Food tastes different alone

I never realised how much of eating was about the person sitting beside me until I started eating alone.

My brother and I had this habit of sharing everything we ate. If course we did not do it on the first go. We used to fight cats and dogs over who gets the big bite. But, we shared. It didn't matter it a packet of chips or the cake in fridge.

We would always find ways ways to turn one person's food to both of our problems. Sometimes we didn't even need proper plates. We would stand in the kitchen eating straight from the container sharing same spoon. JD amma brought something special, we would hear the sound of the cover opening from opposite end of the house and appear in the kitchen within seconds.

And now, I eat all those things alone. And I get to eat the whole part but guess what, something is missing.

The chips are still crunchy. The biryani still tastes the same and the cake is as sweet as I remember. But I finish my bite without stealing a bite or taking more in my plate to assert domainance and without arguments about who took more or anyone to blame for the missing last piece.

Now I am eating the whole thing myself without giving anything to anyone just the way I hoped for. And somehow, I don't enjoy it as much I wish that I did.

I used to think the best part of having my favourite food alone was being able to eat as much as I can. Now I think the best wart actually was having someone beside you to make even ordinary food feel amazing.

I miss those silly arguments. I miss pretending to be annoyed when he does that little dance when he stole the last piece. I miss sacunt the last piece for him while saying myself that I wouldn't.

I don't know when we will sit together and eat like that again or how many more meals will pass before that.

But sometimes, when I make something good or eats something good, my first instict is thinking that my brother would love that. And for a moment, I totally understand why they say food hold memories.

And that doesn't mean that if I time travel I will willingly give my big piece to him or will not have arguments about it but I will cherish thoses moments more and realise that we truly don't have all day.