Riding back home after a long day. Hunger pangs set in. I was passing by the place where I grew up. As good as any other place to get a take-away. I stopped at a place with bright lights. It’s name meant a Sanskrit verse.
Good thing I did.
It was one of those restaurants that service both families and men who enjoy a drink, I was neither, but still — a take-away is safe ground.
The ‘men who enjoy a drink‘ section was an open air space with a glass facade built around to cut off the traffic sounds from the busy road outside. The men were busy drinking, watching a match as the staff in smart uniforms milled around taking & servicing orders. Somehow the staff were avoiding my table like they knew, I was there just to get a parcel. I didn’t waste time, walked into the family section inside.
They family section had bright lights, air conditioned air, light music, cozy family vibes. The manager behind the bar-counter patiently took my order as i saw couples, women, families smiling, relishing food & having a good time. I headed out – still there was something that kept nagging me. I looked up, a chandelier — a big fella. And then it came back to me.
How I landed up at this place as a kid,
When it had a different name that meant ‘bright lights’,
And it was a ladies bar that also catered to happy endings.
To be continued…
appam stew n prawns patiyo 