chapter 1 #2

Maahi saw a rectangular green neon board boasting 'Nagarjuna Andhra Style Since 1984' ahead on her right and decided to go there. Kishan always talked about how much he hated North indian food cooked by South indians. He didn't seem to mind this place though, when they came here a few months ago. He had brought her her for dinner when she had just moved to Bangalore. She walked into the dimly lit air - conditioned restaurant and the change in temperature made her sneeze. Covering her mouth with her palm she walked to the reception.

"Can i look at the menu, please? " she asked.

"I'm sorry? " the middle-aged man in a white uniform at the reception asked.

Maahi was intimidated by his moustache. She cleared her throat and spoke again, louder this time, "I have to get something packed. "

"You want the menu? here, ma'am. "

Maahi felt weird being addressed ma'am. Her ears got warm as the man watched her read the menu. When he smiled at her, his teeth stone white--- it was strangely appeasing and she smiled back, saying, "Butter chicken and Kulcha, please? "

"One Kulcha only? " he pronounced "only" as "one-ly", and Maahi smiled wider as she scanned the menu again. The kulcha's were Rs.50 each. If she got two, her total would be close to Rs.350, which would be too much for her. She shook her head, her stomach grumbling in protest.

" Wokay. One plate butter chicken and one kulcha, pack,"

The man yelled towards the kitchen, before turning back to Maahi. "any sweet dish? "

"Oh." she hadn't thought of that. "Do you have gulab jamun? " she asked mechanically.

"yes, two per plate. "

"one plate, please. " Maahi quickly her eyes to the menu to check the price. Rs.65 for two for gulab jumans. It was their anniversary, she reasoned, and Kishan loved gulab jamuns. She would never think about money nad she shouldn't either. He did have a job, to be fair, while she wa was a student. As she added up the amount in her head, the waiter handed her the bill. It was Rs.417.12 . She had forgotten to take service tax and VAT into account.Atleast there would be no service charge since she ordered takeaway.

Maahi pulled out her wallet and counted the cash while trying to calculate how much money she would have left. A few hundred, to cover the next couple of weeks. It wouldn't be too bad; She had a meal plan at the college mess and ger boarding was taken care of. She would just have to be extra cautious with spending until her mother sent her more. As long as she didn't run short and have to ask her for more, she would be fine.

While she waited for the food, Maahi observed the family having lunch at the table closest to her. They looked Punjabi and were speaking in hindi. She realized how much she missed hearing people talk in hindi. She stuck her tongue out at the little boy at the table, who giggled in response, but when his mother looked at Maahi, she quickly opposed herself and diverted her eyes.

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