Something struck me while I was busily cooking yesterday. Of course, not physically. Umm…wait a minute, it could have been physically too. Perhaps that was what put me on to this train of thought. Whatever, that doesn’t matter now. The nub of the matter is this, something did strike me, a thought actually, and it went thus:

Mustard seeds are wily things.

(Disclaimer: Not ALL mustard seeds though, let me make that abundantly clear lest the mustard seeds as a whole rise in rebellion against poor old me!).

They, the mustard seeds, look so tiny, innocent, cute, and helpless too. All this while still in the bottle or even when you inadvertently drop them on to the kitchen platform or floor. (THAT is supposed to bring you bad luck, but that’s for another day). When dropped anywhere, they roll away, helplessly, unable to stop themselves, till something acts as a stopper, ending their free-form roll, if you can call it that.

Looks though can be deceptive. Let me explain.

All that is expected of the mustard seeds in life, is to crackle when put in hot oil and stay put while at it for the cumin, fenugreek, curry leaves, dried red chillies and/or finely cut shallots -and sometimes grated coconut too!- to join in and make it all a spectacular party. The logical end to it all is when together they splash into a curry (of whatever kind, and on which depends the combinations) with a Big Bang, or Huge Hiss if you prefer, in a grand finale.

But

Mustard seeds are wily things. #NotAllMustardSeeds

Instead of meekly, and obediently, following the plans well laid out for them by humans (who else?), they try with all the wilyness at hand, to ‘jump ship’ as it were as soon as they are dropped into hot, smoking oil. I dare say being dropped into smoking hot oil is not everyone’s cup of joy. It is not yours, and it certainly is not mine. In our defence though I have got this to say, we are not mustard seeds whose destiny it is to be an ingredient in the seasoning.

Anyways..

Mustard seeds, or atleast a significant number of them, are fighting their true destiny. Imagine the fate of the hundreds of curries where it is the mustard seeds spluttered in oil that adds the right touch, without which the curry would be nothing but a damp squib. Do the mustard seeds think of that horrifying scenario humans would have to deal with? Do they understand the gravity of the situation of curries bereft of the little black dots enhancing their flavour? The answer is a ringing ‘No!’

I catch them routinely jumping high, and out of the wok and lying around dotting my milk-white kitchen counter. What they think they have achieved by this, I have no clue. Some try to hide between the beading of the gas stove and the back wall. Why, a few of them even take a swipe at my hands or arms while at it, jumping as high as my chin or cheeks and singeing me, before falling to the floor and rolling off in an attempt to escape, the con artists!

Do you know what really happens to these escaped mustard seeds? They are wiped off the counter, swept off the floor, and then are thrown unceremoniously into a dustbin. INTO A DUSTBIN!

Hmm… makes me wonder.

Wily as the thingamabobs are, the escape artists among them apparently lack the brains for real strategy and/or perspective. What’s the use of valiantly escaping to only end up in dustbins instead of staying put and adding character to curries meant for human tummies? Such a sad ending to what could have been a wonderful life is all I can say.

Psst! I tried to take a picture of the wily mustards dotting my kitchen counter, the milky white one I spoke about, but they have mysteriously gone missing. It could be that the L&M sent them packing to the dust bin while I went to get the phone. Do you know what I think though? They are up to new tricks to confound me. Ha, but little do they know that I have my detective cap on. 😉

©️ Shail Mohan 2025