mmmmouthfuls of it

Sometimes one unexpectedly stumbles onto a little nugget which promptly transports you back into your childhood. Since my very own is a food related one, naturally it has to make a mention here.

Small general 'kirana' stores are abound in the lane leading to my current abode. Every day to and fro work I stop and pick up varied things that strike my fancy - curds, breads, buns (with tutti fruity), biscuits, soap, detergent and so on.

Yesterday I chanced on a sweet which I thought I would not enjoy anymore. But seeing it full in the glass jar, red and beckoning, I jsut could not resist. I asked the shop keeper 'yeh kaise diya' (excuse the bambaiyya hindi) and she said ek rupaiya ke teen. I almost leaped up in glee.

Where one rupee does not even buy minimu bus fare, a stamp, a pepsi(not the bottled drink) or even a cheeing gum (chewing gum), I was geting three of them in one single rupeeeee! This is a sweet called 'KissMi', packaged in red waxed paper and has a silhoutte of a man and woman clinging together and what I imagine, dancing to imaginary strains.

As a kid I used to love this toffee (and continue to love it). It is still the right consistency. Soft, yet slightly firm, not too sweet and does not promise any thing grand like chocolate centers or caramely softness or any other flavours. Its just plain toffee. The kind I imagine mothers and good fairys always made in Enid Blyton books.

And also when you are child toffees and chocolates are always rationed and perhaps thats why the memory is even sweeter. I bought five rupess worth and don't think it even lasted till the end of the evening. Today I will go back and pick up some more.. loads more.

PS Its now mostly available in bars (the flat kinds) now.