i want it now.

yesterday, i was craving for banana leaf rice. sooooo badly. before those inquisitive busybodies can have the opportunity to ask, i will state that i am not pregnant. nedeh.

for no reason whatsoever, i just felt like some delicious indian food, served on the banana leaf, the purpose of which is to add ambience or flavour, i have never figured out. i can almost taste the rich curry and the crunchy papadums. i must have it at all cost.

so, i made a date with hubby and mummy dearest to embark on the mission to source for my delectable treat. most of the places that i know of has closed down or moved. hubby proposed an indian restaurant nearby. but indian food is different from banana leaf indian. and what is the difference? *mimicking hubby's gruff tone*.

for one, there is no papadums. okay, if you ask for it, i am sure they can whip some out from some hidden god-forsaken place (no indian restaurant can get their operating license if they do not have some papadums hidden somewhere in their eatery) but it's still not the same, ok? and what is the difference? the difference is in asking for it or it becoming part and parcel of the meal. ask somemore and risk a quick clobber on the head.

the second difference is they don't have the condiments or little appetiser-thingy that they put on the top of the banana leaf. usually they are some kind of spicy-herby potato, cured cucumbers and etc ( i can only name these two because i am writing about this post-event lah).

and the biggest difference, for the ignorant people, is the absence of the banana leaf! ta dah! profound, wasn't it? so, smart hubby dearest cajoled me to go to the nearest indian restaurant (and hence easier travelling distance and parking for him). but didn't i say that it is different? waiiiiiittttt, not yet finish the sentence..........and bring my own banana leaf rice. *&%^%$@@

after some bashing, twisting and clubbing on the head, he finally conceded to have lunch with me at a club that was once famous for its banana leaf rice, many many moons ago. ahhhhh! one step closer to my banana leaf rice. this arrogant place only accepts members and their oh so valuable membership card. riff-raffs like myself are kept out and looked upon with disdain. aha! but since my secret weapon, mummy dearest, has that powerful tool, i have the luxury of indulging in my craving. ooohh, the saliva is starting to form in the corner of my mouth.

i shall not elaborate too much on the actual lunch, for the benefit of readers who have not taken their meal of the day. but i shall say this; the curry was thick and hot, the fried chicken aromatic, the rice soft and warm and the curry sauce yuuuuuuummilicious. oops. i did say i won't elaborate on it, didn't i? haha. call me wicked. anyway, you get the gist.

fast forward 15 minutes later. three big stomachs protruding and three empty banana leafs. burrrrrrrp! you know what is the best thing in the world? when you suddenly have a craving and you get to fulfill that craving without much delay? (for once you let the desire cool, it's not the same anymore). almost like scratching an itch. ok, come bill time. wellllll, i may be a filial daughter but since this is a 'members only' club, i don't even make the effort to fight for the bill with my mother. she reached for her member's card and passed it to a wandering waiter.

he came back to inform us that the card is a very old one. uhhhh, hello, we can tell from the afro hairstyle my mother's picture was sporting. sooooo? well, it seems that it can't be used anymore. we have to take the card to the office and get it updated. immediately. right now. this instant. otherwise they cannot swipe the card and we cannot pay for our food. which is all fine with us since the food is safely tucked into our tummies. but being decent folks, we naturally insist that we must pay for it. on the other hand, that filling curry and mountain of rice have made my behind quite big and heavy and me a little lazy to track all the way to the office, wait whilst some clerk, who probably is also out for lunch, fix the card and then track all the way back. we wanted to settle the issue by paying cash but it seems that it was not possible. club rules. yes, but my behind is also very lazy. my rule.

with a little persuasion, a little manja and a little 'so-what-can-you-do-i want-to-pay-but-i-don't-want-to-trek-to-mount-everest-and-back' attitude, she finally told me to wait for her in the toilet in a low conspiratorial voice. quick sex in return for lunch?!?! to an overweight middle aged indian lady? i am not that desperate!

anyway, in a situation that feels a little like an undercover spy or gangster movie, cash changed hands in a dirty and narrow hallway. ahhhhhh...the beauty of malaysia and its ever flexible people.

so, that was a fulfilling and satisfying lunch.