Kanda Pohe at 3:30 am

1.4.10

Pune is a campus city with hordes of students. Hence Pune has its night owls. Nal stop is where the mighty Symbians ( include its neighbors Law college, FTII, BMCC ) and the MITians converge. Nal stop is where Law college Road ends ( there is one way traffic, so it definitely does not start here ) and melds into Karve Road.

The night owls are an interesting lot.During exam times, they study hard. So they keep awake. During other times , they hang around with friends. So they keep awake. Pune goes into a police induced curfew around midnight. Forget about booze, even a cup of chai or a cigarette is impossible after that.

Bang on the corner of Nal stop is a joint called Amrut Bhavan. This is non descript by day. But Gosh, you gotta see the action here in the wee hours. Like addicts fighting withdrawal symptom, you can see night owls falling over one another for their chai and cigarette at the rear window ( this is in the building staircase ) even before the front shutters are opened. The action starts here 3ish ( am ). And that is the big deal. Much before the upma and the sheera is getting readied at Khau Galli opp Mrityunjay temple in Kothrud.

This is the time of the day when the newspaper network is getting ready for the last mile. And this is what gives this place its legitimacy so early in the day. The cops have a benign presence. Nothing happens for free. Quid pro quo is delivered in the patrol vehicle to the sahibs. Alongwith a complimentary newspaper.

Women power is making its presence here too. Earlier, there used to be the occassional chick with boyfriend/colleague/classmate. It has now progressed to groups of poultry coming on their own. Many times 3 to a 2 wheeler. Very soon we will have solo appearances at 3:30 am for the kanda pohe and chai. If not in Pune, where else?

The early bird can catch his chai at other places like Shivaji Putla and Khau Galli. But nothing is as early as Nal stop. Not even Shivajinagar, not even Swargate. Station? Maybe! But station isnt Pune.

Long live Nal stop! And Long live the night owls!