If you could choose to eat at home instead of at the school canteen, would you say yes? Most of the YYHS students might. Not me. My mother’s culinary skills are terrible.

Mother is a health-conscious woman. In order to make her meals wholesome enough, she uses no condiments in her cooking except for salt and a bit of oil. All the ingredients in the world would end up with the same taste in her hands. I have told her, time and again, that her meals are not to my liking, but Mother doesn’t care. She still prepares the family fare in her “healthy” way, with some salt and a little oil. I cannot stand it!

Even though I am a day student, I am able to eat only breakfast at home because of anti-pandemic rules and restrictions. Lunch and supper are served at the school canteen. Compared with Mother’s offerings at home, canteen meals, rich in flavour, are delicacies.

One morning I was roused by some weird noises. I checked the time. It was still 5.30! It was still pitch dark outside. Who in the world was making the noises out there at such an early hour? Sleep time is precious for me. I flew into such a fit of rage that I shot out of bed and threw open the door.

The light in the kitchen was on. In the kitchen stood a woman making breakfast. It was none other than Mum. She had got up before everyone else to do breakfast exclusively for me. The other family members were still in bed. Tears misted my eyes.

These days eating breakfast at home, I think it is the best meal in the world despite its plain taste.