Firdhouse is not a well-known restaurant. But the restaurant, which is on one end of Triplicane High Road, does brisk business. The food may not look hygienic but I have never fallen ill and I eat there at least once every week, not out of choice but because it’s damn convenient for me. The restaurant is a stone’s throw away from my house. But what’s really special now is the food they serve now. Yesterday, I had a meals (food that they used to serve only during lunch) at 2 am! You read right, that is am not pm. That’s because this is the month of Ramadan.

I am not really clued into Muslim culture and how this changes the food habits of Muslims in what is so obviously a special and holy month for them. The one year I stayed in Hyderabad, I could see how the Old City transformed itself during this month, especially during nights. My friends and I used to visit the Old City every night after finishing our work on the desk at The Times of India. They used to serve a kinda gruel which was so tasty, that it became mandatory to order that every single night.

I wish we had the sense to be religious, but we merely stuck with the dietary habits. None of us ever fasted, though I wish we had. It would have been a really healthy way of doing things.

So, last night as I munched away, memories of my year at Hyderabad and the holy month of Ramadan came flooding back. Thought I would share them with you!