It was a beautiful Sunday evening. The sun was setting giving out beautiful red rays into the sky making the sky seem like a long beautiful red satin cape. My friends and I went shopping in Vashi. (Rather my friends did the shopping and I did window shopping!) We were so busy shopping that we didn’t realize that it was evening from noon. Now, that we were done with the shopping. (Only for now of course. For girls, they are never tired of shopping. So that is why done FOR NOW.) After we were supposedly done with the shopping hunger hit our stomachs like hurricanes hit places as they have with full force. In a similar analogy, like hurricane hit areas look devastated our faces looked devastated too with hunger.
All of us decided that we would have anything to eat from the first food stall that we see. We were starving after all. We spotted a Vada Pav stall near the Vashi Bus Depot. All the three of us bought a Vada Pav each and were eating the hot Vada Pavs and chatting away to glory.
As we were discussing about how we would spend our vacations, we saw a man- a customer to the owner of the Vada Pav stall. The man was probably in his mid 30s. I still remember his looks as I had seen him from very near. He looked pale and weak. He was wearing a blue pair of jeans and a torn shirt. He was covered in cement. From his appearance, I concluded that he worked as a laborer for the repairing of some parts of the Vashi Bus Depot. (No rocket science required!) At that moment, one of my friends happened to see her watch to see what time it ea. The time was 8.00 p.m. It was dinner time for him. A mere Vada Pav for dinner- this symbolized poverty. But one Vada Pav, if not completely, filled his stomach that night. He left with satisfaction on his face. Since we were very hungry, we decided on having another Vada Pav each. So with that, again coming back to our original places where we stood earlier we resumed our discussion.
Just then as old couple arrived. They seemed to have been shopping for vegetables. I could make that out because their hands were full with vegetables. (Again no rocket science here either!) The man was probably in his early 60s yet he looked handsome. (Without wrinkles or dentures.) His wife was probably in her late 50s. She looked beautiful. She looked just like a yesteryear actress. They ordered for one Vada Pav only. I wondered why. Soon, my question was answered as I saw them sharing the same Vada Pav. They looked so adorable together. They with the current generation. They had made it a point to keep them updated with the fast moving world. I say that because the lady was wearing a pair of jeans and a kurti and the man was wearing a pair of baggies with a matching t-shirt. They were so romantic!
Looks like, the rose has to share its position (of being the symbol of love) with the Vada Pav. (Honestly, if roses could express their feelings they would be going green with envy.)
It is in-built in girls to chatter for no reason. We were no exception. So we continued with our chatting.
That is when a young man in his mid 20s came there. He looked very tired. He looked like if he had something to eat he would be energetic at least till he reaches home. While eating his Vada Pav, he talked to the Vada Pav stall owner. We obviously overheard. From what he said, we deduced that, he was to travel a long distance to Thane by bus before he reached home.
Last but not the least; we had filled our stomachs to last a few hours. This was the first time that I got to learn something about the Vada Pav or the Indian Burger as people call it. I had learnt that Vada Pav was indeed special to the people of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Just like the rose, Mumbai’s local trains also have to share their position (as the lifeline of the city) with the Vada Pav. (Someone else is going green too! WITH JEALOUSY.)
