The Gateway of India looks strange -- bathed in light but not a soul in sight. I am used to seeing people thronging the place, making it hard for me to maneuver the car on most daytime trips to this part of town. But it’s close to midnight now and the only people around, are emerging from the Taj Mahal hotel and of course, the nearby Colaba Causeway. It’s also raining -- another reason for the lack of people. But as we turn into one of the many bylanes behind the Taj, we suddenly come face tou00a0face with a large crowd. And that unmistakable whiff of rumali roti and kebabs! Bademiya doesn’t play fair. My diet plans don’t standu00a0a chance.

Bademiya’s popularity ensures that the food gets over by 1 am, even though the joint stays open till 3! Pics/Sayed Sameer Abedi