Thanks to my otherwise very niggardly cousin who opened his heart & offered me dosa, my most favoured cousine now. Then (in 70s), I could hardly finish a third of it.
In late sixties, my elderly cousin’s first job in Delhi brought him to our home as new entrant to an already large family of seven members. The space in our house and the salary of my father, the sole family earner, were both modest. Yet my cousin’s father, a worldly-wise man so tied up since he knew that it was our home where his son could fit in with dignity at minimal or no cost.
Tall, handsome and soft-spoken, my cousin had many attributes except his miserliness. With his witty comments, concocted & real stories, and flattering words, he could win hearts of many, especially ladies. One evening he returned from office with a bruised right hand and torn shirt after slip from bus. As my father got ready to take him to a doctor, he pleaded that the wound shall heal naturally and he had enough stamina to tolerate the pain, “Why to pay to the doctor?” This was not acceptable to my father. The doctor administered anti-tetanous injection, dressed the bruise and gave pain killer. After dinner, my mother enquired about the condition of his pain but he showed more distress at the shredded shirt.
One evening my tight-fisted cousin surprised me by offer of Dosa that I had so far only heard of, in close by Sarojini Nagar Market. I discovered the reason his unusual generosity later; he was soon going to be engaged.
Soon we were inside Kerala Restaurant. Together with Madras Hotel few shops further in same row, these two spots were the only destination in the radius of 8 km where one could have taste of Dosa, Idli, Vada, Uttapam, etc., and not in every street. Delhiwalas were not used to South Indian dishes in that era. With aristocracy writ large on his face, he ordered: “Two crisp Masala Dosa, fast”. Then, looking at his wrist watch, he added in commanding tone, “Two filter coffees five minutes after that!”
Till Dosa was served, my cousin referred to the folly of spending five paise extra i.e. 35 paise per Dosa at Madras Hotel only for cushioned chairs since quality was same. Saving ten paise on two Dosa is not a small amount, he declared.
Far from stimulating my desire to consume the novel delicacy, sheer large size of Dosa with smell of coconut oil subdued my interest. “Let us start it, Man” said my cousin. By the time he had almost finished his coffee, I could somehow devour a third of Dosa. Sensing my unease, he asked the waiter to pack the leftover as takeaway.
Tastes change with time and age. In the space of 50 years now, breakfast or main food, Dosa is my first choice. There is more to global popularity of Dosa than safety, palatability and health considerations, I ruminate.
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Published in Deccan Herald on 8 June 2021, Tuesday; online paper link: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/right-in-the-middle/tryst-with-first-ever-dosa-994978.html
Beautiful remembrance of timeless childhood memories. Extended kins from remote place feel proud of their known ones or relatives staying in Delhi. I still recall my father who came in Delhi as Polytechnic Student for Printing Technology in 1957 and remained there, since. Then my home was a Hot Destination for Delhi Visits as we served several outstation relatives and other visitors. My home was a kind of Sarai (inn) with people coming off & on for several days. Many times such visits were nuisance since our studies and examination were disturbed. Good reading!
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