It was a place accidentally discovered by our College gang during after-class strolls in the Phase 2 market of Sheikh Sarai, a small colony located in South Delhi. It was a Vegetarian restaurant in a basement next to a Lamination Lab, a location one could have easily missed and that no one could have guessed as an eating joint from the outside.
It might have been the initial phase of our Second-year adventures amongst notes-hunting and Five-year sample papers photostats, for I do not clearly recall the exact period. However, once the six of us sat together in the corner of the not-so-spacious place, ordering Fried Rice and Uttapams and colas till we ran out of topics for discussion and gossips, it became a routine. The soft grass of the CVS ground gave way to irregularly comfortable chairs for the next two years. The food was not lip-smacking. Neither was the restaurant well-lit. The food was merely passable but it was the comfort of a secluded place for the gang that paved way for after-the-class debates on issues as diverse as The-Next-Friday-Release to convincing 5-page answers for our varied subjects. The only waiter employed by Sriram's recognized each of our faces after our initial visits, and welcomed us with a wide grin whenever we opened the door to get inside. There were times when he would sit and chat with us for long periods when there were no other customers.
Times have changed. It's been six years since I graduated. My friends have gotten busy in their lives. While I am touch with all my college friends and do meet my close buddies every two months, I did miss good old times at Sriram's. I did miss our small and big meals, and our sitting together and talking for hours at a stretch. Lying on my bed at night-time a month ago, I decided to visit the place, to see whether it has changed.
I asked my best friend in college to accompany me to the place. He refused as he was busy that Sunday, but promised to come over the next weekend. For old times' sake, I decided to visit it on my own. I did not have the patience to wait for the next weekend, or my mood to remain constant for more than seven days.
Little did I know that Sriram's had given way to a fast food joint selling burgers, sandwiches, and a variety of soft-drinks. It was Jughead's that stood there now, thronged by college crowd and locals. The name was heavily publicized outside the basement, so people were aware of it. The service and food were better, and the hall was air-conditioned.
I was disappointed. Although from a random person's point of view, someone who has never experienced the joy of visiting Sriram as a part of his everyday college routine, Jugheads would be a perfect hangout recipe. Even from a practical viewpoint, Jughead's would be a much preferred place to the former one.
I hold a different opinion. It has got to do with pleasant memories. Nostalgia, no matter how bizarre it may seem to the pragmatists, is hard to replace.
