And then, as if summoned by my thoughts, I saw it. A shimmering light in the distance, not the kind that flickers on headlights or street lamps. No, this light pulsed like the heartbeat of the earth itself, an ethereal glow hanging in the air, as though reality itself had fractured in that one spot.
Curiosity tugged at me, as it always does when faced with the unfamiliar. I slowed the car, my heart quickening with anticipation. The closer I got, the clearer it became – there, in the middle of nowhere, was a portal. A round, vertical doorway, more like a giant treadmill that seemed to invite me in.
It was a portal, no doubt about it. But what kind of portal?
I parked the car at the side of the road, the engine still idling as I stepped out, my boots crunching against the gravel. The air around me shimmered, the kind of air that seemed too perfect, too surreal. My breath caught in my throat as I approached the glowing threshold, the energy it emanated almost magnetic.
There were no signs, no instructions. Just a simple, inexplicable invitation. I stepped through.
The world shifted.
One moment, I was standing in the cool, quiet evening, and the next, I was somewhere else entirely.
It was a place both familiar and foreign – an open terrace, silent but with the sizzling of something wonderful on a grill. A small, vibrant dhaba appeared before me, its brightly painted walls exuding warmth against the deepening night. The scent of garlic, ginger, and freshly baked naan swirled in the air, mingling with the smoky aroma of tandoori chicken and the earthy fragrance of spices.
It felt like home, but it also felt like a dream.
I walked forward, drawn to the inviting warmth of the place, my senses alive with the promise of a meal unlike any other. The dhaba was alive with movement – people sitting at tables, chatting and laughing, their faces glowing in the soft light of lanterns hanging overhead. The energy here was palpable, an unmistakable feeling of hospitality that made my heart flutter in appreciation.
A friendly waiter, his face creased in a welcoming smile, gestured for me to sit. “What will you have, sir?” he asked, his voice rich with warmth and a slight lilt.
I took a seat, inhaling deeply, letting the aroma seep into my soul. “Anything you recommend,” I said, surrendering to the moment.
The waiter nodded with a twinkle in his eye. “Trust me, you’ll want to try the aloo mutter and the palak naan. And don’t forget the goli soda – bubbling with blueberry, like nothing you’ve tasted before.”
As he disappeared into the bustling kitchen, I sat back, letting the reality of this strange place settle around me. How had I arrived here? What kind of place was this, tucked away in a corner of the universe I’d never known? I looked up, half-expecting the portal to be there, still glowing, but there was no sign of it now.
Instead, the dhaba had become my world. The warm glow, the rich flavors, the rhythmic pulse of the place – all of it felt like a quantum leap of its own. A leap into something extraordinary.
Moments later, the waiter returned with a platter of food so rich in color and aroma that I almost felt overwhelmed. The aloo mutter was golden and creamy, the dal smooth and rich, and the naan soft, with just the right char around the edges. Every bite was a celebration of flavor – so fresh, so perfectly balanced.
I could hardly believe how real it all felt. How alive it felt.
The door behind me – the portal – remained out of sight, but I knew it was there, waiting.
Time didn’t matter here. The meal, the atmosphere, the feeling of belonging – everything had a kind of timeless quality. In this moment, I was just a traveler, savoring an experience that couldn’t be replicated anywhere else.
As I finished my meal, the thought crossed my mind: perhaps the portal wasn’t just a gateway to another place – it was a gateway to something deeper, a reminder that the universe is full of hidden doors, waiting for the curious to find them.
With a satisfied sigh, I stood, preparing to leave. The waiter smiled as I rose, as though he knew exactly what I was thinking.
“Until next time, sir,” he said, with a knowing look.
I nodded, stepping back toward the portal, which had reappeared, softly glowing in the corner of my vision. As I crossed through, the world shifted once more, the dhaba fading behind me, but the taste of its food still lingering, rich and unforgettable.
The road stretched out before me again, but this time, it was different. I was different. I smiled to myself, knowing that sometimes, the greatest adventures don’t happen in the places you expect – but in the portals you never saw coming.