The Lost Glamour Of Trushna Chinese

The rise of Novel Coronavirus and all the horrors surrounding it has definitely put shackles on the hands and feet of people, making them hesitant towards leaving their homes. Lockdown became a necessary evil due to the rising cases on COVID-19 in India. The lockdown came at a cost. People lost their jobs, the economy drastically went down, education was put to a halt and businesses took a downfall. The tourism and food industry received a severe blow and suffered immense loss because of the pandemic.

Image 1: workers chatting away as they await customers

One such journey is of Trushna Chinese, which somehow managed to not fire its workers and make the business stand through its outstanding food. The eatery apart from its desi Chinese serves appealing North Indian and Mughlai cuisine, alongside mouth-watering Bong street food. From crispy Kolkata Kathi Roll to creamy butter chicken, from hot and crunchy man chow soup to a satisfying tangy butter-milk, one can find a filling dinner for their family here. Trushna Chinese before the pandemic, served as a popular hang-out space for college students, looking for low on the pocket, delicious food, with no requirement for an exquisite dining experience. The food in this place did all the talking. The very friendly owner of this place could be often seen, having a jolly time with the students, discussing world politics over desi chowmein and soda. However, this was the status quo ante pandemic. Due to the pandemic, a lot of students from nearby colleges went home. With the commencement of online classes, a new era in education began with students, completing their education via the internet, in the comforts of their home. Trushna Chinese is no longer a space filled with ebullient faces of the youth, laughing and discussing the world and the colors of the universe.

Image 2: Preparation of Chicken Tikka Roll at Trushna Restaurant

Pandemic, or no pandemic, life must go on. Trushna Chinese, whose profit mostly depended upon student take-outs and eat-in meals, faced a significant loss during the course of the on-going pandemic. To keep the business afloat, Trushna Chinese, began delivering food to nearby localities and catered small in house events. Through word of mouth and scrumptious meals, Trushna Chinese gained popularity in nearby localities. The eatery cannot be found on popular delivery systems such as Zomato and Swiggy. The food orders are taken via telephone, which along with food delivers you a hint of nostalgia of ordering food before the online food order and the delivery system took over.

Trushna Chinese has converted its seating area into the waiting area due to the pandemic. The customers waiting for their order are allowed to use the seating space, two people per table. Even though the place faced such a massive blow in their business, they still are adamant not serving food to the people disobeying the safety measures recommended by the government and health professionals. Trushna Chinese can satisfy one’s craving for delicious street food and stodgy dinners through its simple yet flavorsome dishes without compromising on the safety measures.