A true blue Delhiite, Gaurav Wasan always lived in the city. In the seven years that he has been a full-time food blogger, he would have crossed the city's Malviya Nagar innumerable times. However, it was only a week ago that he noticed a small roadside eatery that bore the name Baba ka Dhaba.
Apart from buying all the food that they cooked on that day, this 32-year-old also shot a video of a teary-eyed Kanta Prasad and Badami Devi, as they narrated their situation, and uploaded it on his social media handles. You know what happened next. The video soon went viral and has more than 30 million views on Instagram, with many celebs including Priyanka Chopra, Suniel Shetty and Raveena Tandon sharing it. A whole bunch of people even came forward to eat at the Dhaba. Others who couldn't do that, donated money online. In a week, the couple's luck changed in ways they couldn't have imagined. "The right things happen at the right time," says an elated Gaurav, who was on his way to the dhaba when we spoke to him over the phone.
He was eager to gobble down the Matar Paneer that Prasad and Devi had cooked — if there was any left. That is how crowded the Dhaba is these days. Having seen a host of eateries during his run as a food blogger, Gaurav tells us that the food is delicious and pocket-friendly. In fact, you get a whole meal for Rs 50! "My first rendezvous with the couple was completely serendipitous. I noticed their gloomy faces and wanted to know what was wrong. Then they told me that nobody buys their food these days and that they take it back home every evening," he says. Now, Gaurav was no social media superstar at that time. However, he wanted to go ahead and do his bit. "I never imagined that the video will go viral. I told them that I can't guarantee anything. But life has a way of surprising you," he says.
Recently, food delivery app Zomato also listed the Dhaba, making it easier for other Delhiites to relish the yummy food that Baba cooks. The Dhaba already has over a thousand five-star ratings. Gaurav, on the other hand, has now joined hands with the app, as part of its initiative to promote small eateries. "I want to thank everyone who supported the Dhaba and the couple. Thankfully, they have received enough funds now. But there are a lot of similar small outlets in your locality that will need your help. Do your bit to help them out," says Gaurav, who is planning to go on a pan-India journey, exploring small eateries. "They cannot market or advertise their business. These are the people who need your help during these trying times. I am trying to do my best to help them out," he says, reminding everyone to let him know about the eateries and small businesses in your locality that are struggling to survive.
