Page 162 - Half Girlfriend

Foundation people would arrive in six weeks and I had to deliver a

speech.
‘No speech, no grant, eh?’ she said.
I nodded and haiied an auto. ‘Maurya Complex,’ I said to the

driver.

*
Maurya Complex is a grey box-shaped building with retail stores

on the ground level and offices on the higher doors. While the
building has no character, its compound area has some of the most

popular street food stalls of Patna.
‘Tried litti-chokha before?’ I said.

‘What’s that?’ she said.
I pointed to a stall where fresh littis were being made over red-hot

charcoal. The cook took a ball of dough and stuffed it with spiced
chickpea powder. Flattening the ball with his fingers, he roasted the

litti over the-coals. Once done, he gave the litti a quick dip in desi

ghee. He gave us the littis in a plate with salad, chutney and chokha.
‘What is chokha?’ Riya said.
The stall-owner explained how chokha is made with tomatoes,

eggplant and potatoes all mashed together and cooked with green

chillies, salt and other spices.
Riya took a bite. ‘This is unbelievable.’

Her expression made the stall-owner’s chest swell with pride.
'Like it?’ I laughed, knowing the answer.

‘Why don’t they have this in Delhi? All over India? The world?’
Riya said.

‘Bihari things are not considered cool.’
‘Why?’ she said, her mouth full.

‘It’s a poor state. Nobody wants our things, or us. Not yet, at least.’
‘From now on I’m eating this every day.’

We finished our meal. I passed her tissues to wipe her hands.
‘My mother makes even better litti-chokha,’ I said.

‘You make this at home?’ Riya said.