A Plate Of Pani Puris Brought My Mother And Me Closer!

After marriage whenever I visited my hometown which was after break of many years, every evening, we would sit in my mother’s car and eat many, sometimes 20-20 pani puris, not chatting and not laughing like old friends but just savouring the pani puris.

It was a simple pleasure of flavours, but it meant so much to me because unknowingly it helped me bond with my mother.

I will always cherish those moments we spent together, just eating pani puris and enjoying each other’s company. Thank you, Mummy, for making those precious memories with me.

It all started with casual orders of pani puris

It all started with a casual order of pani puris from our favourite roadside stand. Little did we know that those delicious little snacks would quickly become a, “coming to mayaka,” ritual.

It was my time together with my childhood, and I cherished it. When I was young and at home, we didn’t bond very well for whatever reasons. But after marriage, moving to the USA and especially after kids, there were more topics to discuss between us.

Our relationship had evolved, and I was grateful for that. These pani puri outings were a special part of that evolution. They were a time for us to connect and just be ourselves amidst the hustle bustle of life. And I will always cherish them for that.

I never thought I’d bond with my mother over pani puri, but that’s exactly what happened!

So, if you need advice for some good old-fashioned mother-daughter bonding, head on over to your nearest pani puri stand and give it a try. Who knows, you might just start your own pani puri tradition like we did !

This year, when I visited my home town after a great break of corona years, even my kids joined us in the tradition and enjoyed the pani puris with their nani.

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Sure, some people might think we’re crazy for eating so many pani puris. To answer that, I will straight away lament that I miss Indian street food. I know, I know, there are plenty of creative India-inspired dishes at cafés and restaurants in the US.

But it’s just not the same as getting dahi puri or pani puri from a street vendor in India. The vibrant colours, the tantalizing aromas, the taste of spice and sweetness all coming together in one bite —it’s an experience that can’t be replicated.

And they will also have to understand about the special bond that comes from sharing something so delicious.

Homesickness is directly linked to craving bhel puri

When I’m feeling homesick, I am not sure if I miss my family more or the food, but I often crave sukhi puri or bhel puri, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to find anything like it here. It also triggers a conversation between my kids about their pani puri rituals with their nani.

Maybe one day I’ll be able to enjoy authentic Indian street food again, and her company again, but for now I’ll just have to settle for memories.

There’s no denying that the mother-daughter relationship is special, but sometimes can be fraught with tension and difficult to navigate at times. After all, mothers and daughters are two very different people, often striving for the same thing: love and approval.

This can lead to all sorts of conflict, heartache, and misunderstanding. But ultimately, what matters is how the story ends. And as they say, what ends well, is well.

So even if the journey is tough, mothers and daughters can always find their way back to each other. Some routines, some activities shared together is all they need. And in the end, connecting is all that really matters.

Even while living with families, mothers often feels isolated and overwhelmed. That’s why connecting with them is more important than ever.

And it doesn’t have to be anything fancy or complicated. Just spending time together and doing something creative can make all the difference, so go for it, bond with your moms before they are lost in time.

Image source: Still from the film, Uyyala Jampala, edited on CanvaPro

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