Throughout my entire life, I had gone to school lunch with something my mom would pack me from the day before, or with something she woke up early to cook. It would never be a sandwich, pasta, or even pizza like what other kids had. I would always carry a very heavy lunchbox filled with rice, daal, and some vegetable curry, and some weird meat dish my dad had come up with the day prior.

Nonetheless, they would add spices to even the most simple dishes. So, when I would walk into school, sit down at lunch, and open my lunchbox, the other kids would ask “what’s that smell?!” in disgust. 

I’m older now, but I never forgot.

I know a lot of kids went through this too but I was fortunate enough to always stick it out and eat whatever my mom gave me. I’m glad too, because during the pandemic, I get to eat the dishes I’m used to and sort of still feel like I’m going to my lunch period to eat it; that much has not changed. For lunch today, I ate naan my mom made the day before. I had it with spicy potato curry my mom made yesterday night, as well as some spicy shrimp curry my dad made last week. 

I swear, I almost ended up in a food coma from how good it was. I really thought I was going to fall asleep during my class.