Ding Dong!! The resounding jingle of the doorbell just caught my attention to find, the delivery boy with a bag full of freshly cut chicken. A 45-minute wait for my order from the local shop aptly named ‘London Meat Shop’ to give it a global flavour! Taking customer service to the next level, the shop had recently started quick home delivery, which was not very quick but helpful nevertheless! Life is different in India where the local shopkeepers are eager to keep up their service standards with phone orders, home delivery etc. These delivery boys pedal their way through the locality - ‘On-time’, unlike the western world where a delivery would always be on a motorized vehicle.
This reminded me of my stay in London, where I used to manage everything on my own from the purchase of raw chicken at the local market in Middlesex which involved a nice long walk but was worth it, considering the calories the chicken was going to pack in! Coming back to my kitchen my maid had already chopped onions and placed the required ingredients together for me to get my chef’s act together. Finishing with her chores she now was asking my permission to leave. Ah! Luxury of having a maid in India... I thought, and said yes. She left as though she had just won a free air ticket to London with a 4 nights 5 days hotel stay. Don’t know why I always mention London, may be fresh memories.
Now in little oil I put in all chopped onions, garlic, cloves and homemade garam masala. Why is it called garam? I suppose because it’s ‘Hot’! On low flame sauté the ingredients until the onion is fried and slowly turns light brown. Later, add one spoon turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chilli and continue stirring till the ingredients are just about to singe and followed by adding chopped tomato. Many tend to blend the onions and tomatoes the same time spoiling the richness of allowing the flavours to mingle individually.
Jai Ho, Jai Ho, Jai Ho, Jai Ho, Aaja Aaja Jind Shamiyane Ke Tale, Huh?! This shrill ring tone on my mobile was buzzing from my friend, guess where from? London J! He is the one with whom I spent a great deal of time in London. He was on a business trip to Delhi and was visiting me. A pleasant surprise indeed! I asked him about his whereabouts, He responded newdelhiairport.in, in his unusual lingo, adding .com and .in to everything; He is a geek! Anyways, I welcomed him and enquired if would like to stay overnight. My guess was right, he being a ‘high-flier’, he had a connecting flight back to London.
While I was on the phone, I smelt something burn and rushed to the kitchen to see that I had nearly spoilt the dinner and quickly poured little water to minimize the damage. The masala was cooked with the aroma just fine, I added the washed and cleaned chicken to the pressure cooker and with little stir I covered the lid for the flame to do its job now.
When things were rocking in kitchen, I packed my bags for my trip back to London early morning next day, good that I now have company to the airport. I was going for 3 months to a place where life is fast and delivery boys deliver on jets and not on cycle, where 80% of life is spent online- working, ordering, chatting and even to reserve my seat in a restaurant.
Whheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! There goes the whistle and I know it’s ready to dine with a glass of wine with my friend “. com”, that’s what I call him!!
- Nitin Gurha
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