Finally it once again came to Mama to spot a copy of the Food and Nightlife Magazine at Andheri Station. This sixty plus year teetotaller, vegetarian, bachelor must be building quite a reputation after picking up these magazines with scantily clad women on their covers. But his motive was simply an avuncular answering of the nephew in law’s call for help.
Kainaz was reading the article when Banu saw it. The following transpired in Hindi. Forgive the gender bending and liberty with grammar. I am Bengali.
Banu: Yeh toh saab ka photo hain (This is the boss’s pic!!!)
K: Haan (yes)
Banu (intrigued): Unka photo paper main kyon hain? (why is his photo in the papers)
Kainaz: Kyonki woh likhta hain (Because he writes)
Banu: Khaane pe? (On food?)
Banu (big eyed): Unko sab kuchh aata hain (He knows everything)
Kainaz: Tumhare baare main bhi likha hain (He’s written about you too)
Banu: Dhat (You are kidding me)
Banu: Building main doosra madam paper diyi thi aur boli Saab ka naam aur number aaya hain. Main usko rakha hain. Usko dekh ke saab ko number lagata hoon (A lady in the building said that the Boss’s name came in the papers along with his number. I have kept that carefully and call him at that number everyday)
She promptly rummaged from a pile of her things in the kitchen and took out a ten month old cell phone bill. Well it did have my name and number on it.
Was super excited to see the my second article in The Food And Nightlife magazine. This time it was about my favourite Bengali Eating options in Mumbai.
Then I saw a letter to the editor which featured feedback about my first article, Mumbai Marinated, for Food and Nightlife:
And then I saw the list of guest columnists. For rows above me was a man I truly admire. Anjan Chatterjee. A rock star in my world. Two of whose ventures, Oh Calcutta and Sweet Bengal, featured in my article.
Can’t blame me for missing my afternoon siesta out of excitement.
Here’s the full article if you are interested:
It’s a clean and simple place with bright coloured furniture. Customary pictures of Bengali films stars and football matches adorn its walls. It has a small functional loo. A piece of information which won’t seem so out of place when you reach this cute little restaurant, run by a middle-aged couple, after a long journey.
Note: I wrote this before Hangla introduced phuchkas recently
Pratap caterer owes it’s entry to my friend Soumik who reminded my thrice to include it. A bachelo,r and then a ‘forced’ bachelor, who will soon have his wife at home now
This is the link to the e magazine This one’s on page 29