Contrary to what you’ve heard, I haven’t run off to perform item numbers in Bollywood (although refusing stampeding hordes of directors is tiresome, ohhh my throbbing temples!) My online silence stemmed from an inconvenient brat called Life who sometimes demands our exclusive attention. Posts will be skimpy for a while, so bear up, will you? But now that I’m here, and with Naurooz/Jamshedi Navroze right around the corner, let’s revive our Parsipanu section!
Today’s phrase, uniquely my community’s and one that amuses me most is:
“Tohri sasoo kanda khai”
Pronounced: taw-ree saa-soo kaan-daa khaa-y
Direct translation: May your mother-in-law eat onions.
[Credits: Picture by Robert Recker/Corbis. Located on Google Images.]
Why onions? Who knows. Perhaps we secretly love to see our mothers-in-law weep. Maybe the speaker wants all the eeda to herself and so wishes the humble onion on the sasoo. Or it could be that feeding one’s mother-by-marriage stinky bulbs is a legit way to stay away. Whatever the motivation, this phrase is used as an exclamation when one has done something foolish, best said while slapping palm to forehead.
For example:
Oops, I added salt twice to the chicken gravy!
Tohri sasoo kanda khai! Now throw in a few potatoes to absorb the excess.
So this Navroze, wish someone’s mother-in-law a mouthful of onions—but be sure to keep yours happy with a box of mithai. 😉
Navroze Mubarak, people. This Spring, may we look at life anew, and kiss second chances full on the mouth.
Wisdom Wears Neon Pyjamas 
Vox populi