My dog was walking me, taking the usual route. Housing societies on either side. Some falling apart, some given a facelift, and the few that pushed through redevelopment, stood taller than the rest - in characterless and tasteless modernity. +
The fifty-something year old societies almost always have a couple of garages at the far end of the plot. Owned by the two people who had Premier Padminis back in the day. These garages, at some stage of their life cycle, become the springwells of desi entrepreneurship. +
They are where Manju Beauty Parlour, Rao Tutorials, SRS Real Estate, Rekhazz Boutique, Rakesh Investments, Singh Caterers begin (and often end) their journeys. +
These days the names and businesses are fancier. Bun and Only, Hairgicians, The Crazy Yogi, Dentabulous, Agony & Ecstasy Body Piercing. The difference is the garage has been done up by a dude designer wearing linens and tattoos, rather than by Ramesh Mistri. +
Sometimes, my dog and I see new signages go up. We see the sparkling eyes of the budding restaurateur, baker, body piercer, dentist. And sometimes we see signages being taken down. We see the bored expressions of the dismantling crew, unsupervised by anybody. +
Yesterday, we saw a signage coming down. Momo Palace. It had a clever logo. Momos forming the domes of a grand palace. I've ordered from there often. Surprisingly, the owner was watching them strip the place down. Doesn't usually happen. It's too painful. +
He was a young chap. Looked more like the likely owner of a tattoo joint. He was making sure they took things down gently. As though it mattered. It was all probably heading to a scrap dealer. Where it would fetch a fraction of what it cost to fabricate. +
My dog and I walked up to the young man. I said, 'I'm really, really sorry you're shutting down. I was a regular customer. Loved your momos.' I tried to sound as sincere as I felt. +
He looked at me and said, 'Thanks Uncle. I'm very sad about shutting this place too... problem is it is now too small for us... we need a much bigger kitchen... and space for a few tables... I want to use the same signage. It's been lucky for us.' +
My dog pulled at the leash. I trotted off, with a foolish but happy smile on my face.
ANTHE.
ANTHE.
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