It's true what they say about food. It can take you places. On the 11.06 am fast from Bandra, we set out for Vasai. Across verdant expanse of green and a flurry of catenaries, distant hillocks call out to us through the gaps of a window grill. We squeeze our way through a crowd of passengers ready to alight the train, while Cat Stevens sings into our ears a song about fathers and sons.

An autorickshaw becomes our ride to Kokum, a new eatery in Vasai West, dotted with international QSRs, stores and commercial spaces in progress, and a sprightly yellow signboard that reads, "Opening Shortly, What The Fun Lounge."