Memories of aloo tikki at Ludhiana’s Chaura Bazaar

Before the flyovers and red lights took over its landscape, Chaura Bazaar used to be the main shopping centre of Ludhiana. After arriving at the main bus stop from my village, Dehlon, which, too, has evolved into a small town now, we used to take an auto-rickshaw to reach the bazaar that overlooked the famous Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower).

After the shopping used to be over, the most exciting thing for us was to have refreshments at Parkash Sweets. My favourite remained aloo tikki with chhole, followed by rasmalai, served by the same face that developed wrinkles, as I, too, grew from being a child to a teenager.

The traffic was one way for motor vehicles. This rule is still in place.

The place holds even more special memories. It was there that I met my future wife on a rickshaw only once after we got engaged and before we got married. I remember dragging my motorcycle while walking because of the one-way traffic, as we returned after shopping for our wedding. I invited her to my favourite Parkash Sweets but those were not the times that even an engaged couple could meet freely. So, she refused for the fear of being seen with me before marriage.

Jimmy Gill, Toronto, Canada