THE S A B Z I LICIOUS FAIRYTALE -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once upon a time, there was a farmer. Fortune did not shine kindly upon him, for his crops kept failing and joy had begun to evaporate from his life. Every night he would come home, only to find a plate of sabpar bhaji made with his poorly grown turnips sitting on a lonely table, while his not so beloved wife sat hypnotized in front of the TV, watching the Three Little Pigs.
He was beginning to lose his mind, becoming suicidally sick of the dull pallor of all his days.
And then one day, a miracle occurred.
Moving his rake restlessly over the lifeless soil of his farm, the farmer chafed under the glare of the harsh sun. Sweat glistened on his skin, his throat became scratchy and dry. Soon his head began to spin, dehydration gripping him and making him topple over into the grass.
As his vision faded in and out, he caught a glimpse of long raven hair above him, shading him from the scorching heat. His head was cradled by soft hands, then cushioned against silk. Something cool pressed up against his lips and he had no strength to resist. A soft hand caressed his face and then he felt the most delightful nectar flowing into his mouth, sliding refreshingly down his throat and breathing life into his tired body. Almost immediately everything clicked and he took a deep shuddering breath.
The sweet scent of perfume greeted him, his vision returned and he felt revitalized. He blinked and stared into the large doe eyes of his savior.
A most beautiful girl with a most beautiful smile stared back at him.
"Aap thik toh hai na?"
Captivated, he nodded as best as he could.
"Aap ko shyaad chakkar aagayatha. Itni dhoop mein apko itni zorri se kaam nahin karna chahiye."
He gulped, feeling slightly bashful, "Mujhe bhachane ke liye shukriya."
She blushed, "Mujhe shukriya bolke sharminda maath keejiye."
"Nahin nahin! Aap nahin hoti, toh mujhe toh kuch bhi ho sakta tha. Waise..." He remembered the ambrosia that had graced his tongue and saved his life. He had to find out what it was. "Woh kya tha, jo aapne abhi mujhe pilaya?"
"Woh kya tha?" She looked surprised, "Woh toh MILK tha. Aapne pehle kabhi nahin peeya?"
He sat up, the reminder of his actual life tearing through him. He began to cry, shocking his savior. "Maine toh kabhi pehle MILK ka naam tak nahin soona! Mere zindagi mein maine sirf do things aapne mooh mein dala hai: TURNIPS and Karela Ka Juice."
She gasped, "Kya??! Phir toh..." Tears welled up in her eyes as well, "Phir toh...aapki zindagi bandaggi se bhi bad hui hogi!" She lunged at him, dramatically hugging him from behind, "Aap mere saath aaiye, mein aapko kabhi bhi woh sab disgusting chee ze khaane nahin doongi."
He turned around, a single tear slipping down his cheek, "Promise?"
She stared at him lovingly and earnestly, "Promise."
"Aap ka naam kya hai?"
"Sanchi. Aur aap ka?"
"Shravan."
"Aaiye Shravanji, mere saath aaiye."
The two of them traveled, long and far away from Shravan's rotten home and rotten field full of turnips, to Sanchi's abode. Upon arriving, Shravan's eyes sweeped around her warm, cozy kitchen and then stopped and remained transfixed on a basket full of...
"Woh kya cheez hai? Woh...barre barre, gol gol, wonderful wonderful chee ze?"
Sanchi followed his gaze, "Woh, Shravanji? Aapni kabhi unko bhi nahin dekha?"
"Aggar maine kabhi ye dekhi hoti, toh meri zindagi kab sudhar jati."
She laid her hands on his shoulder and squeezed reassuringly, "Ab aap jitna chahenge, aap inko dekh sakte hain." She walked over to the basket and picked a full, wonderfully round specimen up to show to him, "Yeh, Shravanji..."
He stared, eyes wide and mouth dry, "Yeh...?"
"Yeh...yeh hain..."
"Yeh hain???"
"ALOO."
Thunder sounded outside and rain began to fall in torrents.
Shravan was breathless, "Mujhe...mujhe..."
"Aapko...?"
"Mujhe isse hold karna hai."
Sanchi slowly came to his side, took his calloused hand in her own and dropped the ALOO into his palm.
The feeling was euphoria. The smooth yet slightly scratchy skin, the dips where the spuds sprouted, how his hand fit *perfectly* over its curved structure.
Sanchi's voice reached his ears, a low and raspy whisper, "Kaisa laga aapko, Shravanji?"
There were no words to describe what he was feeling, no way to convey his awe, his gratitude, his happiness.
So he only wrapped his long fingers around the wondrous SABZI in his hand and breathed...
"I want to eat this. Forever."
And they lived happily ever after.
Written By: May (Izanami)👏
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