-----Cooking Shutki (Dried) Fish-----
Once upon a time, when my Dad was still living, somebody from our complex catered for Shutki Fish to our family with love. Little did they know that it was a fish that had a peculiar smell, which none of us in the family other than Dad dreamed of cooking it, least of all appetizing it.
Now that it lay on the dining table, Dad asked Mom to cook it. She showed such fury that he dared not ask her again. Next in line I was the victim. I didn't like it either and touching and cooking it seemed like a bizarre idea. Yet I took the task, boiling in suppressed anger. Dad coached me, and soon it was getting cooked on the stove. I went to my room for a short rest.
When I was emerging out of my room, Dad asked humorously, "Are you done yet?" At this point I hid my face with all my hair and blurted out angrily, "Not yet!" He followed me to the kitchen and he asked in a low tone, "Does it smell?" It was then I realized it didn't smell unlike the other ones of the same species. It was for the first time I smiled. Dad laughed and I felt silly and laughed as well to my heart's content. Soon it was ready to be served, and he had his whole share of it, since none of us would still not dare taste it.
Sure, it was one of the many blissful, memorable moments of sharing a laugh with Dad. It will stay inside me for all ages to come.