Campus adda

For the following story that I wrote, I got the opportunity to work with my best friend and an avid photographer, Aarthi Mohan for the first time ever and the experience was absolutely overwhelming. Thank you Aarthi, I hope we have many many more...

Payal Chhabria

The Maggi Station: The college canteen that was once popular for the hustle and bustle of students rustling through its spaces, has witnessed a drastic transformation over the last couple of years. The dynamic activity that was synonymous with college canteen is now overcome by semi-empty spaces and silent whispers. The students have found another place to unwind — the Maggi Station. Says Shruti M., “Sometimes the ice tea from the Maggi Station is what persuades me to come to college.” What brings life to this place is not the bright yellow board that screams out its name or its fascinating cottage like architecture but the constant chattering of scattered bunches of young women over a bowl of hot Maggi and chilled ice tea.

Chatty chaat: And those who do not find enough space at the station, step out to indulge in a combination of sweet-sour pani puri and a platter of fiery chaats at the chaat stall that has set up shop outside the boutique (Rangoli), diagonally opposite the college. Divya S., a student, says, “It's so refreshing to indulge in a plate of pani puri after a tiresome day at college; the kulfi serves as great dessert too.” Between 1pm – 2 pm and 6pm - 7pm (the closing period of both the morning and evening batches), if you happen to pass by and notice groups of young women huddled around the space outside the boutique and wonder what's being offered, it is simply a platter of scrumptious Kolkata chaat.

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/nxg/article3280196.ece