#snackxindia

[snackx]

Pyaaz Pakodas

What is synonymous to rain and a cup of tea? C'mon think over it. Is it biscuits? Is it namkeen? Is it cakes? Aah! How couldn't you think of it? It's none other than Pakodas. The chemistry of rainy season and Pakodas is more famous than any of the love stories you have heard.

It's three in the afternoon and it's raining outside. I am sitting by the side of the window with a cup of tea and a plate of Pakodas. My wife is sleeping in the other room, I didn't wake her up. I made everything myself because I have a loose stomach for the last two days and if she saw me eating Pakodas, she would get mad. Even, I know the consequence of eating Pakodas but I couldn't resist. The rain didn't let me.

And as I take the first bite of Pakodas with a cup of tea, I went in a trance. The blend of fried onions and spices were perfectly balanced by the tea. I don't know why the loud chatter of the rain was definitely adding some secret flavours to the Pakoda. I can't deny it.

As I was devouring the last piece of the Pakoda left, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It felt familiar. I had chills down my spine. But I finished the last Pakoda before I was thrown to hell. 

. . . Are you are craving for those spicy Pakodas in this rainy season but are unable to go out? Don't worry Snacks is there for you. Anytime, any day!

[snackx]

My Secret Keeper

She was my best friend since childhood. I remember how I used to play hide and seek with her when I was a child. How she used to decorate my dolls and would say that I would get a beautiful husband when I would grow up. As I grew up we became more and more connected. From sharing the pain of my first period to sharing the restlessness when I first saw my crush to sharing the heartbreak when I had my first break up, I discussed everything with her. And she would herself blush when I would tell her these private things.

Apart from everything, there was a common thread between us. The two of us were an ardent lover of Golgappa ( Puchka). Be it any season, any month, any day, Golgappa was something we never missed. We would always squint our eyes over the tangy tamarind water and we would never shy away in asking the extra Golgappa after we had finished - "Bhaiya ek sukha wala dena".

She would always tell me how incomplete she is without me.

I am twenty-nine now. Almost ten years have passed since she died and every time I do something in life I have this yearning desire to sit beside her, arms in arms, and tell her all the secrets like we use to discuss before. I wish this was just a hide and seek game that we used to play and she would appear any time and would hug me with her eternal laughter. I wish she was here, my best friend, my grandma.

[snackx]

Dhoni Hai Na, Sambhal Lega!!

As a boy in his twenties standing at the Kharagpur Station with thousands of people passing through him, who knew that the boy wearing a blue TC coat will one day lead the Indian national team. Yes, we are talking about Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

What could be more grieving then getting run out on a duck at your first International match? Only a magician can turn that failure to become one of the most successful wicket-keeper batsmen in the world. It was always inside him, that resilience, that fighting spirit, that calmness. There was a time when Jharkhand was famous for its coal mines and minerals but now, when you ask someone about Jharkhand, they will most probably say- "Oh! Jharkhand, the state from where Dhoni came from?"

Such is the influence of Dhoni. 

Being the only captain to collect all the ICC trophies, being the wicketkeeper with most number of stumpings, being the batsman with most numbers of sixes hit, being the only batsman after Sangakkara to surpass the ten thousand mark, it wasn't a surprise why he was often called Mahendra Bahubali Dhoni.

It was not always the numbers that made him one of the legends of international cricket, it was also his humbleness and courtesy that made him great. One such example was when Ganguly was playing his last test match, and it was Dhoni who handed him the captaincy for last hours of the test match as a tribute and a mark of respect.

No wonder he was the best finisher in the world, even though the way he ended his cricketing innings broke hearts of millions. But still, you will always remain very close to our hearts. It is the END OF AN ERA.

We will always miss you, 

THALA!

[snackx]

Aloo Masala Dosa

Every time I began eating a Masala dosa, I have this strange dilemma over pouring Sambar on Dosa or the Coconut chutney. As both are very dear to me and I don't want to sacrifice one with other over a bite of Dosa. Secondly, I sometimes have this dilemma over whether I am desecrating the purity of Dosa by eating it with Sambar or Coconut chutney. Am I missing the pure and original taste of dosa? Such is the influence of Dosa over me.

No food has taken such a considerable place in my heart as Dosa. I don't judge Dosa as good or bad. I eat it as it is. I never complain. Even when I eat the half-cooked dosa made my wife whose other part is stuck in a frying pan, I never complain (also because I have no other choice). I can't get divorced over a Dosa.

Now, in this COVID situation, I feel desperate to go out and eat those perfectly shaped Aloo Masala Dosa. I want to hear its crunchiness when I first tear it from its corners. I want to taste those stuffed potatoes that melt like cream with that tangy Sambar and mouth-watering Coconut chutney.

I don't know when I would have the pleasure to fall back over that dilemma again.

Alas!

Don't worry, if you are stuck in your house like Rohan. Remember, SnackX is there for you. Always, anywhere, anytime!

[snackx]

Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan.

Jara Hatke, Jara Bachke, Yeh hai Mumbai meri Jaan.

And the Jaan of Mumbai, the lifeline of Mumbai, The Mumbai Local train is at a halt. Never had anyone in their dreams thought that the seats for which hundreds of folks rustled every day will stare an empty gaze every morning. The place that had the restlessness of an early going office employee, the discussion of a never-ending political conundrum, the slowly growing love stories, the cacophony of the everyday sellers. It had it all the Mumbai Locals.

Everyone is missing those hustle, those laughter, those days. Though the unlock has begun, still, it's not like the older days. But all we can do is to have hope. A hope for good.

[snackx]

ENGINEER'S DAY

Late-night Maggie, hours of useless conversations, debt in the canteen, one night stand for semesters, sleeping in between lectures, mass bunking on Mondays, begging Professors for attendance, chilling with friends on the terrace. If you have done all these things then congratulations, You are an Engineer. Eight semester, tiring practicals, hundreds of vivas and never-ending assignments- in spite of all these hectic syllables, Engineers still manage to add a slice of happiness in their lives.

Engineers' Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of one of the greatest Indian Engineer and Bharat Ratna, Mokshagundam K Vishweshvaraya, popularly known as Sir MV. Visvesvaraya. He was a true genius as well as the Diwan of Mysore from 1912-1919.

SnackX wishes a Happy Engineers' Day to all our Engineers who are working tirelessly and passionately towards the growth of our country.

It's a day to celebrate their hard work and dedication!

[snackx]

SPAGHETTI

It was a routine, once a week, I would eat Spaghetti. There was a Spaghetti corner near my house where every evening there were hundreds of people waiting for their Spaghetti. And it was run by, Mamta Aunty. She was the one who introduced us to her special Spaghetti.

One day, late at night, I went to the Spaghetti corner. Mamta aunty was closing the shop. I quickly went to her and requested if she could take one more order. She agreed happily. She once again opened the whole shop and began making spaghetti just for me.

You might be thinking Mamta aunty to be of the age around fifty five. But she was nearly seventy years old. I was always intrigued by the fact that how she is running this shop at such an old age. I thought today is the right moment to ask her.

"Aunty, can I ask you one thing, " I asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, go on, " she said spreading the Spaghetti on the griddle.

I waited for a moment and then asked.

"Aunty, why are you running a shop at such an old age?"

She stopped for a moment. Her eyes were fixed on the Spaghetti as if she was remembering something. As if I had touched a fresh wound. She then looked at me.

"Life is not always the bed of roses, " she stopped for a moment and then continued, "For me, it has always been thorns. I won't say much because I don't want to remember all that, but, all I will say is- sometimes in your life you have to stand for yourself."

She stopped there and began cooking the spaghetti. I didn't say anything further. I had got all my answers.

The Spaghetti arrived and I ate in silence.