Street, Adda & Station
Bread Pakora That Felt Like a Meal
Half khane nikle the. Full hokar wapas aate the. Bread pakora kab snack se meal ban jaata, pata hi nahi chalta.
Bread pakora ko koi snack bolta tha.
But pet usko kabhi snack nahi maanta tha.
Thela ya chhoti si dukaan ke bahar khade hoke order karte, jaise bas halka sa kuch khana hai.
Phir plate aati.
Aur baat wahi khatam.
Bahar se garam, mota sa besan. Andar aloo itna bhara hua ki bread sirf naam ki lagti.
Bhaiya usko beech se kaat ke deta.
Thoda steam nikalta.
Thoda chutney side mein.
Newspaper ya patle kagaz pe rakh deta.
"Naam uska snack tha, but plate haath mein aate hi baat badal jaati thi."
Sabse pehle hum filling check karte.
"Aloo theek hai?"
"Mirchi toh nahi zyada?"
Jaise wapas bhejna ho.
Kabhi bhejte nahi the.
First bite mein zubaan almost jal hi jaati.
Phir aadmi side se phook maar ke khata.
Phir bhi jaldi jaldi.
Green chutney lagao toh alag.
Bina chutney ke alag.
Kabhi ek pakora do logon mein baant lete.
But do bite ke baad hi lagta tha ek aur lena padega.
Aur ek aur lene ke baad lagta tha ab chai bhi chahiye.
Phir aadha ghanta udhar hi nikal jaata.
Bread pakora ka weight haath mein bhi feel hota tha.
Plate neeche se halka tel chhod deti.
Angliyon pe besan chipak jaata.
Kagaz pe nishaan reh jaate.
Wapas chalte waqt pet full hota.
Thoda zyada full.
Phir bhi mann mein bolte the, bas halka sa khaya.
Jaise kisi ko prove karna ho.
Bread pakora aisa hi tha.
Naam snack ka.
Kaam poore meal ka.
