Pepper rasam - a refreshing drink - for all seasons.

I live in flat no.2 , in the flat next to me lives a bachelor, Manish Mudaliar. He goes to work all day and returns late at night A couple of months back his parents came to visit him. That week end I did not see Manish at all - we would meet sometimes for a few minutes, whenever I wanted to borrow his Eco.Times. Of course apart from this when he just moved in, I had gate crashed into his house one morning and demanded a cup of tea. All in the name of getting to know the new neighbour !.. Manish makes good tea, and after exchanging names, I returned home.

I was wondering where Manish had disappeared. I rang his door bell. His mother opened the door. Where's Manish I asked. she replied.. he had a bad cough and cold , today he has been to the doctor, and taken medicine. "He is sleeping now". After a couple of hours when Manish was not yet visible, I went to ask about him. His mother said, he is much better now. he is resting. I stood there and thought for one minute.

"A case for good old pepper rasam. I went into my kitchen, and got ready to make some pepper rasam for Manish.

A quick phone call to my sister Leelu, the wizard cook in our house (Leelu lives in Pune) O.K. Leelu said now soak 2 or 3 pieces of imli (tamarind) and squeeze out the water , then take half a teaspoon of jeera and a half teaspoon of black pepper..crush the two together roughly.
In a vessel put one and a half teaspoon ghee, when hot put in a quarter teaspoon of rye (mustard seeds)., about 8 or 10 kadi patha leaves, a quarter teaspoon hing, then add the crushed jeera and black pepper, and 8 or 10 nice big garlic pods, beat each one with a heavy weight. Add all the garlic pods into the rasam. Fry for two minutes, add tamarind water, a quarter spoon haldi and necessary salt. Now add three cups of water and let it simmer for ten minutes.
The pepper rasam is ready !..

I filled two cups of rasam into a suitable vessel . I rang Manish's bell. He opened the door.
I gave him the rasam and told him to drink it just now. "Thank you aunty," he said.
After 15 or 20 minutes, he rang my door bell, "Aunty did you make it?" he asked.
"Yes", I answered.
"I drank all of it", he said. "It was so good. I feel great now". He was smiling.

Pepper rasam never fails !..My panacea or all ills.