We had been shopping for two hours when we realized that we were really, really hungry (anyone knows the difference between being hungry and really, really hungry !).
As if on cue, a heavenly smell of cheese, freshly baked breads and other such delicious assortments wafted near us from somewhere. We followed our sensitive noses and ended up in front of ?Subway?.
?Subway ? Isn?t that the international sandwich food chain ?? I wondered
?OK, let?s go in? said my impatient friend.
We entered a small room, where chairs and tabled were stacked like sardines and attempted to make our way towards the food corner where uniformed, handsome hunks stood about with gloved hands, manning a glass top rack which had all the ingredients to make all kinds of sandwiches ? some which I could recognize, mercifully.
Yet, panic struck me and I was running out of there !
I was pulled back roughly by the lapel of my jacket by my pal ?Now what happened ?!!?
?I can?t eat over here.?
?But why ?!?
?I had been to a similar place in Hong Kong and ordered a sandwich.?
?Then ??
I could speak no more. I just stood there, my face getting greener by the minute.
?Hey, that was some place in Hong Kong. This is Subway in India. This is going to be great. Trust me.?
So I decided to trust her and we ordered our sandwiches. I was impressed with the menu ? we had a choice of submarine sandwiches, salads and meal combos. And hey, what was that ? They actually had low fat options in their sandwiches ? being the calorie counter that I am, I was simply bowled over with that offer.
One hunk who was our sandwich maker rolled his sleeves and began to custom- make our sandwiches with such grace that we just stared, awed. All we could see were graceful hands and fluid gestures ? take the bread slices, expertly toss in some salad, sprinkle in some cheese gratings, a dollop of mustard here, a flourish of mayonnaise there. His elegant style could have put a ballet dancer to shame. Watching the whole exercise was simply absorbing !
He was full of smiles, courtesy and???.. options !
And such options they were !
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Q. Would you like your bread white or grain, Ma?am ?
A. Er?white.(I thought bread is bread is bread. Are there any types, then ?)
Q.Would you like olives in your sandwiches ?
A.Hmmm?not really ! (For God?s sake what are they ? I think they are those?er black..things. Definitely not. I hate anything black. Reminds me of cockroaches.)
Q.Would you like some green peppers, then ?
A.Okhayyy, okhayyy (Peppers and green ? This is a crazy place)
Q.And how about some banana peppers, Ma?am ?
I?d rather not. (is that a banana made of peppers or is that peppers made of banana ? Whichever way, sounds icky !)
Q.And how about some extra cheese ?
A.Er?sure. Hmm? why not. (Will this man ever stop ?)
Q.Would that be all, Ma?am ?
A.I think so. Thank you. (Stop. Stop right there. And hand me my sandwich. Or I?ll sock you in the face.)
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Finally, our bags were handed over to us by the hunk with such a sunny smile that we had to hold the counter for support in order to stop from falling in a slushy puddle right there, on the Subway floor.
I drove the car like someone possessed (the heavenly smells that were drifting from the bag were diving us insane !) and literally tumbled out when we reached home. Next, we attempted to tear the bag and eat our sandwiches with an utter disregard for lady-like grace and table manners. Who gives a fig about all that when one is really, *really, really, really *hungry and there is a hot, delicious Subway sandwich at hand.
Will I go to Subway again ? Yes, sure. But this time, I shall attempt to understand the ingredients in more detail.
Ambience : *
Food :
Service :