mushrooming in the monsoons

Monsoons are a great time to be in Kerala,especially if the house was on the backwaters and as far away from civilization as possible.The reason being that it rains and rains nonstop and as kids we always wondered how Noah built his ark.But the real story is the one of the mushrooms.Soon after the rains we would rush out into the fields surrounding the house,baskets in hand.There would be a dime a dozen fresh mushrooms,literally mushrooming around the place.We would scramble to pick the most number,fresh from the soil,the aroma of rain and wet earth was a heady mixture.We were taught how to differentiate between the regular ones and the poisonous ones but for the life of me I cant remember what it was.
The fresh mushrooms unlike the super market variety were thin,spindly ones and a grayish brown in colour.
They would be washed and mixed with grated coconut,steamed over a hot coal fire and served up garnished with mustard and curry leaves.Even before it was served up we would spoon it off the mud pots in which it was cook and relish the aftermath of the monsoons,mushroom style.
Why of why have those grasslands given way to concrete jungles.Why do we have to buy mushrooms from the supermarket all packed in plastic when all it required were bare hands.Well one thing even concrete jungles cant take away are my memories.I can still smell fresh rain drenched earth long after the cement has taken over.

The burger man

Its pouring rain and like mother Hubbard's cupboard,there is nothing in mine.Hunger drives me out of the house to the local shop to pick up stuff.Charmed the husband into driving in the rain which means that I don't need to get out of the car.He is very fussy about the car getting dirty and calamity Jane like me will put muddy feet on the mat .So to avoid all that he will get off in the rain,run to the shop and pick up stuff while I watch the world go by from the misty window of the car.
There are many shops in the place that once had just a sprawling house.Now there is a grocery store,vegetable shop,florist,soup stall,snack bar and a burger joint.All of them doing brisk business.Everyone stops for something or the other.The burger place is what gets my attention.It has the picture of a hamburger on it and a real good photograph at that.Looks good enough to eat,if you don't care for the junk bits.
The chap manning the stall is busy creating the burger.First he slathers a bun with tomato sauce,diluted many times over.Then on goes onion rings,tomato slices,some soggy vegetable cutlet which has been fried in old heated many times over.To top it all there is a slice of cheese.It looks nothing like the photograph but its ready and waiting for its next victim.
In the heavy downpour,a family leaves the grocery store.Their two children tag along behind them.Its pretty obvious that these kids have been fed on a diet of chips,coke,and all the junk one can get in the many fast food places.Suddenly the burger man steps out of this stall and beams at the two children.He exchanges a few words and the magic happens.The children tug at their fathers arm and insist on a burger.The hapless man doesn't stand a chance.He orders two and the kids light up with glee.The rain doesn't matter,they chomp with relish on the burger and if that's not enough the burger man has convinced them that one is not enough so they pack two for the road.
The soup stall isn't doing too badly either.They have tomato,mushroom,plantain pith and vegetable soup.Its been heated many times over and is hot and tempting.People line up with little paper cup for a glass of the brew.They look at the people at the burger place in disdain.These are the healthy ones,they stick to soup.If only they would look behind to the kitchen.No self respecting person would eat from a kitchen of that kind but who cares.This whole food business is a fad,something to talk about and a place to meet friends and hang out.
It doesn't cost much to set up so why am I looking at them and bitching about them when I ought to put my skills to good use and start a salad bar?.Why not indeed,perhaps I lack the will,or its just an excuse to do nothing.Oh well I did get inspired enough to make my version of a beef burger at home