The instant pot takes Dr. Shailja to village life. She traverses from the kucha chulha to the modern kitchen, in this verse, exclusively for Different Truths. 

Memories of:
The lady who cared
The man who earned
The house with a roof
With window smelling real flowers
The buzz of a fly
And the semi-wet smell in the verandah
Next to flavors of herbs creating
The taste of love

Here’s a gadget
Cooking lentils with no noise
Hundred sun dried seasonings
Tubed into a strong vessel
It’s stainless-steel preserving
The heritage
From a village charpai
Where red chilies sleep
Under natural heater of
The Mighty Sun
Preserving the distinct aroma
From the kucha chulha to
The modern kitchen

Warming up homes
On sultry nights
Within a shelter so intact
Walls such sturdy
Quietly brewing deep rooted feelings
No spatula needed
Yet, emotions stirring high
Lentils are ready
In the Instant Pot

Instantly it transports
To the heart
Where the fly is still buzzing
On real flowers
I am the lady who cares
Standing by the man who earns
Under the roof on our heads
With the taste of love 

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Dr. Shailja Sharma

Dr Shailja Sharma, a US mental health provider and multilingual author, has published widely in various literary journals and anthologies, in many literary journals/forums of repute across USA, Canada, UK, and Asia. Her book, “Dear Mama: An Immigrant’s Secret Cry,” by Setu, Pittsburgh, has been critically acclaimed and she was awarded a special literary honor for her contributions in international languages. Sharma’s work has been published nationally and internationally.