As I was exchanging ideas at the summit outside our Goli Vada Pav kiosk….. Somebody tapped my shoulders….. And Pradeep Kar pointed out to a lady in sari…. Short hair….. Spectacled…… very fair…..
She was silently scanning the environment around her….. I thought…… south Mumbai …. Jehangir art gallery types…. I offered her a Vada Pav….. With a nudging question in my mind….. “I have seen this face somewhere?”….. As she bit into the Vada Pav she said “TIKKI…. Dilli Jaisa”…. I said “Mumbai Tikki….. Vada Pav……
She asked a few questions with a pause….. I started giving my Goli Gyan….. The food industry…. Processed food….. Supply chain….. Contract farming…… Wastages……. Economics of bulk buying…… And she was smiling…..She said I am Vinita Bali….. It didn’t strike me yet….
And somebody behind me prompted….. Vinita Bali….. Managing Director of Britannia Industries….. I was totally embarrassed…… for giving my gyan about food industry to Managing Director of Britannia….. I murmured & appologised under my breath….. Didn’t utter a single word….. Promised to myself…. I will never open my mouth……
After a few moments I saw Vinita Bali…… with vada pav in her hand…. Surrounded by Kanwal Rekhi …. Inventus…. Sanjeev bhikchandani.. Naukri…… Pradeep Kar…. R shriram of crosswords….. I presumed they were discussing Vada Pav......I summarized….. Apologetically ……..
“Britannia bites into………… Vada Pav story…….”
