What exactly is chaat? Well it is a savory, spicy snack served just about anywhere in the city off of stalls that are stationary or mobile. Uttar Pradesh is supposedly the area of origin for this popular snack. Chaat's etymology comes from three different words; a delicacy, to lick and lastly to devour with relish or eat noisily. That last one I have found to be particularly true.
In our current home I can set my clock by the chaat wallah (chaat man). At 7, on the dot he bangs his steel spoon on his huge steel diba (massive pot) and yells to find out if anyone in our apartment building is hankering for a snack. He gives quite a deal for just 5 rupees. His particular version of chaat is a spicy lentil mix in a crispy ball core. To top it off he pours water into the "ball" of goodness and in one fell swoop you down that baby, or three or five!
Chaat, honestly, is pretty good but I do not get down often to indulge. Why? Because seven is crazy, wild, nuts. It is when my son wants his bedtime milk, my daughter wants to nurse and the melt down which has been on the back burner suddenly rears its ugly head when I realize there is only a few hours before my head hits the pillow and I have two poopy diapers to rinse in the toilet, a load of laundry to start, a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room to clean or straighten. However the cheerful banging of the same man each night adds a good reminder that this is my reality just for now and some day soon (while maybe in a few years) I will jump up, patter down the stairs with my kids and have a night time snack!
I have never had chaat. W thought he was going to fall over and die of ameba when he had it!!! Love your writing!!! and miss you.
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