Fight for Survival & The Buffet Killers

Hyderabad has been at the receiving end of our fervent diatribe for two main reasons. One, the asphyxiated roads, reckless traffic and fickle public transport system that makes commuting to and back from office a new ordeal every day. Thanks to Papa, we will have an Alto (Let’s Go!!) very soon, but that too doesn’t spare us from the chaos that the roads are.

The other is food. The unavailability of simple, plain North-Indian food has resulted in several excursions to unknown outlets just in the hope of a palatable meal, each time resulting in either a big hole in the pocket or a bad taste in the mouth. Of course, we have improved our culinary skills owing to various experiments done – with varied results – at home in the fight for survival. Finally we have cooked up our ways – the ingenious people that we are – to take advantage of whatever this place has to offer.

The silver lining has come in the form of the buffet system prevalent here. From forty bucks to three hundred, we have a range to choose from, depending on the emptiness of our bellies and the weight of our wallets.

This has given rise to “The Buffet Killers”. The plan is simple, tactics straightforward – don’t eat at night, don’t eat in the morning, don’t eat in the afty. And with the great reserves of hunger and appetite developed thereafter, slay the buffet with the sleight of hand and the chomp of mouth. It sounds simple, but requires a lot of perseverance and perfection. Many buffets (Hot Rotis, Asal, Ginger Court) have come under the wrath of the buffet killers and many more are yet to be defeated. This has been possible mainly due to our front runners Junni and Negi who lead the fight with unending voracity, with no meager contribution by the rest of the cast. In the end, the booty is protruded stomachs, satiated hunger and the gratification of having made another kill. With the enemy vanquished, back in the resting quarters, the victorious fall into a deep satisfying sleep.

The (extended) Family

F1, Tagore Residency, Shilpa Park. A family of five (plus two: Chacha and Gpall visit often). This is our home, this is our hostel, this is our disc. This is where we are tied together by 'the common account'.

Welcome...


Days in Hyderabad wouldn't have been the same if it wasn't for Papa's fantasies of aggressive slapping, Mummy's impeccable account-keeping, chief chef Jignesh's unbearable (and proudly delivered) farts, Baalak Junni's out-of-desperation trips to More and Tajji's (that's me) helpless declaration of "Main sochu kaise...". Of course, Chacha's ace dancing skills and Gpall's guitaring are not to be missed.

Baalak is clueless...



Chief Chef Jignesh at work...

Chacha... ae ae ae Jignesh!!

Gpall.. class act...

Stories to follow soon...