Velu Viduthi ****

Velu Viduthi. An unpretentious restaurant in Penang. Bhuvan’s favourite breakfast joint. Whenever he found himself in Penang, he would head to Velu Viduthi for breakfast. It was usually one of the high points of his Penang visits. Such was his devotion.

The décor and ambience at this place was nothing to shout about. In fact it was drab. The thosai was made on a griddle at the five-foot-way in front. And the inside walls were adorned with the mandatory calendars featuring various Hindu God-forms. In addition, a few curious pictures, depicting the owner and his friends and relatives, all men in spotless white shirts and white dhoties, taken in their native village in Ramanathapuram. One picture even had their family bull, posing with a few men.

The specialty was the thosai, and the coconut chutney that went with it. Heavenly. And the vadai was superb too. Bhuvan tended to overeat whenever he had breakfast at Velu Viduthi.

The owner and the people who served the food at Velu Viduthi were a reserved lot. When they spoke, it was mainly among themselves. Rarely to the customers. And Bhuvan hardly got a nod of recognition, although he patronized the shop quite often.

Bhuvan’s wife frequently accompanied him to Penang. She had her favorite eatery too. And it wasn’t Velu Viduthi. Vasugi had unadulterated contempt and derision for Velu Viduthi. “What a dump. How can you bear to eat the food there?"
***
Bhuvan was preparing to go for breakfast. “So will you have breakfast at the hotel as usual?” he asked his wife.
“I think I will come with you today.”
Bhuvan was taken aback. “I am going to Velu Viduthi.”
“Yes, I know. I will come too.”
***

“Madam. என்ன ரொம்ப நாளா உங்கள பாக்க முடியல ? வாங்க , வந்து உக்காருங்க. தம்பி இந்த table தொட . Madam, வட சாப்பிடறீங்களா? தோசை ?( Madam, why you have not come for so long? Boy, come clean this table. Madam, would you care for a vadai ? Thosai?) the man at Velu Viduthi gushed. Bhuvan was all but ignored, as the people at Velu Viduthi showered Vasugi with their hospitality.

For a few confused moments, Bhuvan wondered if his devotion had been misplaced. Then the thosai, vadai and coconut chutney came. Bhuvan took a bite. And he knew. Velu Viduthi was still the undisputed best .