The Tiffin Gang

Shweta Ganesh Kumar

TRRRRRRRIIIIIING.
Tiffin time.
Meenu finds idli and podi in her tiffin box.
When will Amma pack something new?
Meenu hates lunch break.

Yummy smells waft towards her
from other tables. Meenu’s tummy
growls and her mouth waters.
She pushes her lunch away.
Three rows behind, Kamlesh is
sulking. Her tiffin looks yummy.
Doesn’t she like it?

Kamlesh looks up and sees Meenu
with her tiffin box. “Amma has
sent me idlis again,” says Meenu.
Kamlesh shrugs at her own box.
“Jowar bhakri and bhaji. Again.”

Meenu’s tummy rumbles.
GUR
GUR GUR
GUR
“Can I taste it?” asks Meenu.
Kamlesh pushes her tiffin towards
Meenu and grabs Meenu’s box.

Kamlesh gobbles up Meenu’s idlis.
Meenu wolfs down Kamlesh’s
jowar bhakri.

The next day, Meenu counts the minutes to tiffin time. Amma has packed extra idlis for Kamlesh.
Trrrrrring!
Kamlesh slides over to make space for Meenu. Today, Kamlesh’s box is filled with mutke.

Sachi comes over with her tiffin box.
“I have pakhala bhata with potatoes. I saw
both of you sharing your tiffin yesterday,”
she says. “Can I join in?”

“Yes, yes, Sachi!” says Meenu.
She stands up and bangs her
tiffin box lid on the desk.
“Attention, everyone! Kamlesh, Sachi
and I are having a tiffin party.
Today we will eat idlis, mutke and
pakhala bhata. Who wants to join us?”

There is a scramble.
The whole class crowds
around Kamlesh’s desk
for the tiffin party.

Some tiffin boxes have a little food in them, some have lots.
Some have spicy food, some sweet.
There is tangy pickle and some bitter karela.
But there is enough to fill all the hungry tummies in the room.

Meenu loves tiffin time now.
Why wouldn’t she when every day is a party?

Santula, tarwat bhaji,
aloo poha, parantha and achaar…
Meenu has found her tiffin box gang.

Idli: This is a savoury
steamed rice cake.
Podi: This is made from ground spices.
Mixed with a little coconut or sesame oil,
it is eaten with idlis.
Jowar bhakri: This is a roti made of jowar or sorghum flour and water.

Mutke: This is made with
coriander leaves and
jowar flour.
Pakhala bhata: This is slightly
watery rice that can be eaten
with vegetables.
Bhaji: This is made from tarwat, a leafy wild vegetable.