Me and my friends had the best time today after our classes were over we decided we deserved a break we headed to the little roadside dhaba not too far from our university the air was filled with the cozy aroma of freshly brewed chai mixed with the smell of fried snacks sizzling away in hot oil it felt like a warm hug after a long day.
As we settled on those old wooden benches our excitement grew the sound of boiling tea leaves and the clinking of cups had us smiling already the chai wala uncle was quick and cheerful he poured the steaming hot tea into little glass cups the color was rich brown almost like caramel and the smell was heavenly the steam rising into the chilly evening air made everything feel even more magical.
We took our first sip and oh my god it was pure bliss the chai was hot creamy and just the right amount of sweet it warmed us from the inside out the strong flavor of the tea leaves mixed with the fragrant cardamom and ginger created the perfect balance each sip felt like comfort in a cup we laughed and joked as we sipped slowly letting the warmth seep in.
Right as we were finishing our chai we noticed something even more tempting on the counter cutlets golden and crispy glistening with a light sheen of oil we couldn’t resist ordering a round for everyone the dhaba uncle took each one dipped it into a beaten egg mixture and gently laid it into the hot sizzling pan you could hear the crackle as the egg batter bubbled up around the cutlet sealing in all the flavors.
He flipped them expertly each side turning a perfect shade of golden brown when he pulled them out they looked like little pieces of fried perfection he placed them on plates with a side of creamy mayonnaise and a bright red swirl of ketchup the contrast of colors made our mouths water even more.
We picked up the cutlets with our fingers feeling the warmth and crispiness on our fingertips the first bite was an explosion of texture and taste the outside was so crunchy it made the most satisfying sound as we bit into it the inside was soft and packed with flavor potatoes and minced meat spiced just right with hints of black pepper cumin and a touch of green chili.
The egg coating added an extra layer of richness a thin golden crust that held everything together and gave a subtle savory flavor the mayonnaise was cool and creamy it melted into the warm cutlet with each bite balancing the spices perfectly and the ketchup added a tangy sweetness that made the flavors pop even more.
Every bite was better than the last sometimes we dipped the cutlet in just mayonnaise for that cool creamy taste other times we mixed it up with ketchup for a tangy twist we couldn’t stop eating the crunch the creamy dips the spices everything was just too good.
We sat there giggling with our mouths full taking turns passing around the plates and dipping sauces our fingers got messy but we didn’t care we were lost in the joy of good food and good company the golden evening light faded into night but the warm glow of the dhaba lights made it feel like a cozy little world just for us.
As we finished our last bites and sipped the remaining chai we felt full and happy the kind of happiness that only simple things like chai and crispy cutlets with your friends can bring we wiped our hands laughed at the mess we made and promised we’d come back again soon because sometimes these little moments these simple flavors and these shared bites are what make life feel just right.