The Golgappa Mystery

'One whole week of this cold, miserable weather!' Priya mumbled through her chattering teeth, as she pulled her sweater closer around her.

- Sarvamitra

"Think of it as one week in a refrigerator!" Amita winked and nudged her. Priya glared at her cousin sister.

"Here, let me turn up the car heater," Sundar uncle laughed and cranked the dial, as he drove them home. Priya's parents were travelling for work and passing by Delhi. They couldn't have left her alone in Trichy, where they lived, so Priya got leaves by special permission from school to go to Sundar uncle's place in Delhi.

"You girls must not venture out of the residential complex by yourselves. Play in the garden area, but be on time for your meals," Sundar uncle told the girls.

"But Gol-g-appppaaaaaa?" Amita whined.

GOL-Appa? Priya was shocked. Sure, Sundar uncle looked like a round laddoo; a fluffy ball. But wasn't it rude to call him 'Gol-Appa'? Was Amita making fun of her father? Sundar uncle was smiling. "Fine. We can make an exception for golgappas." What were they talking about? Priya tugged at Amita's sleeve, "Gol-Appa or golgappa?" she asked.

Amita shushed Priya and held out her hand to her father for some money.

Priya's eyes widened as she saw Sunder uncle give her a few rupees. Was he paying to be teased? "Let's go," Amita held Priya's hand and led her through her vast apartment complex, past the corridors, beyond the play area, away from the open-air gallery and towards the exit.

She finally stopped a few metres outside the gate, in front of a street vendor.

"Do plate Golgappe!" Amita chimed excitedly to the vendor.

Immediately, two shallow paper cups were thrust into their hands.

There were large and small pots on his cart, filled with colourful chutney-water, masalas and fillings.