“From Kitchen Ritual to Family Bond: How a Father’s Love Redefined Tradition”
Ahmedabad, September 2025: For newlywed Riya, the day of her first kitchen ritual was one filled with excitement and nervousness. Following her grandmother’s advice, she dressed in a bright yellow saree with golden embroidery and prepared to step into her new role as a daughter-in-law.
Her mother-in-law entered the room with instructions: “Riya, come to the kitchen in a while. Ronit’s aunt will conduct the ritual.” Then came a warning: “Be careful, she tends to point out faults in others. She has already insisted that along with khichdi, you must also prepare gulgule. Will you manage?”
Riya nodded, but inside she panicked. She had no idea how to make gulgule. In her parental home, her father used to prepare them, while she enjoyed eating without ever learning the recipe.
Anxious, she immediately dialed her father. Her grandmother answered, but Riya urged to be connected quickly, calling it an “emergency.” When her father finally came on the line, she confessed: “Papa, I have to make gulgule, but I don’t know the recipe.”
Her father laughed gently and said: “Don’t worry. Just listen carefully. First, whisk the flour in jaggery water and let it rest. That will make the gulgule soft and perfect.”
Those simple instructions gave Riya courage. She entered the kitchen with renewed confidence, prepared the batter as guided, and focused on cooking the khichdi. Ronit’s aunt stood nearby, watching closely, but Riya kept calm and steady.
When the ritual meal was finally served, both khichdi and gulgule received great praise. Even Ronit’s aunt complimented her efforts. Yet when her mother-in-law remarked, “Your mother must have taught you well,” Riya felt uneasy. After all, it was her father who had always guided her in the kitchen.
Later, she asked Ronit, “Why couldn’t we just say that my father taught me?” Ronit explained that his mother had said it only to avoid unnecessary conversations, but the remark left Riya unsettled.
Days later, during their first Holi celebration at her parents’ home, Riya witnessed a heartwarming moment. Her father welcomed them warmly, and Ronit affectionately told him, “Papa, I am not a guest here, I am your son.” Tears welled up in her father’s eyes.
At the dining table, Ronit praised Riya’s cooking, repeating what everyone said: that her mother had trained her well. This time, her father responded with quiet grace: “Of course, I too learned everything from Riya’s mother.”
Riya was deeply moved. Her father had silently carried the weight of every responsibility for years, even while her mother battled long-term mental health struggles. He never let the family break apart. With time, her mother gradually began to recover and the arrival of Riya’s newborn son, Nihal, brought a miraculous change.
Living together again for a while, Riya saw her mother embrace grandmotherhood with joy and her father’s face glow with peace after years of hardship.
For Riya, the lesson was clear: true love and patience can overcome even the hardest trials. Her “Chef Papa” was not just her personal hero, but an example of resilience and devotion for the entire family.
