Hindi Story - Jaise ko Taisa

जैसे को तैसा = Tit for tat

एक ऋषि जंगल में एक छोटे से आश्रम में रहता था। किसी दिन उस ऋषि को एक छोटा-सा चूहा ज़मीन पर पड़ा मिला। ऋषि को उस चूहे पर दया आ गई और उसे ज़मीन से उठा लिया। फिर वे उस चूहे को अपने आश्रम में ले आए।

फिर अगले दिन ऋषि उस चूहे को देखकर सोचने लगा, "यह तो बहुत ही छोटा है। कहीं इसे बिल्ली न खा जाए। मैं इस चूहे को बिल्ली ही क्यों न बना दूँ?" यह सोचकर ऋषि ने उस चूहे को बिल्ली बना दिया।

बिल्ली दिन भर आश्रम में घूमती रहती थी। मौका देखकर आश्रम में रहने वालों का दूध वह चट कर जाती थी। किसी रोज़ एक कुत्ता उस बिल्ली के पीछे दौड़ा। डर कर बिल्ली भागी और पेड़ पर चढ़ गई।

उस दिन बिल्ली की जान बच गई। ऋषि फिर सोच में पड़ गया, "आज तो बिल्ली बच गई। पर किसी दिन कोई तगड़ा कुत्ता इसे मार न डाले। इसलिए मैं इसे कुत्ता ही क्यों न बना दूँ?" यह सोचकर ऋषि ने बिल्ली को कुत्ता बना दिया।

कुत्ता निडर होकर आश्रम में रहने लगा। एक दिन ऋषि के साथ-साथ वह जंगल में चला गया। वहाँ उसे किसी शेर की दहाड़ सुनाई दी। दहाड़ सुनते ही कुत्ते की दुम सरक गई।

"यह तो मामूली-सा कुत्ता है। यह तो शेर की दहाड़ से ही डर जाता है। कहीं शेर को देखकर यह बेहोश ही न हो जाए। इसलिए मैं इसे शेर ही क्यों न बना दूँ?" यह सोचकर ऋषि ने कुत्ते को शेर बना दिया।

शेर बनते ही चूहे ने सोचा कि मुझे दिखा कर लोगों से ऋषि कहेंगे कि यह तो चूहा है जिसे मैंने शेर बना दिया। यदि मैं इस ऋषि को खा जाऊँ तो यह बात लोगों को नहीं पता चलेगी। इसलिए मैं पहले इसे ही खा जाता हूँ और वह ऋषि को खाने के लिए झपटा।

पल भर में ऋषि समझ गए कि क्या होने वाला है। इसलिए उन्होंने अगले ही पल शेर बने चूहे को फिर से चूहा बना दिया और अपनी जान बचाई।

सिख: जो जैसा है उसे वैसा ही रहने देना चाहिए।

Reference: Gyan Ganga book series.

Find more Hindi Stories on this blog:
चालाक खरगोश | Chalak Khargosh
छेद वाला मटका | Chhed wala Matka
छोटी तितली | Chhoti Titli
दो कंजूस |Two Miser
खेल के मैदान | Playground
बातूनी कछुआ  | The Talkative
प्यासा कौआ |Thirsty Crow
बताशा और चींटी | Ants and the Sugar Candy
मूर्ख कौआ और चालाक लोमड़ी| Foolish Crow and Cunning Fox
लालची कुत्ता | The Greedy Dog
नन्हा खरगोश | Little Rabbit
समझदार तोता | Clever Parrot
बेईमानी का फल | Beimani Ka Fal

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.

Tok Jhaal Mishti Chutney

We come across a numerous variety of chutneys in our day to day meals. The most popular that I can think of is the 'Tomato Chutney', talking about the red coloured riped tomatoes. On a regular basis, red tomatoes are widely used for different variants of Chutneys, even for all the occasions. However, have you come across a Chutney that is prepared with the unripe tomatoes, which are green in colour? My recipe today actually talks about the raw/unripe green coloured tomatoes.

The tomatoes that are used in today's recipe are unripe ones, these raw tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants, contains more Vitamin C and are very acidic as compared to the red tomatoes, hence a little quantity, say just a small green tomato is far good enough to provide the necessary vital nutrients. Green/unripe tomatoes have a good source of anticarcinogenic benefits, also preventive towards many kinds of disease and recommendable mostly to women as it helps to keep our body healthy.

Tok Jhaal Mishti Chutney recipe is a spicy tangy, flavoured with the tempering of mustard seeds.  It can be served with plain steamed rice or also can be paired with the parathas. We often relish eating the main dishes with numerous other side dishes and Bengali's love to have a Chatni in their 'Sesh path' (=at the end of the meal) This Tok Jhaal Mishti Chutney recipe is a great way of using an excess of the number of tomatoes grown in the garden. It is one of the best mouth-watering chutney made with the seasons best green tomatoes, the zing of spicy mirchi, sour taste of tomatoes and a hint of sweetness. Hence the name 'Tok Jhaal Mishti Chutney' (Tok= sour, Jhaal= spicy, Mishti= sweet).

Green tomatoes from my garden

Tips: As green tomatoes taste too sour, you can add jaggery to the dish, I've added sugar. Can replace the green tomatoes with the red ones. Saute the tomatoes till they sweat and release oil by the sides of the pan, in a way until they are softened. Do not add water to the dish, as tomatoes moistened while cooking.

Tok Jhaal Mishti Chutney

[Veg]

Author: Paromita.P

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes (approx)

Recipe Type: Chutney

Course: Side dips

Cuisine: Indian/Bengali fusion

Serves: 4

Measuring Items: Teaspoon (tsp); Tablespoon (tbsp)

Ingredients:

1. Green tomatoes- 8
2. Onion- 2
3. Green chilies- 3
4. Garlic- 5 cloves
5. Dry red mirchi- 6
6. Bay leaf- 1
7. Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
8. Cumin (jeera)- half tsp
9. Mustard oil- 3 tbsp
10. Red mirchi powder- 1 tsp
11. Turmeric powder- half tsp
12. Coriander powder- 1 tsp
13. Salt - as per taste
14. Sugar/ jaggery- 2 tsp

Instructions:

How to prepare ‘Tok Jhaal Mishti Chutney’ :

1. Chop the required veggies and green tomatoes into thin slices.
   
2. Heat oil in a pan, add bay leaf, dry red mirchi, jeera and mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
   
3. Now add the sliced onions, green chili, and garlic. Fry them until onion turns translucent.
   
4. Now add the chopped green tomatoes followed by red mirchi powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and salt.
   
5. Cover and cook until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy. (till water evaporates completely or else the chutney will taste raw) 
   
6. Finally add sugar, simmer for 2 minutes and serve hot.

Serve the Tok Jhaal Mishti Chutney with hot steamed rice with a dollop of ghee (clarified butter), dal and other fried veggies, it will definitely give a zing to your tastebuds and help your appetite with good digestion. Prepare this super quick and most simple 'Tok Jhaal Mishti Chutney' and tell me how you liked it. Till then enjoy cooking, serving and eating!!

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.

Veg Kurma

Vegetable kurma or Veg Kurma as popularly known to all of us is a traditional South Indian dish prepared using varieties of vegetables with a rich creamy texture in the gravy. This delectable Vegetable Kurma is loaded with potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, peas, and green beans, including all those winter veggies that are available in plenty during the season. As Kolkata receives the winter veggies quite late, especially from the offset of the winter season in other cities, we get to see these vegetables in plenty with lowest prices in the market from the later January, until we go to a supermarket or a big vegetable market.

Veg Kurma is very famous in the Indian cuisine, the gravy is loaded with the rich flavour of coconut and cashews keeping the base smooth, juicy, creamy with a perfect texture to melt the veggies in your mouth. This Vegetable Kurma goes well with Indian flat bread like roti, paratha, poori, rumali roti, naan and of course make sure you have plenty of butter alongside with naan to dip in the Kurma gravy, it definitely tastes the most delectable. South Indian Kurma are also combined with rice, Pulav or fried rice, with raita to give it the perfect meal pleasure.

Veg Kurma are often decided in the menu for marriages, reception, birthday parties, New Year parties, etc. as it is the best dish for the vegetarians. This Vegetable Kurma recipe can be prepared in just 30 minutes, with the combination of fresh vegetables, simmered with fresh coconut cream leaves the room with the delicious aroma while cooking and I bet as this creamy Vegetable Kurma is the tastiest way to eat your veggies without any fuss. The blend of other Indian spices gives an assorting flavour to the dish. Head on to the full recipe of 'Veg Kurma' with step by step instructions and pictures below:

Tips:

1. You can add some more veggies as per your choice. Remember not to overcook the veggies, as the gravy base is thick and made of coconut cream, it will absorb in the veggies and make them soft and juicy.
2. As coconut contains oil, use very less oil in the dish to keep it healthy.

Veg Kurma

[Veg]

Author: Paromita.P

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes (approx)

Recipe Type: Gravy

Course: Main dish

Cuisine: South Indian

Serves: 4

Measuring Items: 1 cup=150 ml; Tablespoon (tbsp), Teaspoon (tsp)

Ingredients:

1. Fresh Coconut- 1 whole
2. Cashews- 10
3. Potato- 4
4. French Beans- 100 grams
5. Carrot- 2 large
6. Onion- 2 large
7. Tomato- 3
8. Green Chili- 6
9. Green peas- 1 cup
10. Coriander leaves

Spices:

1. Clove (lavang)- 5
2. Cinnamon (dalchini)- 1
3. Turmeric powder- 1 tsp
4. Red mirchi powder- 1 tsp
5. Salt- as per taste
6. Black pepper powder- 1 tsp
7. White refined oil- 2 tbsp

Method:

How to prepare ‘Veg Kurma’ with step by step pictures and instructions-

1. Finely chop all the required veggies and set aside.
   
2. Heat oil in a cooking pan, add clove and cinnamon.
   
3. Simultaneously add the chopped onion and fry till translucent.
   
4. Now add chopped tomatoes and 2 green chilies slit in between.
   
5. Cook the tomatoes until they turn mushy and leave oil by the sides.
   
6. Now add all the veggies and mix them well.
   
7. Consecutively add turmeric powder, mirchi powder, and salt. Mix properly.
   
8. Pour half a cup of water into the pan. Cover the pan with a lid and cook the veggies.
   
9. In the meantime, take a blender/mixie grinder, add grated or very thin slices of coconut, cashews, 2 green chilies, and coriander leaves, Blend them to a thick paste.
   
10. Keep adding water as and when required to make a smooth puree.
    
11. Once the vegetables turn soft, add the blended puree.
    
12. Mix and simmer for 2 minutes.
    
13. Add 1 cup water and black pepper powder. Cook until water brings to a boil.
    
14. Garnish with coriander leaves.

A delightful combination of assorted seasonal vegetables and coconut based curry absolutely ideal for all types of Indian flatbread and various rice dishes too. Veg Kurma Recipe, the most delectable, mild, creamy, flavorful gravy, perfect for a good and hearty meal. Prepare this classic dish from the fusion of South Indian Vegetable Kurma recipe and tell me how you liked it. Till then enjoy cooking, serving and eating!!

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.

Love Shayari

इश्क़ के आसमान पर हम उड़ने लगे थे,

हम खुद से ज़्यादा तुझे चाहने लगे थे ।

तेरे धड़कनों से हमारा दिल धड़कने लगा था,

खुदाया वे इश्क़ तुझसे इतना गहरा होने लगा था ।

इश्क़ था, इस 'था' लफ्ज़ से कितना फर्क होने लगा।।

Ishq ke aasman par hum udne lage the,

Hum khudse zyada tujhe chahne lage the.

Tere dhadkano se humara dil dhadakne laga tha,

Khudaya ve ishq tujhse itna gehra hone laga tha.

Ishq tha, is 'tha' lafz se kitna farq hone laga hai.

लबों पर लफ्ज़ भी अब तेरे तलब लेकर आते है;
तेरे ज़िक्र से महकते है, तेरे सजदे में ही बिखर जाते है ।
तेरे इश्क में जीते हैं और तेरे मोहब्बत को भी तरस जाते हैं ।

Labo par lafz bhi ab tere talab lekar aate hai,
Tere zikr se mahekte hai, tere sajde mein hi bikhar jaate hai.
Tere ishq mein jeete hai aur tere mohabbat ko bhi taras jaate hai. 

तुमसे मिलने को यूँ बेकरार हुआ दिल,
कि मुश्किल से हमें आई नींद ।
अब होगा नहीं गुज़ारा तुम बिन,
ले चलो वहां जहाँ हम रहे संग सारे दिन ।
Tumse milne ko yu bekarar hua dil,
Ki mushkil se humein aayi neend.
Ab mujhse hoga nahi guzara tum bin,
Chalo jaha hum rahe sung saare din.

लगता है चाँद ज़मीन पर 

उतर आया है आज मेरे लिए ।

मुझे रोशन कर रहा कुछ इस तरह 

मैं चल दूँ फ़लक पे तुमको लिए ।

Lagta hain chaand zameen par

utar aaya hai aaj mere liye.

Mujhe roshan kar raha kuch is tarah

main chal du falak pe tumko liye.

कहें कुछ

न कहें कुछ 

हम तुमसे कुछ 

तुम हमसे कुछ 

हम कहें कुछ 

तुम कहो कुछ ।।

Kahe kuch. Na kahe kuch. Hum tumse kuch.

Tum humse kuch. Tum kaho kuch. Hum 

kahein kuch.

हम धड़कन उनकी

पहचान जाते है,

जब वो हमें बेइन्तहा

दिल से कभी याद करते हैं ।

Hum dhadkan unki pehchan jate hai,

Jab woh humein beintehaan dil se kabhi yaad karte hai.

न जाने क्यों दिल आज 

बहुत याद कर रहा तुम्हें,

कुछ देर बात कर ले तो 

बन जायेंगे हसीन लम्हे ।

Na jaane dil aaj bohot

yaad kar raha tumhe,

Kuch der baat karle toh

Ban jaaye haseen lamhe.

कुछ बातें न कहते हुए भी 

दिल जाने कैसे समझ लेती हैं।

प्यार में दिल की बात 

दिल तक पहुंच ही जाती है।।

Kuch baatein na kehte huye bhi

Jaane dil kaise samajh leti hai,

Pyar mein dil ki baatein

Dil tak pohuch hi jati hai.

कुछ अरमान देर से ही सही

पर उनके पूरा होने का एहसास ही बहुत मिठा होता है ।

Kuch armaan der se hi sahi

Par pura hone ka ehsaas hi kitna mitha hota hai 

प्यार से ज़िन्दगी ऐसे जियो,

कि यह ज़िन्दगी तुमसे प्यार कर जाए;

प्यार कभी न तुमसे रूठे,

और यह ज़िन्दगी भी तुम्हारे नाम कर जाए ।।

Pyar se zindagi aise jiyo,

ki yeh zindagi bhi tumse pyar kar jaye;

Pyar kabhi na tumse ruthe,

aur yeh zindagi bhi tumhare naam kar jaye|

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.