Hyderabadi Biryani, Chai aur Ishq

# Pehli Mulaqat – Woh Table Jahan Sab Shuru Hua

Jumme ki shaam thi. Garmi toh thi hi, lekin Hyderabad ki hawa mein kuch alag hi baat hoti hai. Woh mehak... masalon ki, gulab ki, aur chai ki. Main, Shruti, 24 saal ki, Warangal se Hyderabad shift hui thi do saal pehle. Customer support mein job karti thi, aur zindagi... well, chal rahi thi. Lekin us din, us crowded Irani cafe mein, meri zindagi thodi si badal gayi.

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"Abba, main nikal rahi hoon!" maine apne papa ko awaaz di, bag uthaake darwaze ki taraf badhi.

Papa newspaper se nazar uthaake dekhe. "Kahan jaa rahi hai tu? Akele?"

"Papa, main 24 saal ki hoon," maine muskuraate hue kaha. "Aur woh Charminar ke paas wala cafe hai, bahut famous hai. Bas chai peene jaa rahi hoon. Aap tension mat lo."

"Warangal mein toh itna ghoomti phirti nahi thi," papa ne mutter kiya, phir haath hilaake bye kiya. "Jaldi aana. Aur haa, kuch khaas ho toh parcel lete aana."

Maine haan mein sir hilaaya aur nikal gayi.

Metro se aayi, auto liya, aur finally woh cafe ke saamne pahunchi. "Cafe Shahi" – purana Irani cafe, Charminar se bas do minute ki walk pe. Shaam ke 6 baje the, aur already bheed thi. Andar jaake dekha toh koi table khali nahi.

"Arre yaar," maine socha. "Itni bheed?"

Tabhi ek uncle ne awaaz di – wohi Chacha, cafe ke owner, safed dadhi mein, chashma pehne hue. "O beti, akele aayi ho? Chalo, woh corner mein table hai, woh sahab bhi akele baithe hain. Adjust kar lo. Hyderabad mein sab adjust hi karte hain."

Maine jab us table ki taraf dekha, toh ek ladka baitha tha. Laptop saamne rakha tha, lekin uski nazar window mein bahar ja rahi thi. White shirt, slightly messy hair, aur woh... shyness. Pata nahi kaise, lekin mujhe laga ki yeh thoda alag hai.

"Excuse me," maine politely poocha. "Yeh table share kar sakti hoon? Bheed bahut hai."

Usne upar dekha. Brown eyes. Soft voice. "Haan... haan, bilkul. Baithiye."

Maine bag side mein rakha aur baith gayi. Chacha ne aake order liya. "Kya logi beti? Dum chai? Osmania biscuit?"

"Haan Chacha, dum chai. Aur Osmania biscuit bhi. Waise yahan ki famous kya hai?"

Chacha ne muskurate hue kaha, "Yahan ki chai toh purane zamaane ki hai. Aur agar biryani pasand ho toh weekend ko aana, special Hyderabadi biryani banata hoon."

"Pakka Chacha, zaroor aayenge," maine kaha.

Tabhi woh ladka bola, "Aap... yahan naye lag rahe ho. Matlab, pehli baar aayi ho?"

"Haan, actually," maine kaha. "Main Warangal se hoon. Do saal se Hyderabad mein hoon, lekin aaj pehli baar yeh cafe explore kar rahi hoon. Aap?"

"Main... yahan ka hi hoon. Matlab, born and brought up in Hyderabad. Aditya," usne haath aage badhaya.

"Shruti," maine haath milaya.

Uske haath garam the, aur thode se nervous. Pata chal raha tha ki yeh shy hai. Lekin uski smile... genuine thi.

"Aap kya karte ho?" maine poocha.

"Software testing. Boring job," usne modestly kaha. "Aap?"

"Customer support. US clients ke saath. Raat ki shift, din ko sona, din ki shift, raat ko sona. Zindagi chal rahi hai."

Chai aayi. Doodh wali, masaledar, aur garam. Maine pehli sip li. "Wah!"

Aditya ne muskuraate hue kaha, "Pehli baar Irani chai peene wale yahi kehte hain."

"Nahi seriously, yeh toh alag hi level hai. Warangal mein bhi chai peeti thi, lekin yeh... yeh toh kuch aur hi hai."

"Hyderabad ki jaan hai yeh chai," Aditya ne kaha, apni cup uthaake. "Aur yeh cafe... mere bachpan ki yaadein hain. Papa yahan laaya karte the."

"Aapke papa?"

"Unhe... do saal ho gaye," usne nazrein jhuka li. "Heart attack."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," maine softly kaha.

"Koi baat nahi. Life moves on, na? Mere bade bhaiya hain – Rahul. Woh business karte hain. Unhone hi sambhala hai sab."

Hum dono ne chai peeti. Osmania biscuit toda – crispy, slightly sweet, perfect chai ke saath.

"Warangal se Hyderabad... adjustment hua?" Aditya ne poocha.

"Initially toh thoda mushkil tha," maine sach sach kaha. "Papa retired hain, bank se. Mummy... unhe 5 saal ho gaye. Ab bas main aur papa hain. Warangal mein ghar tha, yahan rent pe rehte hain. Lekin Hyderabad achha lagta hai. Energy alag hai."

"Woh toh hai," Aditya ne kaha. "Hyderabad mein kuch magic hai. Log, khana, culture... sab warm hai."

"Exactly! Aur khana toh... main toh foodie hoon. Biryani, haleem, kebabs... bas mar jao!"

Aditya ne actually hansi. Pehli baar proper hansi. "Main bhi. Actually, main cook karta hoon. Stress relief ke liye."

"Sach mein?"

"Haan. Weekend pe. Bhaiya kehte hain main achha banaata hoon. Lekin woh toh family hai, unhe toh achha hi lagta hoga na?"

"Nahi nahi, cooking talent hoti hai. Mujhe toh bas Maggi aati hai," maine haske kaha.

Hum dono hase. Woh awkward silence nahi tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise pehle se jaante ho ek doosre ko.

"Toh... kal aaogi?" Aditya ne poocha, thoda hesitant hoke. "I mean, agar chai pasand aayi toh? Yahan roz shaam ko 6 baje aata hoon. Work from cafe, you can say."

Maine socha. Pehli baar koi ladka pooch raha tha milne ke liye. Lekin yeh creepy nahi tha. Sweet tha. Innocent tha.

"Kal Sunday hai, lekin haan, shaam ko free hoon. Aa jaungi."

"Great," usne muskuraaya. "Main... main wait karunga."

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# Dusri, Teesri, Chauthi Mulaqat – Dosti ki Shuruwat

Din badalte gaye, aur humari meetings routine ban gayi. Roz shaam, 6 baje, Cafe Shahi, corner table. Kabhi bheed zyada hoti, toh hum ek hi table pe adjust karte. Kabhi khali hota, toh bhi wohi table humara ho jaata.

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"Toh aaj kya special hai?" maine poochha, aate hi baith gayi.

Aditya ne apna laptop band kiya. "Aaj maine socha... tumhe real Hyderabad dikhata hoon."

"Matlab?"

"Yeh touristy places nahi. Real Hyderabad. Chai ke baad, main tumhe ek jagah le ke chalunga. Wahan ke samose... bas mar jaogi."

"Deal!" maine excitedly kaha.

Chacha ne chai laaya. Aaj unhone zara zyada paise nahi liye. "Aap dono toh regular ho gaye ho. Family ban gaye ho cafe ki."

"Thanks Chacha," Aditya ne kaha.

"Kya thanks-wanks, beta. Tum dono ko dekh ke achha lagta hai. Aaj kal ke youngsters phone pe hi rehte hain. Tum dono actually baat karte ho. Woh bhi dekh ke achha lagta hai."

Maine aur Aditya ne ek doosre ko dekha. Thoda awkward, thoda sweet.

"Waise Shruti," Aditya ne chai peete hue kaha, "tumhara Warangal mein kya chhod ke aayi ho?"

"Bahut kuch," maine kaha. "Woh choti si galliyan, jahan sab ek doosre ko jaante the. Papa ka bank, jahan roz subah jaate the. Mummy ki yaadein... woh ghar mein har jagah hai. Lekin job yahan thi, toh aana pada."

"Tough tha?"

"Bahut. Lekin ab theek hai. Papa bhi adjust kar gaye. Ab toh unke bhi yahan dost ban gaye hain. Woh retired bank clerks ki gang hai – subah park mein walk, phir chai, phir ghar."

Aditya ne muskuraaya. "Woh toh achha hai. Mere papa bhi... unke saath yahi routine thi. Ab bhaiya ne unki jagah le li hai. Rahul bhaiya... woh strict hain, lekin dil ke bahut ache hain."

"Unse milna hoga kabhi."

"Jaldi hi. Actually, woh poochhte rehte hain – 'Woh ladki kaun hai jiske saath roz cafe jaata hai?'"

Maine cheeks pe heat feel ki. "Kya... kya bola aapne?"

"Kuch nahi," Aditya ne jhooth bola, lekin uska chehra laal ho gaya. "Bas... dosti hai, bola."

"Hmm," maine tease kiya. "Dosti?"

"Haan, dosti. Abhi toh... dosti hi hai na?"

Maine uski aankhon mein dekha. Woh poochh raha tha, permission maang raha tha. Main thoda serious hoke boli, "Haan. Abhi dosti hai. Lekin... achhi dosti. Important dosti."

Usne relief mein saans li. "Bahut important."

Uss din, chai ke baad, usne mujhe ek choti si shop pe le gaya. Gali ke andar, koi board nahi, bas ek uncle samose tal rahe the.

"Yeh... mere school ke dinon se hai," Aditya ne kaha. "Mummy yahan se laati thi."

Humne samose khaye – aloo ke, spicy, chutney ke saath. Best samose jo maine kabhi khaye.

"Aditya," maine kaha, "yeh... yeh special hai. Thank you."

"Koi baat nahi," usne kaha. "Hyderabad ki cheezein share karna... achha lagta hai."

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# Week 3 – Families aur Confessions

Din beete, aur humari dosti gehri hoti gayi. Baatein personal hoti gayi. Families, dreams, fears... sab share karne lage.

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"Aaj main late hoon, sorry!" maine bhagte hue kaha, table pe baithi.

Aditya ne dekha. "Kya hua?"

"Papa ki tabiyat thodi kharab thi. Subah se unki care kar rahi thi. Bas thoda cold hai, lekin unki age mein..."

"Samajh sakta hoon," Aditya ne concerned hoke kaha. "Woh theek hain ab?"

"Haan, so gaye hain. Medicine de di. Lekin... pata nahi, tension hoti hai. Main akeli hoon unka dekhne wali."

"Nahi ho tum akeli," Aditya ne softly kaha. "Main hoon na. Help chahiye toh bolna."

Maine uski taraf dekha. Itna genuine concern. "Thank you. Seriously."

"By the way," usne topic change kiya, "kal Rahul bhaiya ne poocha... ki agar tum comfortable ho toh... ghar pe aake dinner kar lo."

"Ghar pe? Aapke ghar pe?"

"Haan. Bhaiya bhi milna chahte hain. Woh kehte hain, main roz kahan jaata hoon, kisse milta hoon... unhe dekhna hai ki kaun hai yeh mystery girl."

Maine hasi. "Mystery girl? Main toh... bilkul normal hoon."

"Nahi," Aditya ne seriously kaha. "Tum bilkul normal nahi ho. Tum... special ho."

Woh moment tha. Cafe mein shor tha, lekin hum dono ke beech silence tha. Comfortable silence.

"Main aaungi," maine finally kaha. "Lekin pehle... mere papa se milna hoga. Unhe bhi pata hona chahiye ki main kahan ja rahi hoon, kisse mil rahi hoon."

"Fair enough," Aditya ne kaha. "Next weekend?"

"Deal."

---

Agle hafte, Aditya mere ghar aaya. Papa se milne. Main nervous thi, lekin Aditya... woh toh jaise interview dene aaya ho.

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"Namaste uncle," Aditya ne jhukke pranaam kiya.

Papa ne spectacles upar kiye. "Baitho beta."

Aditya baitha. Seedha, nervous.

"Aap kya karte ho?" papa ne poocha.

"Software testing, uncle. Company mein."

"Family mein kaun kaun hai?"

"Papa nahi rahe uncle. Maa bhi nahi. Bas bade bhaiya hain – Rahul. Business karte hain. Hyderabad mein hi rehte hain."

Papa ne kuch socha. "Aur... meri beti?"

"Uncle," Aditya ne sachche dil se kaha, "Shruti... bahut special hai. Main uski respect karta hoon. Aur aapki bhi. Main sirf yeh kehna chahta hoon ki main... achhe iraadon se usse milna chahta hoon. Koi galat intention nahi hai."

Papa ne mujhe dekha. Maine haath jode. Please Papa, samajh lo.

"Thik hai," papa ne finally kaha. "Jaa sakti hai. Lekin time se ghar aa jaana. Aur haan... Aditya beta, aap bhi kabhi ghar aaiye. Khana khake jaana."

Aditya ne relief mein saans li. "Zaroor uncle. Shukriya."

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Aditya ke ghar ka dinner... woh alag tha. Rahul bhaiya ne mujhe garamjoshi se welcome kiya. Woh strict nahi, protective the. Aur unhone jo kaha... woh main kabhi nahi bhoolungi.

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"Shruti," Rahul bhaiya ne kaha, khana khaate hue, "Aditya ne tumhare baare mein bahut kuch bataya hai. Pehli baar itna excited dekha hai isko kisi cheez ko leke."

"Bhaiya bas..." Aditya ne sharmate hue kaha.

"Nahi, sach hai," Rahul bhaiya ne kaha. "Yeh ladka... shy hai, quiet hai. Lekin dil ka bahut saaf hai. Mujhe bas yeh dekhna tha ki jisse yeh itna mil raha hai, woh kaun hai. Aur tum... tum theek ho. Achhi ho."

"Thank you bhaiya," maine kaha.

"Ek baat bataun?" Rahul bhaiya ne muskuraake kaha. "Yeh roz cafe jaata tha, lekin pehli baar kisi ne iske saath table share ki. Woh bhi itni bheed mein. Kismat hai tumhari."

Maine Aditya ki taraf dekha. Woh sharma raha tha, lekin uski aankhon mein woh special look tha. Woh look jo sirf mujhe hi milta tha.

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# Week 6 – Haath Pakadna aur Pehli Baar

Time beet ta gaya. Humari meetings ab sirf cafe tak limited nahi thi. Kabhi Lakdi ka Pul, kabhi Necklace Road, kabhi Golconda Fort. Hyderabad ki har jagah humari yaadon se bhar gayi.

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Shaam thi. Necklace Road pe the. Hussain Sagar ki hawa chal rahi thi. Buddha Puri bada sa statue door se dikhta tha.

"Shruti," Aditya ne kaha, "main kuch kehna chahta hoon."

"Haan bolo," maine kaha, paani ki taraf dekh rahi thi.

"Main... main tumhe bahut pasand karne laga hoon. Nahi, zyada se zyada. I think... I think I'm falling for you."

Maine uski taraf mudke dekha. Woh nervous tha, lekin determined.

"Main bhi," maine sach sach kaha. "Bahut time se. Lekin keh nahi pa rahi thi."

"Really?"

"Haan. Tumhari shyness, tumhara pyar for your family, tumhari cooking... sab. Aur woh tumhari smile. Jab tum hass te ho, toh... pata nahi, sab theek lagta hai."

Aditya ne ek kadam aage badhaya. "Kya... kya main...?"

Maine haath aage badhaya. Usne mera haath pakda. Garam, strong, lekin gentle.

Pehli baar humne officially haath pakda. Public mein. Necklace Road pe. Log guzar rahe the, lekin humein koi farak nahi pada.

"Thank you," usne kaha, "mujhe chance dene ke liye."

"Chance?" maine haske kaha. "Aditya, tum toh pehle din se hi special the. Bas mujhe realize karne mein time laga."

Humne saath mein walk kiya. Haath pakde hue. Baatein ki bachpan ki, dreams ki, future ki.

"Ek din," Aditya ne kaha, "main tumhare liye woh special biryani banaunga. Meri mummy ki recipe. Tumhe bahut pasand aayegi."

"Intezar rahega," maine kaha.

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# Week 8 – The Special Dinner

Papa ne finally bola. "Us ladke ko bulao. Main usse milna chahta hoon. Proper tarah se."

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Aditya nervous tha. Mujhe phone pe bola, "Shruti, main... main kya banaun? Kya papa ko pasand aayega?"

"Bas tum banao," maine kaha. "Jo tumhara best hai. Papa ko effort pasand hai. Irada pasand hai."

"Pakka?"

"Pakka."

---

Din tha Saturday. Aditya subah se prepare kar raha tha. Rahul bhaiya ne help ki. Main aur papa shaam ko pahunche.

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Jab hum pahunche, toh ghar mein mehak thi... kya mehak! Masalon ki, ghee ki, biryani ki.

"Namaste uncle," Aditya ne welcome kiya. "Aaiye."

Papa ne andar aake dekha. Table set tha. Flowers the. Rahul bhaiya ne welcome kiya.

"Beta," papa ne kaha, "yeh sab...?"

"Uncle, aapke liye special dinner hai. Actually, Shruti ke liye bhi. Meri mummy ki Hyderabadi biryani recipe. Authentic. Dum style."

Kitchen se mehak aa rahi thi. Main toh paagal ho rahi thi.

"Chaliye, baithein," Rahul bhaiya ne kaha.

Hum baithe. Aditya ne pehle sherbet serve kiya – home-made, rose flavor.

"Wah," papa ne kaha. "Yeh toh hamare zamaane jaisa hai."

Phir starters aaye – lukmi. Hyderabadi special, meat-filled pastry. Crispy, spicy.

"Uncle," Aditya ne kaha, "yeh Hyderabad ki old recipe hai. Meri dadi sikhati thi mummy ko."

Papa ne taste kiya. Unki aankhen badi hui. "Bahut achha hai beta. Bahut."

Phir biryani aayi. Handi mein, sealed with dough. Aditya ne khud serve ki. Aroma... bas bata nahi sakti. Rice fluffy, meat tender, masale perfect.

"Yeh... yeh toh restaurant se bhi behtar hai," maine kaha, pehla bite lete hi.

Aditya ne muskuraake kaha. "Mummy kehti thi – biryani mein pyar daalna chahiye. Tabhi achhi banti hai."

Papa ne khaaya. Doosra serving liya. Teesra. Unhone kuch nahi kaha, bas khaate rahe.

Dinner ke baad, hum terrace pe baithe. Hyderabad ki raat, thodi thandi, lights door door tak.

"Aditya beta," papa ne finally kaha, "tum bahut ache ho. Shruti ne sahi choice ki hai."

Aditya ne shukriya mein sir jhukaya.

"Main retired hoon," papa ne kaha, "lekin itna samajh sakta hoon ki koi insaan genuine hai ya nahi. Tum genuine ho. Aur tum meri beti ka khayal rakhoge. Yeh mujhe pata hai."

"Papa..." maine emotional hoke kaha.

"Nahi, suno," papa ne kaha. "Main purana zamane ka hoon. Lekin jab pyar genuine ho, toh usme koi shak nahi karta. Tum dono ki jodi... mujhe achhi lagti hai."

Aditya ne mera haath pakda. Papa ne dekha, lekin kuch nahi kaha. Bas muskura diye.

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# Aaj – Ek Nayi Shuruwat

Ab hum saath mein zyada time spend karte hain. Cafe Shahi ab bhi hamara favorite hai. Chacha ab humein "meri bachchi" aur "mera beta" kehte hain.

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Aaj Sunday hai. Main Cafe Shahi mein hoon, Aditya ka intezaar kar rahi hoon. Lekin aaj different hai. Aaj humne decide kiya hai ki... future ke baare mein baat karenge. Seriously.

Aditya aaya. White shirt mein, thoda nervous, thoda excited.

"Sorry late ho gaya," usne kaha. "Bhaiya se kuch discuss kar raha tha."

"Kya?" maine poocha.

"Woh... actually," usne haath mein ek chota sa box rakha. "Yeh... yeh abhi engagement ring nahi hai. Woh... woh baad mein ayegi. Lekin yeh... yeh promise hai. Ki main hamesha tumhara khayal rakhunga. Tumhe khush rakhunga. Tumhari family ki tarah meri family banegi."

Maine box khola. Ek simple, elegant ring. Silver, with a small pearl.

"Aditya..." maine emotional hoke kaha.

"Kya tum... kya tum mujhse... future mein...?"

"Haan," maine kaha, bina soche. "Haan, haan, haan!"

Cafe mein log dekh rahe the. Chacha ne awaaz di, "Kya hua? Proposal ho gaya?"

Hum dono hase. Aditya ne meri taraf dekha. "Thank you, Shruti. Meri zindagi mein aane ke liye."

"Thank you," maine kaha, "meri table share karne ke liye."

Usne mera haath pakda. Phir... dheere se, usne mere maathe pe kiss kiya. Soft, sweet, full of promise.

"Wah wah!" Chacha ne taali bajaayi. "Aaj special chai free hai dono ke liye!"

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# Epilogue – Future ki Tasveer

Abhi hum engaged hain. Shaadi ki planning chal rahi hai. Papa khush hain, Rahul bhaiya khush hain, main khush hoon.

---

Main aaj soch rahi thi, terrace pe, shaam ko. Hyderabad ki hawa mein wohi mehak thi.

Socha ki future kaisa hoga?

Shaayad ek chota sa flat hoga. Charminar ke paas, ya kisi peaceful jagah pe. Subah Aditya uthega, chai banayega. Main kitchen mein uske saath, uski mummy ki recipes seekhungi. Weekend pe Cafe Shahi jaayenge, Chacha se milenge. Kabhi Rahul bhaiya ke ghar, kabhi mere papa ke saath.

Bachche honge? Shaayad. Ek ladka, ek ladki. Unhe bhi wohi biryani ki recipe sikhaayega Aditya. Unhe bhi le jaayenge Charminar, Irani cafe. Hyderabad ki gali mein khelne denge.

Papa honge saath mein. Old age mein unka khayal rakhenge. Aditya unke bete jaisa ban jayega. Actually, woh already ban chuka hai.

Rahul bhaiya ke bachche honge, humare saath khelne wale. Joint family jaisa, lekin modern tarah se.

Aur biryani... hamesha special banegi. Har Sunday. Har khaas mauke pe. Kyunki woh sirf khana nahi hai. Woh pyar hai. Woh yaadein hain. Woh Aditya ki mummy ka aashirwad hai.

Maine aasmaan ki taraf dekha. Stars thehre the. Mummy kahin se dekh rahi hongi. Khush hongi.

"Shruti!" Aditya ne awaaz di. "Kahan ho? Chai thandi ho rahi hai!"

"Aayi!" maine kaha, muskuraate hue.

Uthe, aur andar gayi. Haath mein uska haath tha. Garam, reassuring, mera.

Hyderabad ki biryani, Irani chai, aur yeh pyar... yeh sab milake meri zindagi complete thi.

Warangal se Hyderabad tak ka safar... woh ab bas shuruat thi.

Asli kahani toh ab shuru hui thi.

~ The End ~

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P.S. – Agli baar jab Hyderabad aao, toh Cafe Shahi zaroor aana. Chacha se kehna Shruti aur Aditya ne bheja hai. Woh special chai banayenge. Aur haan, weekend ko aana – biryani bhi milegi. Dum style. Pyar ke saath.