Dear OPOS,

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Thank you.

From one of your several patrons.

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You arrived in Melbourne in November 2020, nestled within an Agarwal Movers and Packers carton box, buried under heaps of Diwali फराळ as a Diwali gift from Didi. Engrossed in uncovering all the sweets and savoury items,  my excitement died before it was your turn, and you remained stuck inside the box.

I wonder if there was more to it than just my inertia.

Perhaps I wasn’t ready to have you in my life. Old habits are hard to break, and old relationships harder. I was committed to my cooking style and devoted to my pots and pans, spoons and ladles. And why wouldn’t I be? The Instagram madness  I was trying to keep up with—at least, I thought I was—demanded cooking dishes that not only tasted and looked beautiful, but also showcased a variety of cooking techniques.

Just a month after you arrived, I went for my first Vipassana course, and shortly after that, in early next year, I took my first Permaculture course. In the attempt to integrate newly learned practices into my daily life, there was hardly any time left to spend with you. Towards the end of the year, when border restrictions were being waived, I got a chance to visit India. I took you along, hoping to unbox you there. However, local trips, my struggle to quit smoking and other health challenges hardly left any scope for creative pursuits.

After spending almost 9 months in India, it was time to return to Melbourne. This time I was genuinely considering giving you a fair trial. Part of the reason was that by now I had bid farewell to Instagram—at least one addiction taken care of- and another reason was that I had to find a new place to live, which meant a new kitchen, a new beginning. 

After securing a job and moving to a new apartment, I started setting up my kitchen. Still struggling to quit smoking, I wasn’t keen on trying out anything new and found solace in my older ways of cooking. Everything around me had changed, but you were oblivious to it, being housed in the cardboard box.

For someone who loves to whistle in triumph and release their steam when surrounded by heat, to be waiting in the dark and cold environment of the box, isolated, without whistling even once for almost two years would have been dispiriting.

The tide began to change.

I got over my addiction to smoking. With renewed energy, I started adopting a healthy lifestyle. Instead of taking the train, I rode to work. Enrolled in swimming lessons. To cement my resolve not to go back to unhealthy ways of living, I signed up for my second Vipassana course.

The course turned out to be profoundly beneficial. I took an adhiṭṭhāna to maintain my daily meditation practice. Daily 2 hours of meditation, riding to work and swimming lessons after work meant I could reserve only an hour to cook and eat dinner. How do I cook my meals in such a limited time without compromising on nutrition and flavours?

The time had come to let go of my older ways and welcome you into my life.

OPOS - One Pot, One Shot Pressure Baker

Getting to know you initially seemed like it would involve a steep learning curve, but I was mistaken. By offering a helping hand in the form of flashcards, you helped me navigate the process step by step. The first step was standardisation.

OPOS Flash card - Standardisation

After standardisation, the entire process of preparing a meal was simplified to picking up a flashcard and following the printed instructions precisely. As a software engineer with a keen interest in cooking, this seemed achievable to me. I had a bottle gourd in my kitchen, so I searched for the relevant flashcard.

OPOS Flash card - Flash Juicy Veggies.

As instructed on the card, I added all the ingredients, closed the lid, and placed you on the stove. My mind was racing with various thoughts. I was accustomed to cooking in an open pot where I could see what was happening, allowing me to intervene if necessary. Now, I had to trust that everything would turn out well, and that was not easy for me. What if the food was overcooked? What if it remained undercooked? What if it burned? The fact that there was a "Standardization" process before helped me stay calm while everything was cooking. In just 2 whistles / 4 minutes, I would know whether I wanted to continue this relationship with you. It was time to release the pressure and face the truth.

As instructed, I marvelled at the colour.

They say, “When you see it, there is no need to believe it”. I was convinced that the bitter gourd was perfectly cooked. The flavor was well-balanced, and it looked fantastic, showing no loss of color or nutrition. I had no complaints at all. I reserved an hour to prepare my meal, but you delivered it in just two whistles! The total time it took me to prep, cook, eat, and wash the dishes was under 40 minutes. You exceeded all my expectations. This was a no-brainer—you were moving in!

It's no surprise that you're called a MagicPot. The experience of preparing a meal feels like watching a magic show. Draw a flash card, place all the ingredients in the pot, close the lid, and abracadabra! When the whistle sounds, it's the grand finale, and out comes a delicious dish amidst the steam!

From that day onward, I rushed home every evening to witness the magic.

Gobhi Masala

5 whistles / 6 minutes.

Dal Khichdi

8 whistles / 10 minutes.

Dal Khichdi plus tadka

8 whistles / 10 minutes + tadka!

Paneer Masala

3 whistles.

Aloo Gobhi

2 whistles / 6 minutes.

Kadhai Paneer

3 whistles.

Aloo Matar

2 whistles / 6 minutes.

Veg Biryani

2 whistles / 10 minutes.

Eggplant Rice

2 whistles / 10 minutes.

Poha

1 whistle / 4 minutes.

Mushroom Biryani

2 whistles / 10 minutes.

Maa ki Dal

4 whistles / 7 minutes.

Chana Masala

8 whistles.

Matar Pulav

2 whistles / 8 minutes.

Moong Dal Dry

4 whistles / 7 minutes.

Maggi Noodles

1 whistle / 2 minutes.

Upma

1 whistle / 5 minutes.

Do you remember the night I invited my friend Apurv to dinner? I wanted him to see your tricks firsthand. To make the spectacle more engaging, I drew this card from the deck.

OPOS Flash Card - Rajma Chawal.

Until that day, I had been cooking either curry or rice at a time. That day I felt like showing off your abilities. I hadn’t tried this recipe before, but I knew you would not let me down in front of my friend. As I added the ingredients one by one, my friend watched with curiosity. He remarked that he had never seen anything like this before and was amazed that we were about to prepare Rajma Chawal—a dish that is typically complex and time-consuming when made using traditional methods—in just 5 whistles!

While we were counting the whistles, Apurv mentioned that he enjoyed cooking but found the order of adding ingredients, particularly spices, confusing. He wondered which spice should go in first, which one should follow, and how long to wait before adding the next spice. These uncertainties kept him away from the kitchen. I explained how you have helped overcome this challenge. So long as someone can read English, identify and measure the ingredients, and add them in the specified order, they can easily prepare a delicious meal. No cooking involved. You make a novice feel like a chef! That’s huge!

Our conversation was interrupted by the final whistle. We rushed to the stove, eagerly waiting for the pressure to settle. When we opened the lid, we smiled.

Rajma Chawal - cooked together.

We finished our meal, but the conversations continued to revolve around you. Toward the end of the evening, he said, “Bhaiya, agar kabhi earthquake hua toh baaki sab chhod dena, bas OPOS lekar bhaag jaana” (Brother, if there is ever an earthquake, leave everything else behind and just run away with the OPOS). We shared a good laugh at that moment; however, his words truly captured your importance in my life.

Fortunately, there wasn’t any earthquake. However, a few months later, I went on a road trip and eventually left all of my kitchen items behind, except one thing: you.

OPOS Magic Show. Breakfast at one of the camping spots during the road trip . Semia Upma / Vermicelli. 2 whistles / 6 minutes.

P.S : OPOS, perhaps it wasn’t just you in the box for two years, so was I.

Confessions from an Ex-Smoker

CHAPTER 3

THE ROAD TO LIBERATION

Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking Book Cover

..continued from Chapter 2.

I am not exaggerating. Allen Carr’s Easy Way To Stop Smoking has been my saviour. It saved me from further damaging my physical health. It saved me from countless moments of stress thereby reviving my mental health. At the peak of my smoking practice, I was spending almost 1000 AUD per month on cigarettes. So it saved heaps of money. Most importantly, it saved me from being a slave to cigarettes all my life.

All my previous approaches failed because the methods required faith. Faith in the concept that if you are strong enough to endure the cravings; if you have the willpower to not give in to the temptation, one day you will come out of misery; and if you can’t then you are not strong enough or lack willpower. This approach has a major flaw. It does not tell how will you know that you have permanently quit smoking. Or how many days do you have to keep faith before you can call yourself a non-smoker? A week? A month? A year ? or till you die? This approach promises you salvation but the result is lifelong misery. I was seeking liberation from my misery.

Allen Carr’s method is quite the opposite. It is based on reason and hence guarantees liberation.

First, Allen Carr describes the nature of the trap. Second, he describes why people remain in the trap even after realising they have fallen into it. Third, he offers a solution to come out of the trap. Fourth, he shows the path to break free from the trap. All you got to do is walk on the path and you’ll know the moment you liberate yourself from the trap. Permanently.

The solution works for all. The time required by every individual to liberate themselves would vary depending upon how deep they are stuck in the trap. Individuals stuck for years may require more time and practice while those who have recently fallen into the trap may easily come out with a little practice. Lucky would be those sitting on the fence who can avoid falling into the trap altogether.

Each chapter of the book, when understood fully, frees your mind from a nicotine-related mental association that was built over the years. With each subsequent chapter, you start feeling lighter. Allen Carr asks you to carry on smoking while you read the book. The more you walk on the path, the more you realise the futility of smoking. A moment will arrive when you will know that you are done with cigarettes. You don’t want them anymore. That’s when Allen Carr asks you to smoke your last cigarette.

After 4 readings of the book, which took me around 5 months, I smoked my last cigarette on 21st November 2022. I had the first puff. I coughed. Coughed again. I vividly recall I hated it. I couldn’t even finish it. I threw it after 2 puffs. I knew I would never have it again.