Last nite I had my last dinner of 2007 at the famous National Dhaba in Bandra. This place is non-descript and 3 feet below road level yet is iconic in the history of Bollywood. Ugh.. I hate that word! Back to the history of the cafe.. This place has been alive since.. well a long time and has been home to some of the famous stars of yesteryear like Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna, Jackie Shroff, etc. Why am I dropping names? To iterate that I had the best sarson ki saag and makki di roti on New Year's Eve in such hallowed premises. Not really.. like i give a shit about some famous rich actors :P However the food is excellent and noteworthy since I ate there every single night for my first two years in tinseltown. No indigestion or tummy-upsets. All food cooked over burning hot coals. No fancy gas stoves and electric chimneys. This place provides me of memories of a life so rudimentary, rustic and raw. Its not just the cuisine and style of cooking that elicit such reverie. The old sardar sitting at the counter is as antiquated as his institution. He swears by his healthy cuisine and will not serve aerated drinks or chaas (spiced buttermilk) at night for health reasons. His toothy smile, bespectacled face and tiny turban (actually he has a small head) is painted on the landscapes of my memory for meals to come.
This was the highlight of my night. I felt gratified. It never ceases to surprise me how much food governs the mood. Having studied the various nutrients required my the body and the effects they have on the brain; it still is incredible when i actually experience it within. If I had to choose my favourite body organ, I would gladly forego that which makes me what I am (hint: I'm male!) and nominate instead my stomach for the esteemed position.
Gliding in the glorious afterglow I found myself at a Barrista meeting another Sardar, his wife and cranky pampered brat. I decided to indulge in something chilled like maybe an Iced Tea (peach). Big mistake! It was sweet and way too much considering I had just had 5 makki di rotis! So much for that peaceful easy feeling the Eagles described so perfectly. I now was bloated and felt like the anchor of a ship being dropped down.
Let this be your New Year resolution I told myself: Eat Light, Smile Bright!
With resolute determination and a heavy load I embarked on a journey back home to enjoy the other great pleasure that life offers to the innocent; a good night's sleep! The rickshaw driver however had other plans. He asked me a question which set off a flurry of ruffled opinions. "Do you feel like its New Year's Eve?" he asked. I let off a tirade of fiery statements about the commercialization of just another calendar date, about the basic rise and fall of the star we know as the sun that signifies a day in our lifes and how it's pristine sanctity is being defiled and desecrated by celebrating one day over the other. Luckily I had a sympathetic listener who almost succeeded in ripping me off 20 bucks with his earnest endeavour to listen to me. Unluckily for him, he met an old scoundrel who depsite his mere 3 decades on the planet feels more like Rip Van Winkle yet is as mentally agile as a petty pick-pocket.
If I were to paint a self-potrait, It would be of a young man sitting in a old man's bar waiting for his turn to die..
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3 comments:
you'd give up the thing tht makes u a male over your stomachh yeahh righttt.. oh waitt ud still have ure tonguee.. ok maybeeeee.
i want to see this uderground dhabba.
well... Yet I would like to wish u a fantabulous New year 2008...It sure is just another day of the year , just another date in d calendar , just another sunrise and the sunset ..and the same old moon and the stars shooting up and it the attendance register puts a "P" against it . however , we , rather I cannot overlook the fact that it gives a reason for many friends to meet and talk out and catch up .., many mother in laws and daughter in laws might get a ground to forget their misunderstandings in d midst of festivity , many lovers might hold their hands and promise never to leave their hands for many years to come, many orphans might get lot of cakes and sweets for treat ,many would take it as a chance for a new beginning and set up few more resolutions to make them stronger, and many other such examples,,, also not to overlook those like us who would consider it just another day , however not to forget we do get a chance to reflect on the matter ,how many a mind celebrate on just another day ..just like in ur case in here , yes u spent yet another day in a dhaba wid some lovely au naturale food and drinks which u experienced before as well, yet the fact that , half the world is celebrating , burning crackers and are with frens and family ...and for u it was just another day .. well I guess it was not or u would not have given it a thought and posted it in here ... ahoy !!! am i confusing u ?? I guess I am not, rather I hope I am not ..however.. 2008 ain't gonna wait ? well an old saying .. time is flowing .. and does not wait for anybody .......and as u said .. 2008 is just another man made understanding of time and space .. other wise it is flowinggg forever .... ahem ! however , I surely envy that RIckshaw wallah ... tee hee ! darn !
Nope - you still have 2 years before you are here for 3 decades, little one.
Maybe you are an old man in a young man's body - but i reserve my comments on that.
Miss you too! :-)
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