– a Talesmith Short by Rajesh Muthuraj
There are two kinds of coconut chutney in this world.
The first kind is technically chutney. It has coconut, chilli, tamarind, and salt. You taste it and politely say, “Nice.” This, in Indian food language, actually means, “There is something missing, but I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
Then there is the second kind. Same coconut. Same chilli. Same salt. But suddenly hot oil enters the scene. Mustard seeds start popping. Curry leaves jump in like a grand Bollywood entry.
The same chutney that got a polite ‘Nice’ is now the VIP of the breakfast table.
Idlis line up, Dosas are shown extra respect. Even the usually arrogant and aromatic sambar is like, “Okay, today you lead.”
Can you relate this to life? Life is basically a coconut chutney.
Most of us are reasonably blended. We have degrees, experience, LinkedIn profiles that say “results-driven professional”. And yet our career chutney still tastes like “Nice.”
Why? Because we skipped the tempering. Tempering is that tiny extra step we keep postponing.
It’s the follow-up email you were too lazy to send.
The gym visit you negotiated away with one samosa.
The presentation you almost practiced but didn’t.
The apology you rehearsed in your head but never delivered.
Do mustard seeds and curry leaves pop in warm, comfortable oil? Absolutely not! They need heat.
Similarly, greatness rarely appears in air-conditioned comfort zones.
Think.
How many times in life were you just one tadka away from brilliance?
- One more revision.
- One more call.
- One more attempt.
- One less episode on Netflix.
So the next time life feels a bit “Nice,”
don’t throw away the chutney.
Just ask the important question:
“Did I actually temper it?”
Because sometimes the difference between ordinary and unforgettable
is just one hot, slightly dramatic, mustard-seed tadka.
Subscribe to Talesmith for more stories filled with tadka.
Leave a comment