The place

                                                     

I was looking for one place in the jungle of thousand shops, among the countless number of people in the immense market of Dadar, like finding a rare fish in the gigantic sea.

"The biggest challenge you face after moving to a new city is finding the perfect meal maker."

- ‘Amature 9 to 5 employee’ 

The Vedas describes the process of finding a perfect place to eat as similar to finding a perfect bride for a helpless groom.

Just like this process, you must set your bar very low.

"Less expectation can lead to a perfect, happy life."

- ‘Maharshi Anonymous.’

When you compare two processes, you realize:

• Both processes are too long and chaotic.

• As part of both processes, you need to see every place possible to regret less later.

• Don't take your mother as an ideal in either process.

• Strong connections are needed in both processes.

The chances to find a food that tastes like your mother's homemade food and find a bride like your mother is minus infinity, according to Mr Aryabhata.

In this way, the researcher discovered the first use of minus infinity.

Thus, after several seatings for a perfect bride, I mean for a perfect food maker, I almost lost all faith in humanity. The result of my visits to various restaurants was devastating. After watching my various unsuccessful attempts, my roommate suggested one day that I should visit 'Hotel Sukhsagar.'

It was a dull, humid day as I scoured the jungle of thousand shops and the endless sea of people in the immense market of Dadar for something to look for, like looking for a Paedocypris fish in a gigantic ocean. 'Hotel Sukhsagar' seemed like the last hope I had.

After taking so many opinions of local Panvalas and Vadapav connoisseurs, I realized that this hotel must be a celebrity place because, in a place like Mumbai where people do not even know their neighbour’s name, everybody knows perfect navigation of this hotel with the accurate left and right turns. 

Finally, I saw a small old building hidden behind a sari market and some vegetable stands.

As I entered, I saw a small room that had been converted into a hotel, neat and clean tables for seating and eating, Usha fans hanging from the ceiling and a few table fans arranged perfectly on the sidewalls. A big counter where an elderly, fat guy with a weird haircut and mustache sat on the circular chair in the entrance and a written frame said 'The customer is God.'

After watching my confused and new face, he asked me, “बोलिये!”

“I am coming here for lunch!” I replied.

“Okay, go and sit there!”

“What about the charges?” I asked hesitantly.

“પેલા ખાઈ તો લે!!” He replied. (At least first, finish your lunch!)

‘Gujarati’...I smiled, no actually I blushed! Finally, I’ve got one match.

I sat at a table facing the door, so I could watch the chaos of the bazaar. A guy came and arranged all the plates one by one. Then like a perfect synchronization one guy came with that utensil of sabji where you can put four sabji together.

I still remembered the menu Aloo ki Sabji, Chole chana, mixed vegetable salad, then another guy came and gave me hot ‘Puries’, and then finally the last guy came and gave me the sweet ‘Lapasi.’

Strange! I was calculating in my mind if I was forgetting any festivals or special days.

“Is there any occasion today?” I asked after accepting my defeat.

He looked at me in silence.

"Why this special sweet and all, today?” I re-engineered my question.

“Sir, Monday is a feast day.” And ran away to attend to another customer.

Living in the hostel, I know the moustache term ‘feast’ better than any guy in the world. I smiled and started to eat my lunch. It has to be one of the most delicious thalis I've ever eaten since I left home for engineering. While I was eating, my mum called me.

"Have you found your perfect match?" she teased me.

“Yeah, maybe!” I replied with pride.

I then gave her a detailed description of the menu, taste, surroundings, and the distance from the apartment.

“Hash!!” she exclaimed.

“Also, did you know we used to eat 'Lapasi' before starting anything new and productive! Thus, there is good news here." she said.

Flabbergasted, I was.

After finishing my 'royal meal', I went to the counter in anticipation of emptying my wallet.

“How much?” I asked.

“60 rupees!” he replied without looking at me.

The shock was overwhelming. I had experienced too many emotions in the last two hours.

After that, I inquired about the monthly charges for the plate, timings, etc.

From then on, this place became my daily routine, the same table every day. Watching people rush here and there in the city of Mumbai while seated at his place is like stopping time for a few minutes!

As I look at this place, I am reminded of one of my favourite chapters from my Gujarati textbook,

‘રસીકભાઈ રસ્સો!'

A similar atmosphere with hot chapatis and tasty spicy food prepared in a clean and hygienic kitchen. 

One day, a small boy came and gave me three chapatis. My eating pattern was known to the guy who gave me chapati in the past, so I figured he was new here due to that act.

So, I called him and told him mildly, “Take one back!”

“What happened, sir?” with the fear, he asked.

"This fan is cruel, that makes your tasty hot chapati cold and stubborn," I smiled at him, pointing at the wall fan. Do one thing, give me two right now and then one and then one... and one until my stomach would explode."   

He laughed. Took one chapati back.

I used to stand outside for a few minutes after completing my lunch to check all notifications on my phone. On that day, he asked me,

“Is this a touchscreen phone?”

“Yes, it is!” I replied.

His gaze was firmly focused on the phone.

“Would you like to see?" I handed him the phone.

As carefully as Neil Armstrong put one foot on the moon, he checked my phone.

As he handed the phone back, he said, "Sheth, probably going to give me a phone today."A smile spread all across his face.

Then I smiled back and nodded.

The friendship between us began this way. Since then, he has never forgotten my pattern. His job was to serve hot chapatis to the customer, and he did it with all his enthusiasm.

Our lunchtime routine included standing together after my lunch and discussing many things, such as his hometown and mine, my job and his family.

The one thing we had in common was a love for Bombay!

He always had a unique story of visiting Marine drive and a bandstand, and I always had mine. The interesting thing is that we each have a very different view of the same location.    

My life has moved on - I've got a new job, a new apartment, and a new salary.

People commit mistakes when they have more money. Now, brand words are part of my vocabulary. Starbucks, pizza, and burgers are new additions to my wish list. Instead of eating the same Gujarati thali every day, I thought let's try some new cuisines and restaurants.

In January, I received my salary and decided this month, I am not paying a monthly amount for food. I am now going to explore Bombay food.

Each day, new restaurants, Swiggy, Zomato filled my stomach, but I wasn't satisfied. My mouth was watering for those hot chapatis and spicy Sev-Tamatar Sabji.

Plus, I missed that guy a lot. That guy, Yes, I didn't know his name, but his smile, our daily chat and that luxury I get there, you can't find anywhere, even in the most luxurious restaurants. Sometimes you make a precious bond with someone just like that, without making an effort, without knowing their names, birthdays, or daily WhatsApp messages.

After a few days, I concluded that this food is not bad, but I must return to Hotel Sukhsagar for my well-being and satisfaction.

As soon as I deposited my salary for February, I hurried to the hotel.

I rushed to the hotel, took my seat, checking everything was as it is as l left! Same tables, same chairs, same fans!

"Sigh!!!"

One guy came and served Sabji! After that, one by one, the guys came in synchronization like a choreographed belle dance. My eyes were looking for that young boy and wanted to talk about many new places I have visited, but another gentleman who used to give me salad came and served chapatis!

I was mentally considering all the possibilities that he might get a promotion upstairs, or he might go back home, or he might go to see someone.

I took one bite of chapati. Its taste was different too!

Suddenly, I was feeling new and strange!

So, complete with my lunch as I got up and walked towards the counter!

“What happened to the small child who used to serve chapatis here?” I asked.

“He was fired because we bought one machine to make chapatis!”

I was completely brokenhearted.

At least I should have asked his name!“My heart screamed at me.

 I glanced at that place one last time and said,

"Now, this place will never be the same for me."    

  

     Fin.