Incredible street foods!

The busy pavements in Russel Market off Shivaji Nagar bust station were bustling with activities. It's holy Ramdan time, and people head to the umpteen eateries on both sides of the narrow streets to break their day long fasting. The Sunday edition of a city newspaper had an exclusive coverage on the gamut of food items on display, and the garam-garam samoosas, pavs, kebabs, tandoors served straight off the grills. Being a foodie, and a connoisseur myself,the pictures accompanying the exclusive were truly captivating, to say the least!

Heading straight to the city's most popular market place, soon after our afternoon siesta, we were a little too excited to savor the numerous Ramdan specials. Walking hand in hand, we decided to explore the eateries and small time single cart counters end to end before venturing out to place our order.. The Hyderabadi Haleem looked so inviting and appetizing that my wife ended up gulping down a single serving herself! Her it tastes so yummy kinda smile endorsed this hitherto unexplored delicacy. Walking down further, we ordered a handful of golden fried mutton samoosas, and another pack of kebabs, fiery red and crispy. Unaware of the crowd, and the folks in queue to place the orders, the little ones picked up a fight over the last remaining piece:-)

The food apart, we were totally engrossed in the bustling charm of this naive, incredibly crowded street. And everything seemed to have an order, a discipline in the middle of chaos! The honking vehicles, the passers by, the waiting customers, the window shoppers..

Heading back home, happily carrying hot samosas packed in foils, the four of us vowed together, we will be back! The little one on the back seat was already enjoying yet another fiesta-siesta combo!

Cheers
Roy

Connecting the dots!

The rusty, worn out cart on four wheels pulled off on the roadside. Couple of grayed out green buckets, a gas stove, a few steel plates, knives and steel glasses found their places quickly on the makeshift diner. The lady lighted the stove and her first cauldron of hot coffee was up in the making. Passers by and auto drivers made short stops and grabbed the idli-vada, and rice-pav combo, washing them down with hot coffee. While the lady dished out the hot dishes one by one, her husband managed the front office, collecting cash and tending out change. The little girl standing beside her mom, was reading out a lesson from her English reader. Closing her book, she dashed out occassionally to do the dishes and filling the wash area with water. She would rush to the nearby primary school when the clock hits a quarter to 9 to be back before the evening rush hours.

The NGO that we are part of ran a connect the dots drive to meet several children in the city's government primary schools and their parents. Prizes were distributed to the top performers in each class and also to those excelled in co-curricular activities. Much to my surprise, the little girl, who am so familiar with, made her presence twice on stage, bagging the topper award for class V and another first prize for water coloring. Her parents clapped in excitement from the front row, misty eyed and beaming with pride.

And BTW, her poem appeared in a popular national daily in their children's section!
Meals on the wheels is still a hit, and the little girl continues to be a brilliant multi-tasker, waiting for her day to come..

Did I say the title of the poem read 'Dreams on the wheels' when translated?

Best
Roy