TUMMY TUMMY MATTERS

Yes. Tummy matters. Just think. Anything matters as much as the tummy matters? Probably not.

It was the evening of 4th of October 2012. While driving the Kanjikkuzhi-Collectorate  strip of the KK road inside Kottayam town I saw a huge crowd on the road a little before the Plantation Corporation office. Seeing a posse of police men I murmured, "another accident?". But, as I approached the crowd, I found it very ecstatic and the police men very relaxed. And to my left I saw an extravagant display of illuminations. Those fools crying foul over  the power crunch in the state should see this and feel happy over the "fact" we have enough and more. So much, more than needed, that we should waste quite a bit. I tried to stop my car and find out what was happening. But a policeman waved violently meaning "get lost".  I obliged, but not before reading the Neon-lighted "PIZZA MAX". It was the inauguration of another branded eatery in this small little town of big people with bigger wallets.

Today, 6th October,2012. I drove the same route. 8 PM. In a glance, I could read the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment(!) on the faces of those coming out of the new "Cape of Good Hope" and the anxiety writ large on the faces of those waiting outside. "Were they starving all these years?" I asked myself. I know that soon I too have to be there as I don't want to let down Anna. Being one of the first visitors to a place, be it a restaurant or a textile shop or a jewelry shop or a barber shop, on the day of inauguration itself is the fad of the day.

                             *****     *****     *****     *****     *****

Year 2000 or so. We (Anna, Renjan, Susan and I) were spending a week end  at Kochi. We stayed at the Bharath Tourist Home (BTH). In the evening we were walking through the MG road and suddenly I felt hungry. This often happens. I am hungry when others are not. We were near the Maharaja's college ground and we found a board "Chicking". The Rooster on the board suggested that it is an eatery. Those were the days when branded restaurants were a rarity.Those days "KFC" would have meant "Kappa Fish Curry" for someone like me (Kappa= Tapioca). We entered "Chicking" and I lost no time in ordering a Masala Dosa for me.The handsome young boy who attended us ready to take our order looked shaken as if struck by a lightning. I still remember him staring in disbelief with his eyes glued on to me as if seeing some one of the bronze age.

An ABBA variant rang in my ears.

TUMMY, TUMMY, TUMMY

MUST BE FUNNY,

IN THE CHICKING WORLD!!!