Daily writing prompt

What foods would you like to make?

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“What foods would you like to make?” — This writing prompt brought back a vivid and unforgettable memory from my banking days.

A memory that includes a secret recipe, laughter, adventure, and a dish that was almost too good to be true… but never eaten.

Let me take you back to the year 2009, when I was posted as the Branch Manager in Cuttack, Odisha. I had joined the branch only a few weeks earlier, and the team was still getting to know me.

As the New Year approached, the staff decided to celebrate with a grand outdoor picnic. The idea was simple—Sunday is Funday!

💙 The Plan: Wandering in Woods and Celebrate the day with Chicken Biryani

Our team planned a New Year get-together in a forest area located about 10 kilometers from the city. It was a lush green space, home to tall trees, a small waterfall, and serene natural beauty.

The sound of birds chirping and the sight of the morning mist hanging gently over the forest gave it a magical atmosphere.

We split ourselves into two jeeps early that Sunday morning and drove through winding paths until we reached our destination.

It was everything one could hope for—tranquil, untouched, and absolutely perfect for a picnic. We had carried cooking utensils, a portable stove, and of course, a few bottles of wine to keep spirits high.

And the main dish of the day?

Chicken Biryani.

Now, allow me a moment of modest pride—my team already knew that I am specialised in cooking chicken biryani.

They insisted that I be the one to prepare it for the celebration. I gladly accepted. Cooking in the lap of nature, surrounded by happy colleagues and birdsong, sounded like the perfect way to begin the year.

😂 Cooking Begins, Spirits Rise

Everyone took on a task. Some began chopping onions and garlic, others cleaned the chicken, and washed the rice. The fire was lit, and my massive biryani pot was placed carefully on the stove.

As the aroma of roasting spices and marinated chicken began to waft through the forest air, a kind of magic filled the place.

Laughter echoed through the trees, the waterfall provided background music, and glasses clinked gently as wine bottles were opened.

Some colleagues began relaxing under trees, while others took to exploring the nearby stream. Meanwhile, I was focused on creating my biryani masterpiece, one spice at a time.

💙 The Unexpected Twist

Just as we were setting up for the final cooking stage—letting the biryani simmer over a slow flame—Mr. Mohanty, one of our senior staff members, offered to fetch some water from a nearby lake. Moments later, he came running back, visibly alarmed.

“I just saw fresh elephant dung,” he said, breathless. “That means a herd must have passed through here recently—and they could still be nearby!”

We all fell silent. What had started as a cheerful picnic had suddenly taken a tense turn. The forest, which had earlier felt peaceful and inviting, now seemed ominously quiet.

🚨 Locals Warn Us

Almost instantly, two local villagers appeared, panting and wide-eyed.

“You need to leave now,” one of them said urgently. “A herd of elephants is nearby. They were spotted just minutes ago, moving in this direction.”

The words sent a shiver down everyone’s spine. Even the trees seemed to whisper danger. Before we could process what was happening, we heard it—

A deep rumbling growl, followed by branches cracking. And then—trumpeting.

The elephants were very close.

💙 A Great Escape (But No Biryani)

Panic spread like wildfire. Nobody waited to pack up utensils or collect wine bottles. We abandoned everything—the stove, the half-cooked biryani, our picnic setup—and rushed back to our jeeps.

I looked back once—my carefully layered biryani sat there, unattended, the steam still rising gently into the air.

In just a couple of minutes, we were driving at full speed, bouncing over roots and rocks, hearts pounding. It wasn’t until we reached a safe distance that we finally exhaled.

Some of us laughed nervously, some stayed silent, and some were still holding their wine glasses—untouched.

We were safe. But the biryani… oh, the biryani!

🤦 The Lost Biryani and a Lesson in Letting Go

It took some time for the shock to wear off. We joked about how the elephants probably enjoyed our meal or at least appreciated the aroma. I couldn’t help but smile through the regret—I never got to taste my own biryani that day.

Worse, I missed hearing the compliments I had hoped to earn from the team.

But what we lost in food, we gained in experience—a rare adventure that none of us would forget.

Even today, whenever I cook biryani at home, I can almost hear the echo of elephant trumpets and the laughter of that morning.

💙 So, What Foods Would I Like to Make?

The answer, dear reader, is biryani, of course. The one dish that got away. I still make it occasionally—carefully layering the rice, frying the onions just right, and slow-cooking the meat till it falls apart tenderly.

But no version has ever quite matched the one I made in that forest, even if it was never eaten. Perhaps it’s because cooking is not just about food—it’s about the moment, the memory, and the people.

If I could cook one meal again, it would be that exact biryani, with those same colleagues, in a safe, elephant-free picnic spot.

✨ Final Submission

The writing prompt asked: “What foods would you like to make?”
My answer is layered, much like a biryani itself.

I’d like to cook food that brings people together, food that tells a story, food that even a wild elephant might pause to smell.

Because in the end, it’s not just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the laughter shared while chopping onions, the fear faced together in a jungle, and the smile that a memory brings back even years later.

So yes, I still owe my team a good biryani—and maybe this New Year, it’s finally time to deliver it… but this time, in a safe backyard 😂😂

BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE

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Categories: ##Memoire

Tags: #Travel, cooking, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2003, featured, food, recipes