver linings in each of my dark clouds. However, I am going to take today to recollect those scattered memories and shape them like a lightning rod, so that I can puncture feelings of dread, fatigue, tiredness, defeat, all the while feeling like the mighty Zeus!

This time around, I don’t really have any sage advice to offer. Rather, I’d like to pose a question or two, to you —

How bright is your silver lining? What do you do to keep it bright and shining?

As always I’d be expecting to hear from you! Until the next time you say — Say what now?!