Ba & Bakul Treats Brenda with Perfume & Paloma Mocktail in Mumbai

Ba, Bakul, and Brenda are back in Mumbai this time.

Brenda was looking at the skyscrapers from her balcony. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and she invited Ba & Bakul. The mention of this grandmother-grandson duo brings a sigh of relief to her rather busy life in Mumbai. After last year's vacation in Goa, she was back in India to research an upcoming feature that her team had been planning for some time. Amidst meetings and conferences, she has taken a day off to spend an afternoon with them. 

She was sceptical about calling Bakul and informing them she was in India, as she thought, how would that matter! She was in Mumbai, and they lived in Baroda! But she remembered Ba's departing words last time, " Come India next, I meet again." She could not forget that elderly lady's warmth. The few days she spent with them had been an experience of a lifetime she could never have imagined in her most beautiful dreams. How can a family be so warm and friendly to a stranger like her? They treated her like a family member, which was completely new for her. So she called Bakul a couple of days back. To her surprise, he sounded so excited to meet her and ditto with Ba. She asked her to visit them, but when she explained her time constraints, Ba said, " Worry not, I go, Bakul go Mumbai." So they decided on this Sunday, and now she was eagerly waiting for them to arrive.

Finally, they came at around 3. Bakul was at his colourful best- wearing a citrine orange shirt with multicoloured floral prints. Ba was as cute as ever in her white and gold saree. She hugged Brenda tightly as soon as she opened the door. Her genuine affection never failed to surprise Brenda every time. This was the first time she had come across such people! Ba smelled so nice; Brenda noticed that last time, too- a smell of freshly ground spices with some rosy floral touch, what could possibly be the perfume she was wearing! She had thought of asking her but somehow could not. Ba looked around her tiny apartment, the best she could afford in the heart of Mumbai. Brenda could read her expression of satisfaction when she sat on the ivory-white sofa. Bakul's attire was an exact contrast to the apartment's all-ivory decor. Brenda liked him and his innocence, "You look great Bakul." Bakul was left blushing. Ba started talking about every possible thing on earth, while Brenda tried to listen carefully to understand everything. After some time, Brenda got a jug full of the mocktail version of the Paloma cocktail she had learnt to prepare during her last visit to Mexico. It was a challenging choice to replace the tequila with grapefruit juice and white tea, but much aware of her guests' drink preferences, she opted for it. 

Ba seemed to enjoy the sandwiches and cakes. But Brenda could see her discomfort when she took the first sip of the mocktail.

" What happened Ba? Is it not good." she politely asked.

Ba hesitated a bit, " Me drink tea, sweet tea."

"This is made with white tea, Ba. I will add more maple syrup to your glass to add sweetness." she was concerned.

Ba seemed to think a bit, "Wait, I make tea." She reached for her huge blingy handbag and took out a small jar full of brown powder. She quickly added 4 spoonfuls of the powder into the entire jug and poured it into their glasses. Bakul wanted to stop her as he looked embarrassed. Brenda, who had given up sugar long ago, was scared to taste it. Ba smiled at her, " Brenda, this no sugar, this jaggery, healthy jaggery, tasty tea." Brenda was relieved and sipped the new jagger-ized version of her carefully curated Paloma Mocktail. This elderly lady, again, surprised her; Ba's Paloma Mocktail with jaggery was outstanding. Yes, it was sweet, but that kind of sweetness that does not pinch the throat. It had an earthy flavour, and that made it special. "Oh Ba, you are amazing." she could not hold back her feelings.

After a splendid afternoon, it was time for them to bid goodbye. As they approached the door, Brenda asked, " Ba, how do you always smell so fabulous? What perfume do you wear?" 

Ba looked somewhat confused, " Me, no perfume." 

"But I can smell something a bit spicy, a bit rosy whenever I am near you." Brenda could not hide her eagerness; she was bad at hiding her feelings. 

"Rose!! ah!" Ba again reached for her handbag, and all her solutions seemed inside that magic bag. She took out a small jar and handed it over to Brenda. "My perfume, you take."

Brenda opened the lid of the jar and saw a reddish brown powder inside that smelt heavenly, of fresh grounded spices and roses. " What is this perfume, Ba?"

Ba told Bakul something, and Bakul explained that it was a mixture of grounded spices like black cardamom, green cardamom, cloves and dried rose petals.

"But how do I apply it?" Brenda was curious.

"You eat it."Ba gave her signature toothless smile.

Brenda again hugged the old woman, saw her moistened eyes, and realized that this Indian family's generosity and simplicity were things she had always longed for in all her relationships. 

As Ba and Bakul approached the elevator, Brenda announced, " I will be back, Ba."

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