Reverse gifting

The best memories about my hostel years were the chammanti podi (fried coconut chutney powder), fish pickles, and snacks I carried each time I returned to the hostel after a short visit home, or my dad brought when he visited me after his college duties. Carrying homemade condiments and snacks continued even after marriage when we lived in Chennai. We would often carry homemade chilli/coriander powders and puttu powder. 

I have learnt to live with less such pampering after shifting to the UAE although parents on both sides still send condiments and jackfruit halwa in huge ziplock covers. For one, everything is available here in better quality than in Kerala. Two, I have learnt which brand's products available in shops are best suited for my needs. Three, I am old enough to make my own home-made products including chutney powders.

So this time I decided to do some reverse gifting when Ash and V left for Kerala for a week. M-i-l messaged to thank me for the plum cake, idli chutney powder and fish fry (on hubby's request because he feels one doesnt get ammonia-less fish in Kerala!!) I sent. I packed a cake loaf for my parents too. 

V likes to turn Santa Claus when he is visiting India buying tonnes of chocolates and biscuits to gift away. I tell him most things are available in India now and one no longer yearns for fancy foreign sweets and other stuff (the Helix instrument box still gives me mixed emotions). For both of us, the years of yearning and all the mean people who snatched away things they gifted at first is reason enough to carry foreign goods for all those we care for.

The kids are not amused because V never gets them much chocolates citing health reasons. All the chocolates they eat is what I smuggle in.