He saw her at this restaurant, his usual haunt. He was sitting at his table, enjoying his meal, when suddenly she appeared. At the next table. Dressed in pale green, accompanied with accessories, she looked just wow.
He sat transfixed for a while. Several more gazes turned toward her. From the adjoining tables. He quickly turned away and dug into his food. There was this distinct fragrance about her. He was slowly getting drawn to her.
A north Indian to a Southie? He tried to shake off this feeling. "One more quick glance at her, and I'll be gone", he thought to himself. He looked up. But she had disappeared as suddenly as she had appeared.
He searched for her all over the vast place. She was nowhere to be found. He returned home with a heavy heart.
He couldn't forget her. Her thoughts haunted him day and night. The next weekend, he was at his usual seat at his favorite haunt, engrossed totally in the menu, when she suddenly appeared. His heart leaped within him.
Speechless, now he could only convey his feelings with his hands. So gathering his nerves, with trembling hands, he carefully peeled away the thin, steamed banana leaf covering. Gingerly, he kept it aside. He dug his spoon in and then into his mouth. Crunch. A huge cashew here, a black pepper there. She just melted away in seconds.
He took in the orangeish side accompaniment and also the liquidized partner next to it at intervals. What a heavenly feeling! He sat mesmerized. He was now absolutely in love with his Kanjipuram Idli.
With chutney and sambhar.
enjoyed it so much maybe because it was so.... simple.