Sambhar and Surprises
Today, we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at Rameshwaram Cafe. We had initially planned to go there last week but opted for Dosa Hut instead. By now, we’ve become so accustomed to the flavors of Bangalore-style cafes that Dosa Hut just didn’t quite excite us anymore. So, a visit to Rameshwaram Cafe was long overdue!
Once we arrived, we eagerly ordered a few favorites: Podi dosa, a Mini Tiffin combo, and Podi Masala Uttapam. And oh, the sambhar! It’s one of our go-to items, and today it was delicious. There are days when the sambhar might not hit the mark—maybe they’re juggling busy hours or adjusting their ratios—but hey, who am I to critique sambhar?
While we waited for our food, I noticed a casual diner whose voice seemed oddly familiar. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I recognized it. It sounded so familiar, yet I couldn’t quite place it. Just then, the person sat down, facing away from us, only intensifying my curiosity.
A moment later, he walked past after washing his hands, and we locked eyes. He flashed a smile and said, “Hi!” That voice—wait a minute, I recognized it! I replied, “I think I’ve seen you somewhere,” to which he casually responded, “Yeah, you might have caught me on TV or in movies.”
He came over, introduced himself, and even snapped a photo with us—what a delightful surprise! He shared a bit about why he was there before returning to his table.
Curiosity got the best of my wife, and she asked, “Who was he?” In a flash, she whipped out her phone to Google his name. As she scrolled through the photos and movies he’d appeared in, I couldn’t help but smile at how quickly she pieced it all together.
Just then, our new friend returned to our table, armed with a knife and fork. With a playful grin, he asked if he could try a piece of the “Podi Masala Uttapam”. We exchanged amused glances and said, “Why not?” He happily fulfilled his culinary curiosity, taking a bite and giving us a thumbs-up before heading back to his table.
Afterward, I turned to my wife and said, “See? I recognized him just from his voice!” To which she playfully replied, “Kabhi meri bhee awaj sun liya karo!”
And just like that, an ordinary lunch at Rameshwaram Cafe turned into something unforgettable—delicious food, unexpected company, and a surprise encounter with none other than Nasir Abdullah!