I had the opportunity to spend my growing years in a very lively corner of the town. 15 years since I have left the town, and it is still the liveliest place closer to home. There is everything that the people of a small town need there- a couple of Pharmacies, tailor, groceries, photographers, snack shops, DVD shop, etc. etc. The most distinctive shop, however, has been a chaat shop. The Panna Chaat shop. Having enjoyed the gol-gappas, tikkis and papri chaats in abundance from there, i no longer really crave it but it is some kind of an icon nonetheless, a thread that binds all of our age group in the town. We all have been there- for birthday treats, exam-treats, just-like-that treats, on an impulse, to follow someone entering that shop...the reasons have been endless! It is still the best chaat-shop in town.
Over the years, everytime i have passed by that shop, looking at the crowd of young girls with their moms, teenage boys, couples with young kids, newlyweds, I have had just one thought...what is it that this chaat gives them, all of them? It had to be beyond its trademark flavour or the buzz of that square. It had to be something that has contributed to this shop's long life and reputation.
After years of pondering, I have come to the conclusion that in a small town, with our mundane lives and the monotonous routines, the chaat with its tangy and spicy flavours gives us something new to feel. It breaks that monotony. It allows us to be happy for much less, even if for a very short period of time. It adds variety to the boring daily life of an average middle class person. It hits a desire for the fresh, better, new, different, yummy, spicy...in pretty much the same way gossip does for most women!
Yes, it feeds a desire.
At the same time, it allows us to really enjoy that moment when we drink that sweet-sour water with the gol-gappas or enjoy the smooth yoghurt on the papri chaat...its tanginess akin to the tanginess we crave in our lives when we see the grass always green on the other side, or the gol gappa bigger in the other's plate!
Happy 'Chaatting'!
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These observations are my point of view of the life, as I see it. This blog does not intend to hurt, rationalise, judge, ridicule, or in any way offend anyone at all...it is only a way of sharing my own observations...so, please take it in the right spirit....thanks.