Eating Out

I was looking forward to a chat with Lakshmi, especially since ‘Memories ofChina’, at the Taj Residency, brings back memories of the time I was in that country.Many hotels in China had the atmosphere that ‘Memories of China’ reflects.Whispered conversation, windows set against gently swaying trees outside and the aroma ofsteaming soup. It seemed the best place for a soporific conversation. But Lakshmi, vibrantand with her face radiating warmth, created an ‘energy’ aura around us and theconversation shifted on to a livelier plane.

For starters, we had the salt and pepper cauliflower and baby-corn and lotus stem(Shanghai style). While talking careers, I asked, “how different are Malayalam filmsfrom the rest?”. “I’m impressed by their themes. The way they approach it,it looks innovative and realistic at the same time. Also, Malayalam filmmakers take themedium more seriously. There isn’t much showmanship; they are very simple, howeverpopular they might be,” she answered By then, it was time for the next course. Weopted for the vegetable and nuts fried rice, veg soya noodles along with stir-fried okhraand long pepper, broccoli and mushroom sweet-bean sauce and egg-plant and potatoeschilli-garlic. By now, the talk had veered towards burning issues like terrorism andglobalisation. What surprised me was Lakshmi’s sudden reference to the plight of oldpeople. She felt that with young people leaving for distant lands in search of betteropportunities, the plight of their parents had become increasingly disheartening.

The sombre mood was broken by the tinkle of china that came along with dessert.“Ma’am I hope you like the dessert just as much as the other dishes,” saidthe bearer. She began smiling again.