Maaris Se Minar Tak

October 2001: We were the group of 20 odd guys and gals joined the company, after graduating fresh from college. The whole lot full of enthusiasm, were intially into the training sessions, unofficialy known as the Honeymoon period. Reach early in the morning, till around 9:00, attend a session followed by lunch at the cafeteria then continuing the sessions till the evening and finally calling the day at around 6. After the training sessions, we were split into smaller groups and were alloted the project. But the same group almost existed and we used to go together for lunch and dinner almost daily. Those were the days when we used to frequently visit the restaurant near the office, called Maaris, an authentic South Indian hangout at Chennai. The famous saapadh on the bana leaf was the favourite of all, apart from the Idli, vada and dosa.

March 2005: The group is now totally spreadout now. Everyone has moved on for better opportunity, me being an exception. But still the memories of those good days was refreshed when two out of that 20 odd people group decided to come to my places, miles away from that quiet city. So on the weekend they landed at my place, one from California and another from Pitsburgh, to visit me and see the "Big Apple" New York City. We went all over the places from Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State building, Times Square etc. and had real fun. And then this thought creeped up in my mind, while having some food to energize our system at Minar, a desi restaurant in the midtown: Maaris se Minar tak.