Walking across the busy Andheri Station lane worrying about how late I am going to reach home. It is raining cats and dogs. When I arrive at the bus stop all drenched and feeling extremely wet. To my utter dismay I see a huge queue for the 333 bus. Feeling absolutely frustrated I join the chaotic line. Suddenly I feel I am in paradise. What a sweet divine smell and my piggy little eyes catch the sight of a Man making lovely curly Jalebies in half pants. Well I am sure all who will read my blog are very big bhukads and surely know about Jalebi. In case you do not know Jalebi is a spiral shaped orange or red colour celebration sweet in India. Well I am sure you are at least aware about how the sexy Mallika Sherawat shaked her booty to that lovely song called ‘Jalebi Bai’ :P Well now please don’t go wondering about Miss. Sherawat’s fabulous posterior coming back to my story. This uncle in half pants makes Jalebis from a very long time. This is his fixed place near the 333 bus outside Andheri Station East. He is very passionate about making Jalebies you can see it in his eyes. No matter how busy this street gets. No matter how heavily it rains he will set up his stall every evening churning out yummy hot and crispy Jalebies. Well this man really loves his job. Looking at him making those fantastic Jalebis with total dedication makes me think that this man was really born to do what he is doing.
Feeling absolutely hungry I go up to his stall and ask him “bhaiya bhees ruupay ka jalebi parcel dena” (pack some Jalebis worth Rs. 20). As he was busy frying another batch of that finger licking Jalebies. I thought to ask him some stuff about himself and then the conversation started. “Bhaiya mein aapki Jalebi ki kafi badi fan hoon, aapka dukan aur aapka naam bathaiye please”, (I truly enjoy these Jalebis you prepare, could you please tell me your name and your stall’s name). He replied with twinkling eyes, “Madam mera naam Anil Singh hain aur mera stall ka naam Andheri Jalebi hain. Humne tagline bhi banayi hain ‘Jalebi Ka Baap’ waha poster bhi laga hua hain dheko” (My name is Anil Singh and we kept this stalls name Andheri Jalebi with a tagline that this is father of all the sweets). Then I asked him “Yaha jor se barish gir rahi ho ya kafi garmi pad rahi hoon, aap har roj yaha Jalebi bhejthe hoon kyun ??” (Even if it’s raining heavily or extremely hot weather, I find you selling these sweets here every day). He replies with a broad smile “Madam yeh mera kaam hain, aur Jalebiyan banana muje acha lagtha hain” (It’s my daily labour and I truly enjoy making these sweets). Then I asked “Aap kab se Jalebiyan bana rahe hoon?” (When did you start your business?) He replied with pride in his voice, “Hum 1986 se yeh thela lagaye hain. Hum roz shyam ko yaha 6-11 tak Jalebiyan banathe hain” (I started my business in the year 1986, during evening’s I set up my stall from 6 pm to 11 pm). Then I asked, “aap yahi paas mein rehethe ho yaa kafi door rehethe hoon?” (Do you stay nearby or very far away?) He replied, “Nahi Madam, hum kafi door Chandivali mein rehethe hain, Hum sabhere 4-5 ghante yaha ke Milk Center pe doodh ka delivery karthe hain” (I stay far away at Chandivali and in the morning 4-5 hrs I deliver milk for the nearby Milk Centre). Surprised I asked, “Aap dono jagaha kaam kaise manage karthe hoon?” (How do you manage working at two places?) He replies “Madam karna padtha hain papi pete ka sawal hain, aur waise bhi Metro ke ajane ke badth yaha se logon ka ana jana kafi kam hua hain tho business mein thoda mandhii hain” (To fill my families stomach I have to manage two jobs. Since the new Andheri Metro station is become many people have stop commuting from here and hence I have tough time in business.) Then I added sweetly “Aap kafi saloon se ho tho aapke kafi sare daily grahak honge nah jo mere jaise athe honge tho aapko kya tension lena.”(Since you are here from a very long time your Jalebis must be very popular over here and you must be having many daily customers who enjoy these sweets as much as I do). Even with a broader smile he replied, “Ha Madamji kafi saal se hoon tho kafi log pehechanthe hain muje. Who logon yaha se parcel leke bhi jathe hain muje kafi sare party ke order bhi ane laga hain. Ab jo log mere Jalebi ki quality janthe hain who tho mujhse hi lethe hain. Kafi logon ko Kesari Jalebi badiya lagthi hain” (Yes yes many people who know me buy for me only and I also get orders for many parties. As my Jalebies are of superior quality all enjoy the Kesar Jalebi). Well it started getting very crowded as the newly prepared hot and crispy batch of Jalebies had just come out of the frying pan and was dipped into the sugar syrup and served. He packed my parcel and I told him that I would surely blog about him. He was very happy to pose for pictures and also he told me ki Madam yeh jaroor likhna ki meri Jilebiyan kafi badiya hoti hain (that his sweets are the best).
