– a Talesmith short by Rajesh Muthuraj
Hello, humans.
Yes, I’m that mysterious brown leaf you throw out of biryani like it’s a parking ticket.
Let me introduce myself properly:
I am Tejpatta. Aroma specialist. Flavour consultant. And the most disrespected celebrity in the kitchen.
My life begins with glory, plucked from a tall handsome tree.
Chefs whisper, “Iski khushboo hi sabka baap hai (his fragrance is supreme).”
I blush.
I’m important.
I’m valued.
And then…
INTO THE BOILING OIL.
No “hello,” no “are you comfortable?”, just splash!
I release my divine fragrance.
Your entire house smells like a cooking show.
You all go,
“Wah! Wah! What an aroma!”
But the moment the dish is ready…
“Remove this leaf, man!”
Excuse me.
I MADE the aroma.
You enjoyed my performance.
And still I get kicked out like a villain.
No one eats me.
No one respects me.
Even the raisins get more love.
But it’s okay.
Some heroes don’t stay for the climax.
We just add flavour and walk away… like legends.
Life is a lot like a bay leaf in a boiling pot. You get tossed in without warning, swirl around doing your best, add all the flavour you can, and just when you think you finally belong, someone picks you out and throws you away. But hey, that’s when you realise your true worth: the whole dish tasted better because of you. So, keep showing up even if life kicks you out after you had served the purpose.
And just like a Bay Leaf quietly adds flavour to every dish, Talesmith adds a spark to your day. So go on, subscribe and let the stories keep simmering!
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