Learning to Cook

Before he went to university, Leo could only make toast and boiled eggs. His mother had always cooked for the family, and he had never paid much attention to what happened in the kitchen. When he moved into a shared flat in another city, he quickly realised that this was going to be a problem.\n\nFor the first two weeks, Leo lived on cheap pizza and instant noodles. He felt tired all the time, and his small amount of money disappeared fast. One evening, a flatmate named Priya was cooking a colourful vegetable curry, and the smell filled the whole flat. Leo asked if she could teach him.\n\nPriya was happy to help. She showed him how to chop vegetables safely, how to use spices, and why it was important to taste the food while cooking. The first dishes Leo made were not perfect. Once he added far too much salt, and another time he burned the rice completely.\n\nLittle by little, however, he improved. By the end of the year, Leo could cook several healthy meals, and he even invited friends for dinner. Cooking had become something he genuinely enjoyed, not just a way to survive. He realised that learning a practical skill had also made him feel more independent and confident.