“One plain, One masala…”, there was so much enthusiasm in the voice of Chandru. The place was a small hotel at the junction of four roads. It had few tables arranged with a plastic jug full of water on each of them. There was no proper door for the hotel but a shutter which remained open and presented a wide screen view of the outside road for the customers. Chandru had been working in this hotel for the past 3 weeks. His job is to take the orders from the customer and tell it as per the sequence and capacity the Dosa master can handle. Chandru should be around 15 years old with dark complexion and with a lean body. His eyes always looked curious and sported a proud look of handling the customers.
There was one thing that kept Chandru longing all day. He wanted to become the Dosa master and make a dosa for a day. He used to look so eagerly whenever the dosa master took batter in a small cup, poured it over the pan and spread it by the bottom of the cup evenly over the pan, then took the oil with a spoon and sprinkled it over the dosa, then used a small spade like sppon to turn the dosa around folded it and took it in full piece and placed it on a plate.
When leaving for the day, Chandru said he was so surprised how the batter could be transformed magically into a thin slice of dosa. Dosa master Venu smiled at Chandru’s surprise. He said it is so simple “it just needs a little bit of perfection and confidence to take it in one piece” Chandru’s eyes lit up, for him Venu looked like God. Chandru asked “Will I be able to make dosa..?” Venu looked at the vessel which had little batter left over. Venu handed over the cup to Chandru and asked him to take the batter. Chandru was so happy holding the cup in his hand. He looked as if he was holding the cup of life. He put the cup into the vessel and took the batter out. His hand trembled in excitement. He poured the batter on the pan, and placed the cup over it to make it flat. Venu caught hold of Chandru’s hand and drew circles on the batter, which made the batter into perfect flat circle. Chandru was happy. Venu handed over the oil to Chandru. He poured it over the Dosa with the greatest care. Once it was done Venu again held the hand of Chandru and turned the Dosa. Chandru was very happy and overwhelmed seeing his first creation coming out. He felt like God. Although not hungry Chandru ate the dosa and enjoyed every bit of it. This was the best dosa he had in his life.
Dosa making class happened at the end of everyday and within few days Chandru was able to make a dosa on his own. Now the next thing was making a Dosa for a customer. Chandru wanted to become the Dosa master. Whenever Venu took a break Chandru used to eagerly await for a customer who would bring in a bill for Dosa. But to Chandru’s disappointment only bills for Idly or Poori’s came. By the time a customer bought a dosa bill Venu would have come back from the break. Chandru would just call out “One plain dosa…” with a very toned down voice.
Chandru’s unfulfilled wish of becoming a dosa master remained a dream for a long time. This made him more disappointed every day, until one day. The day started as usual. There was some problem in making poori’s hence Venu took a break to look after the same. Chandru was waiting for someone to bring in a dosa bill. But still customer’s bought requests for idlies. Chandru was tempted to ask do you want dosa but he did not. Finally a bill arrived which had Plain Dosa written on it. Chandru’s eyes lit up. He turned back Venu has not yet arrived. He shouted “Master, One Plain dosa order…” Venu replied “I am busy you make it…” Chandru could not believe his ears. He asked once more and got back the same reply. Chandru was very happy. His heart started racing, he took the batter in the small cup and carefully poured it over the pan and evenly spread it into a circle. Then he sprinkled oil over it. After waiting for few minutes he turned the dosa with a spade like spoon. Carefully folded it and placed it on a plate. He served his first dosa to the customer with a pride. The customer wouldn’t have realized so much emotion behind the Dosa. Chandru did not take his eyes of the customer till he finished eating the dosa and walked out satisfied.
Chandru turned back to Venu and smiled with pride and Venu gave back a friendly smile. Chandru slowly recited the following sentence proudly in his heart “Chandru, the dosa master!”. When the next customer came with a bill Venu got the bill and shouted to Chandru "Master, one plain dosa…" Chandru’s face filled with happiness and he started playing the role of a Dosa master with full enthusiasm.
Raja Saravanan 