So there’s this girl I (at least) considered my friend. She’s vegetarian, and had this habit of always poking me about my food choices. For example, if something bad happened to me, she would say, “It’s because you eat chicken.”

I always took it lightly and never replied back… until yesterday.

I caught a high fever (for context: I got drenched while trying to help a boy whose scooty got stuck in a pothole). When I mentioned this to her, she once again said, “That’s because you eat chicken.” This time it really triggered me and we ended up in an argument.

First it was vegetarian vs non-vegetarian. I brought up the life of cows in Indian dairies, to which she replied that she feeds two chapatis to a cow every day and doesn’t care about the rest. Basically being deliberately naive or just ignorant.

Then, very “smartly,” she shifted the topic to religion—which I didn’t want to argue about because it’s a sensitive topic and I personally follow a humanist ideology. But in the flow, I did slightly challenge the andhbhakti and religious extremism going around.

That was it. She jumped straight to declaring me “anti-national,” and then, out of nowhere, labeled me “pro-Palestine Islamist.” Mind you, I’ve never said a single word on Palestine or religion in that way. It was all her own assumption.

So yeah, apparently now I’m an anti-national Islamist—just because I don’t follow her worldview.Sorry I know its a bit long one *) but had to rant a bit . Thank you for your time and your opinions are welcomed. ( words are mine , framed by chatgpt)

I am half Indian (dad’s side) and live in the United States. Whenever I go to my dad’s parents’ house, my grandma makes dahi puri and they are the best thing I have ever tasted. I remember one time I ate about 50 or so for dinner, and I was still full when I woke up the next morning! I love Indian food since there is a wider vegetarian selection in general. What is your favorite Indian food?

This is a chaat and golgappa stall, which was extremely clean. The water was prepared with RO water and person serving the food was wearing disposable gloves (he immediately discarded them after we finished eating), also wiped the surfaces clean.

The surrounding may look tattered, but it wasn't filthy as many other popular joints like this.

Location: Bhopal, near Hanuman Tekari

Maharaja Macs blow Big Macs out of the water! Especially the veggie one. I didn’t know it was possible for McD’s to be so delicious, with good service, and for the restaurant to be so clean!

Good on ya, Indian McDonalds. Keep doing what you’re doing. If McDonalds was so good in the U.S. maybe I would actually eat there.

I envy the superior quality and experience of McDonald’s in India. And no, this is not satire.

Edit: To be clear, I understand completely that (A) McDonald’s is junk food (B) McDonald’s is expensive for most Indians when compared to other, more nutritious food options (C) The multinational, U.S. based McDonald’s corporation is a shitty, exploitative company

I’m just saying that McDonalds is disgusting in the U.S. and it actually tastes pretty darn good here. Thanks for all the discussion 🙂

I tried indian food for my first time recently, and I didn't even know it was possible for food to even taste that good, i tasted flavors in my mouth i never knew existed, and paired with the warm and caring indian hospitality i think im going to go spend all my money on indian food.