From Kitchen Clueless to Cooking Curious: My Lockdown Story

I’ll admit it right off the bat—I don’t do cooking. Like, at all. The kitchen has always been my wife Lovely’s domain, and she’s incredible at it. She whips up meals that make you feel like you’re dining at a five-star restaurant. In contrast, I’m more of the “pass me the takeout menu” kind of person. But then came the lockdown in Mumbai, and everything changed—well.

How the Lockdown Pulled Me Into the Kitchen

During those strange days of being cooped up in our little Mumbai apartment, something unexpected happened. With restaurants closed and no one to deliver food, I had no choice but to step into the kitchen. Lovely was still doing most of the heavy lifting. However, I decided it was time to learn a thing or two. I won’t lie—it was intimidating. For someone who couldn’t tell cumin from coriander, even chopping onions felt like climbing Mount Everest.

My First (and Only) Signature Dishes

Let me be clear: I didn’t suddenly become a MasterChef contestant. My cooking experiments were as basic as it gets—think dal, rice, and maybe an omelet on a good day. But there was something oddly satisfying about it. The first time I managed to make dal without turning it into a salty disaster was an achievement. It almost felt like winning an Olympic medal. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. Lovely was kind enough to taste my creations and not laugh too hard when things didn’t go as planned.

Lessons From a Pro

Watching Lovely cook during those days gave me a whole new appreciation for what she does every day. She makes it look so effortless—like she’s conducting a symphony while I’m just trying not to burn the toast. Her patience with my clumsy attempts taught me that cooking isn’t just about making food; it’s about care and creativity.

Back to My Comfort Zone

Now that life is back to normal, so is my relationship with cooking—or lack of it. Lovely works her magic. I am her biggest fan. I stick to my role as the official dish-washer. Those lockdown days taught me something valuable. Cooking isn’t just about feeding yourself. It’s about trying, learning, and sometimes failing. And that’s okay.

So no, I’m not a chef now, and I probably never will be. I rarely step into the kitchen. But when I do, I remember those moments of figuring things out during lockdown. I smile. And honestly? It makes me appreciate Lovely’s cooking even more than I already did—which is saying something!

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