HAVELI
One morning on the way to office, a colleague of mine told me that he had gone to HAVELI the other day for dinner. I asked “What is Haveli?” He said “Kya? You have not heard of it? Surprising. It is the best Dhaba in Jalandhar.” I said ‘Oh! A Dhaba” and dismissed it out right. I thought it would one of the usual Dhabas with “Manjis” (cots) outside where truck drivers sit and have their meals. A convoy of trucks parked outside with a few cleaners cleaning them and a few emitting dark fumes polluting the entire area. Meals in most Dhabas are good and cheap though not exactly offering the best of surroundings. They are ideal when travelling on the highways and you do not want to enter the city, but going to a Dhaba to eat out one evening, just for a change? I had my doubts. Anyway I did not comment and kept silent. A week later, one Sunday evening my wife said “I am fed up of cooking endlessly lets go and eat out.” I said, “Fine, where do we go?. She said, “Lets go to Haveli.” I said “ What? Go to a Dhaba? Why go to a dhaba if you want a change. Why not go to a better restaurant with some good ambience.” She said “My colleagues in school keep going there frequently and are all praise for it. Why not try it out once?” I got curious. I had to find out what was so special. I said “Ok lets go.” However, she warned, “It is a vegetarian Dhaba and no liquor is servred there so be prepared for it.” My enthusiasm waned immediately. No chota peg? No murge ki tang (chicken legs)? I quickly poured my daily peg and had it while I got ready. Before we left, on the sly I poured my send chota peg before my wife could protest. Soon we were off….. Haveli here we come…..
The Approach
We piled into the car at 8.30 PM and set off. I asked my daughters to roll up the glass and switched on the AC. The temperatures were in the 40s and I thought at least have a pleasant drive. I switched on some soft soothing music. I was getting mentally prepared for sweating it out sitting on the “Manjis”. When we reached the highway, we turned towards Ludhiana and one km down the road I saw a sign “Haveli 4 KM Ahead”. I was impressed. For a dhaba putting up such sign postings was unique. As we reached closer and were about 300-400 metres away, I noticed that there were innumerable vehicles parked ahead. The road had become congested and the traffic was too slow moving for a highway. I was wondering if some truck was blocking the road. As we moved ahead and reached closer to the Dhaba, I noticed that cars not trucks were parked along the highway and also well tucked into the adjoining vacant spaces which had been converted toa parking lot. Security personnel from a private security agency were directing the traffic to parking lots in an area of some 200 metres on both sides of the Dhaba. My wife said “There that is Haveli”. I was intent on looking at the car ahead least I bump into it. We were moving bumper to bumper. It took me some 15 minutes to be directed to a vacant slot to park. I was wondering how I would extricate the car after the meal. There must have been at least some two thousand cars parked there. Cars of all hews, shapes, sizes and makes. You name it and it was there. From a Mercedes down to a diminutive Maruti 800. I aksed one of the security guys what was all the rush for? He said “Sab Haveli mein khana khane aye hain.” Not a single truck in site. Was this a Dhaba or……
The First View
As we trudged our way to Haveli, in the back ground I could hear the latest Punjabi remixs’ being played. As we reached closer, I noticed a multitude of people in front of a large building in red with the glow sign proudly proclaiming “HAVELI”. There was a high stage by the side of the building and a group was performing a dance to the tune of a Punjabi Remix. This was a live show for the benefit of those patiently waiting multitudes who had come there for a meal. On one side of the building were thatched huts with stalls to whet the appetite of those waiting to enter the Dhaba or for those who wanted to have light mini meals only. There were stalls for “chat”, “gol guppa”, “Dosa”, “Idli”, “Samosa”, “Popcorn”, “Pav Bhaji”, “Jalebi”, “Gulab Jamun”, “Ice Cream” “Kulfi”, etc. etc. On the other side of the building adjacent to the stage was a shed with various computer games for children and a large rink where children drove around in electric cars. In the centre of the open space there was a well with a rope and bucket to give you a feel taking out water from a well. There were a few chairs spread around where people could sit, however the crowd was far greater and there was hardly any space to stand, however it was an orderly crowd. No pushing or jostling no rowdiness, no frayed tempers. People waited patiently for their turn to enter the “Dhaba” and have their meals. The waiting period was approximately one hour. You had to go to the entrance to get a coupon from the darban, a hefty Sikh, in typical Punjabi dress The coupon showed your queue number. When your turn came, the number would be flashed on a LED display. We got the number 170 while 48 was on display at that time. 122 numbers to go. A long wait I thought, however the darban said it would take about 40 minutes to an hour. I was in half a mind to leave, but the gang of three (wife and daughters) said “No”. Being out numbered, I had no option but to toe the line. We waited and watched the performances on stage. I was missing my chota peg.
Entering the “Dhaba”
The numbers on the LED display kept moving regularly by leaps and bounds. 56, 72, 96, 109, …… 155, 163 and finally 170. It took exactly 40 minutes for our turn to come. I was impressed by the Darban’s prediction. Finally we were entering the “Dhaba”. Inside it was fully air conditioned (thank God!). The hall is about 120’ X 150’ in size, tastefully decorated in typical village style. All traditional items used in a Punjabi village were on display in various corners and on the walls were displayed the conventional Sikh Weapons symbolising the warrior class. In one corner stood the missing truck which was so much a part of a Dhaba. It was placed in such a way as to show that it had broken into the wall and come inside. The lights were subdued and a soothing Punjabi folk song was playing. There were a few men standing with large sized hand fans swaying them to create the regal atmosphere. Stewards with walkie talkie sets in hand, moved around directing the guests to empty tables after checking from all corners where there was a vacancy. Continued in Comments....