Induction Gas Top and A Friend

This particular anecdote shows the feeling friendship can evoke.

I have a friend who is beyond words to describe. Why I admire her more is because all she stands for, I cannot imagine to represent or follow. Planning, quick and sharp analytic intellect, compassionate, humble and to top it all, very patient, which makes her unbelievable.  She has two children who exhibit both, the worst of sibling rivalry and the best of sibling love, I feel despite the rivalry they love each other because of the careful handling of this tender mother.

The other day we went to a cutlery cum kitchen utility shop together for some purchase. The ideas she shares on such occasions are brilliant and logical. Just bought an idli pot for myself and a uttapam tawa for herself. Just glanced through the store and found induction cook top. Recently seeing an ad, my husband was moved and promised to buy one for our home. She possesses one since the time it was launched, but doesn't use it extensively.

I told her 'what you, its so famous these days and you never use it properly..'

She said that it doesn't suit her with the utterly demanding tiny tots. Its too too swift that every time she boils milk in that she lands up spilling all over because she is distracted by the call of her children. She has not got that call to use it continuously. Speaking so we parted.

I went to the society office of our building where regular maintenance work was going on. The society manager was discussing some issues with me. And a caterer had come to fix the menu for the HOLI party. In between this talk came a call from this friend of mine, asking me to use her induction cook top, and get used to it, before buying one for myself, as she has kept it perfectly packed unused since years.

I was moved by her words. Really noted the compassion she must have for her friend. I laughed and said to another friend of mine sitting before me,' See I have got such friends.. Could people think like this too? Take time out to call and tell like this, expecting nothing, back, nothing as such'.

She din't just stop with saying, the next day she came this way, dropped it in our kitchen, in my absence and went. I was too overwhelmed with her gesture. How keen she is to be of some use for me. Its not that 'see how respectable I am' but 'am amazed how much she could respect somebody'.

The very next day, I started using the great grand induction cook top, that my friend has offered magnanimously to me, making me feel as mine and use until I get a new one. SO I mentally prepared myself to think as if I own one and I can try all that I want to try. Its not that I am using it because I don't have gas or something. I will use it for its sake not as an alternative.

I boiled milk, I did it with amazing timing.

I don't have tiny kids to distract me, I stood all the while to protect the top from milk spill after boiling.

Hurray I did it.

Next what else can I try?

I know it is meant for boiling and steaming.

SO I steamed sweet potato, it took an unusual 5 + 5 minutes. Won't the gas steamer take less time? wondering I told myself, the sweet potato is pretty old, thats why it has crashed. Even after 10 minutes of steaming it remained hard and started tasting bitter. I confirmed my feelings for the old tube root and forgot it.

Next 20 minutes wanted to steam idli!

Went to google and checked for the method for using induction cook top for idli steaming!!

It dint give me satisfactory answers though.

Still went ahead and made only to find it utterly fail...

I had to set the temperature low, or the timing less, no clue. The beautiful idlies that would smile everyday had collapsed to a mass of pasty batter. The batter fallen into the pot from the plate had started sticking due to over heat on to the floor of the pot, which is the height of it, which is unimaginable in any case.

Here I realized how my dear friend had made me experience before I could spend and regret later. I really admired her thoughtfulness in making me think before I leap. Intelligent way of teaching some one a lesson, in a very compassionate, acceptable way. Had she told me plainly that it won't work and not to buy, it would definitely be a unfulfilled dream, rather she said use it, until you buy a new one. Had she even said, 'use and see, then buy' or 'see if it really works then buy' kind of statements, it would seem to be advising which may or may not be appealing.

The most amazing point she added was that, 'I could not use it well, you try your hand, I might be motivated by your good use and I might use properly in future'. Great thought, great words. These are not preplanned. These are her spontaneous feelings. Rare quality one has, to be truly loving. All the feelings of concern, interest, compassion, anxiety, good will whatever, when expressed with out love, lose their real sense. But any emotion put into the love covering, reaches the right destination in the right manner.

This friend of mine is a true example I feel. She can play all her roles to the best, because she is made of LOVE.

Friendship, defined!!

Living amidst the world of friends is a blessing. Who is without a friend? No one. Any living entity is born with this boon. While friendship blooms of choice, any relationship by birth or marriage is of destiny. But be it, you mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, daughter, son, all these in 'in-law' form, all become beautiful when tempered with friendship.

Friends start being integral part of you right from childhood. They are your companions, comforts and boosters. Only when you enjoy someone's company you form a friendship. I have seen small kids as small as 1 year olds, wait to meet friends and spend time with them. The longer they spend time peacefully together, deeper will their friendship grow.

Time and again we can see some boys wanting to play with the same friend more often which means they get along very well. The mother might choose a friend and wish him to be a good friend with him, but can't understand why he is attracted only by the other child that he chose.

Understanding is the key to lasting friendship.

Understanding could be any of these:

• your moods
• your wishes
• your likes
• your dislikes
• your mentality
• your weaknesses
• your strength

Even if one of the above is identified by a person, you start establishing a friendship. Your familiarity starts there. Slowly they get to know more of you, they start wishing you good. Good will follows understanding. Though even with out understanding good will could be there, good will with understanding is the best possible situation. The beautiful part of this is each step of understanding is reciprocal. Mutual understanding, bonds the friendship stronger.

Not necessary you talk every now and then, exchange what you ate and what you drank, when you sleep and when you wake up. Its always nice to catch up any time, as if we have been in touch. That is the wonder of true friendship. You know a person thoroughly, whenever you talk to, you feel friendly. The communication gap never makes a person a stranger. Rather love bridges the gap. They know your reactions and responses to life and you know theirs. There is predictability, reliability and confidence to a large extent. 

If you feel a friendship is maintained only by giving them time everyday by chatting, you are partial in your understanding.

If you feel calling up a friend with a purpose is wrong or mistaken, you are throughly mistaken the sense of friendship.

Chatting everyday doesn't always enhance love, it more often sores the relationship, the warmth that smoothens friendship gets hotter or colder and loses flavor. Lets not have that as a condition for friendship. Mind it, anything conditional isn't called love. Break a myth.

Secondly, calling for a purpose is more often scorned as being selfish, which is absolutely not so. Be modest enough to think that you are remembered when there is a need and be thankful for the remembrance. If you are happy for being helpful and useful for someone, when someone else is remembering you in their need you won't be unhappy about it. So when you feel like calling your good friend for a purpose, need not hesitate. Go ahead and call. When love and good will alone coats your wire, there will be no shock.

Some people feel it is tough to maintain friendship. Its a myth, I tell you. Apart from chatting and talking at times, the silent transfer of love means a lot. You remember many of your friends at various points of your life, sometimes you remember them everyday. Your remembrance itself is a friendship maintenance expert. The more frequent you remember them taller and thicker does the friendship grow. Try this, this is what helps me maintain my love for my friends. I don't mean to say  be in your own dream world. When your thoughts take you to your loved ones, go and touch them, for a moment also is ok. Some events, objects take your memory back to certain old friends, enjoy that moment. (Facebook helps friendship world over.)

When you have this mindful friendship, when you get to see them, talk to them you can relate very well. Watch out, when you meet a good friend, don't let your mind wander with other incidents or ponder with your own problems, get to them. Being in your own world, will invariably express you so.

Present yourself to them. Talk only of them and yourself and the topic relevant to both of you, not even relevant, interest or passion for both of you. Go to the core subject and discuss. Listen to what they have got to say, once they are done and keen to listen to what you have got to say, then start your stuff. Always don't be the talker, you may sound boring to them. Pay heed to their expressions. As much as you need to pour your feelings, they have got to say theirs. Listening defines a best friend, quite often. As friendship is mutual respect, the more they talk, the more will they let you talk.

Enjoy great friendship.