Every evening in a bustling Mumbai lane, the aroma of frying vadas fills the air. But behind the sizzling pan is a story far richer than the chutney on their pav.
Meet Jasveer and Sudha — once respected journalists, now the proud owners of a small but thriving vada pav stall. A few years ago, their lives looked completely different. Press IDs around their necks, bylines in major publications, and stories that shaped public opinion — they lived and breathed the news. Until the news turned on them.
When sweeping media layoffs hit, the couple was left stunned and unemployed. “We thought journalism was forever,” says Sudha. “But forever ended with a termination email.” With rent to pay and no immediate options, they did what any storyteller does best — rewrite the narrative.
From their small Noida apartment, they launched “Patrakar Tiffin Service” — cooking and delivering homemade meals just to stay afloat. It wasn’t glamorous, but it kept the lights on and gave them a taste of something new: the joy of feeding people.
Then came the leap of faith. Armed with courage, savings, and a deep love for food, they moved to Mumbai — not to chase headlines, but to serve vada pav on the streets of the city that never stops.
And people noticed.
The vadas were crisp, the chutney spicy, and the story irresistible. Customers kept coming, drawn by the simplicity of the food and the honesty of the couple behind it. They called themselves the “Patrakar Couple” — not just a name, but a badge of honour. A reminder of where they came from.
Today, Jasveer and Sudha are proof that falling down isn’t failure — staying down is. In trading pens for pans, they found something journalism never gave them: the power to build something entirely their own.
And every vada pav they serve is a reminder — of grit, grace, and the beauty of starting over.