My Biryani Story

It was during the initial period of my CA-Articleship in Hyderabad. I was new to the city and when we hear the name Hyderabad, one thing that strikes the brains of foodies like me is “Biryani”. I am fond of Biryani and Hyderabad Biryani became my all-time favorite food since then. It used to be my default dish ordered, whenever I visit a new restaurant.

One day I was assigned to a Bank Audit in a decent area to assist a Madam, who is senior and experienced in that field working in our office. We reached the location and started our work. Later after some time, our sir reached there and had a meeting with the Manager regarding our audit work.

After the meeting, our sir took us to a decent restaurant. It was a pretty good-looking restaurant with a good ambiance and with pleasant music playing around through speakers. We found a table vacant and occupied the same and made ourselves comfortable. Soon the waiter bought the menu and asked us for the order. I am hungry and didn’t even bother to have a look at the menu. I said that I want a biryani. My Sir and Madam gave their orders.

I am waiting for my dish to come and we are having some conversation about work and others. Soon the waiter came with Tomato soup which our sir ordered for three of us. I had it very fast and was waiting for my Biryani to come. Slowly the waiter bought my dish and placed it on our table. It smells so good and looks wise it is well presented. He started serving and served a little on my plate. I didn’t find any chicken piece in it. I thought it might be under the Rice. So, I started eating the same and it tastes good, but I felt something is missing.

While I am eating, my mam asked “how is it?”, I replied with a doubtful face “it is nice”. I finished what is on my plate and was looking for the server so that he can serve me the rest. On seeing me, he came forward and served me, I am eagerly looking for the chicken piece to fall on my plate. I didn’t find any this time too. I took the spoon and started searching in the rice, to check whether I can find any piece of chicken.

On seeing my behavior, my Madam asked “Avinash, what are you looking for?” and I replied, “Mam, I ordered biryani, but I didn’t find any chicken pieces here. Instead, there is potato here, I think he replaced my dish with someone else”. Then my Madam replied, “Your dish is not replaced, what you are eating is Veg Biryani, this is Taj mahal hotel and they serve only pure veg”. On hearing that, my mind becomes blank and I was like “why did they name Veg Pulao as Biryani?”. My desire to eat a bellyful biryani on that day just vanished within a second like our dreams which we forgot every morning while we try to recollect them.

We completed our lunch and we went back to our work. It was the day where I discovered that there is Biryani for Vegetarians too and I was so conscious from that day while ordering Biryani to confirm whether it is veg or non-veg. So, when someone asks for what you like to have for lunch or dinner, be careful and be sure of what you order. To be honest, that pulao tastes so good except that it is wrongly renamed.