Noticing that “not only raanbhaaji,” forest vegetables, “but there are a lot of crabs here,” the architect asked during walk inside the jungle, “Do they bite?” “Yes. But only if you catch them,” the medicinal healer assuaged her. “There is another type of crab,” he gestured to his palm size, “Big and hefty, and black in colour.” “Oh, I just saw one earlier,” the architect promptly acknowledged. The healer’s response, “Those only come out at night, not in daylight,” punctured the architect’s self-assurance. As both began laughing, the healer continued, “We go with a torch at night to catch,” the big black crabs. “From them, we make Surva for those who ail from asthma. It is like a broth,” he explained, “First, one has to remove the shell and extract its juice. Then you can shred its flesh. Cook both lightly with chopped onion, spices and water. Surva will be ready. One can have it regularly to heal asthma.” “You see,” an adivasi youth added, “earlier there were no doctors or hospitals, no? This broth is also used as a cure for fever. Crabs have a lot of calcium, no?”
Gesturing to a plant in front, the healer asked, “You see these leaves? We call the plant Daana. At monsoon’s onset, these small-small leaves grow on rocks. We pluck and chop the leaves and stem. After cleaning them with fresh water, we temper toor daal with these and garlic. Surva tastes better if you use these leaves. Try tasting one. It’s a bit sour.” “Hmm, it's good! It's a bit tangy,” the architect described its taste, face shrivelled.