I was returning after a normal eye-checkup with my aunt. I asked my auto-driver to drive all the way to Krishna Sweets near Adyar insteading of going to my house directly. The reason being the fact that I need to use the remaining Ticket Restaurant coupons before the end of 2009. My plan was to buy some chat items as usual. I entered into Krishna Sweets only to find that there was a new guy at the CHAT STALL and not the usual person whom I know very well. I can find out by his looks that he was from North India and I could even guess that he was from Bihar(my guess was right).
I went to the counter and ordered half kilo Onion Pakkoda. I really wanted to taste any chat item prepared by this Bihari cook. The reason being the fact that I wanted to have food prepared by a different launguage speaking Indian from some other part of the country. The guy was new to the job and he was taking his own time. I stood next to the stall with my onion pakkoda packet and waited for Vadapav to be prepared. I liked his style of work. He was patient, calm and relaxed while doing his work. His entire feelings in heart transformed into delicious food. When you cook some food, whatever you have in your heart comes in the form of taste!!
While packing the items he got confused. There was another customer standing next to me and he gave them the wrong parcel-the parcel which was actually meant for me. When he realised his mistake he immediately ran to the entrance and the person was nowhere in sight. He came back and apologised to me. I didn't mind. He instantly offered to make another one for me. He was speaking in Hindi, which I couldn't understand completely. There was no bun remaining, so he asked me whether I would be interested in Pav Bhaji or any other item. He also said that I need not pay extra.
I simply ordered a Pav Bhaji as it was cheap and I didn't want to exploit Krishna Sweets!! I was given another chance to witness his cooking style. He picked the bun and sliced it into two pieces and applied ghee. He heated the bun a little on a tava. He had already prepared "paste" or sidedish. My parcel was ready in no time at all! I asked his name and when he said I couldn't understand his accent. I asked about his native and he said that he was from Bihar. I asked whether he was from Patna and I couldn't understand his reply either. But there is nothing wrong in that. In their state, if I speak anything, they wouldn't understood it either! It happens. I was happy that I had the chance to speak to an Indian who had come far off from his motherland.
I went home and I was browing in the Internet. I decided to see some cinema and I picked up "Poi Kaal Kuthirai DVD"-a tamil comedy film taking in 1980's. My cousin brother came only at 10PM. I already had some pakkoda and Pav Bhaji, so I gave him Vada Pav and the remaining packet of pakkoda. This was the first time my cousin brother was tasting Vada Pav and he enjoyed. He said that he hasn't heard or tasted this dish earlier. We both enjoyed the dish. Love, goodness of heart, innocence, good character, gentleness of the young Bihari cook were the best ingredients in Vadapav/Pav Bhaji! I don't really believe in any sort of prejudice opinion against any human-being. Goddess Annapoorni-sister of Lord Vishnu, Herself resides in every Bihari heart and hand. It's becase of her blessings that they are able to cook well and serve others. Even I am not blessed by her, as I don't know to cook. Anyone who knows about Hinduism properly without any radical thoughts would agree with me!
-Krishna Kumar.S
