Pheroze, this is enough to feed a wedding!” exclaimed Lady Flora as her friend, Sir PM began to spread out goodies from a massive picnic basket at their preferred bench inside Horniman Circle Garden. “There is so much to choose from, and all of it looks delicious,” she continued, soaking in the Parsi homemade fare from mutton dhansak to prawn patio and patra ni machhi. Sir PM wanted to combine the celebrations  for Independence Day and Parsi New Year with his friend that evening, and what better way than food to seal the deal.

“I better stop this, else the inches will add up. I cannot afford to look out of shape especially from that pedestal where so many tourists and Bombaywallahs gaze at me,” Lady Flora checked herself after she had polished off three chicken pattice on the trot. Sir PM was beaming; after all, he missed this kind of celebration last year when most sensible citizens were treading gingerly into the outside world.