Kahani: "Sharma Ji Ka Gayab Paneer"
Ek baar ki baat hai, Lucknow ki ek purani gali mein Sharma Ji rehte thhe. Sharma Ji ko do hi cheezon se ishq tha—ek apne safed kurta-pyjama se, aur doosra Chatpate Shahi Paneer se.
Ek itvaar ki dopahar, unhone badi mehnat se dahi, tamatar, aur dher saare masale daalkar ek lajawab Paneer ki sabzi banayi. Khushbu aisi ki padosi bhi apne ghar ki khidkiyan band kar lein taaki unhe bhookh na lage!
Sharma Ji ne socha, "Pehle thoda aaram kar leta hoon, phir garam-garam roti ke saath khaunga." Paneer ko dhaanp kar wo so gaye.
Twist: Dastak aur Dhoka
Aadha ghanta baad jab Sharma Ji ki aankh khuli, toh kitchen se khushbu gayab thi. Wo bhaagte huye gaye aur dekha toh... Bartan khaali! Sharma Ji ka gussa satve aasman par. Unhone turant apni patni, Bimla Devi, ko bulaya.
Sharma Ji: "Bimla! Mera paneer kahan gaya? Kya pados ki Billi ne kha liya?"
Bimla Devi: "Arey nahi ji, billi toh bahar dhoop sek rahi hai. Shayad aapka beta, Bittu, kha gaya hoga."
Bittu ko bulaya gaya. Bittu bola, "Papa, maine toh bas chakhne ke liye ek piece uthaya tha, baaki ka toh mujhe nahi pata!"
Asli Mujrim Kaun?
Sharma Ji ne 'Detective' banne ka faisla kiya. Unhone dekha ki zameen par halki si haldi ke nishaan thhe, jo seedhe balcony ki taraf ja rahe thhe. Balcony mein unka sabse purana dost, Verma Ji, baitha hua tha aur bade maze se danto mein teeli maar raha tha.
Sharma Ji: "Verma! Tu yahan kya kar raha hai?"
Verma Ji (Muskurate huye): "Yaar Sharma, tu itni tasty sabzi banayega toh kya dosti beech mein nahi aayegi? Maine socha tujhe neend mein disturb kyun karun, toh chup-chaap apna hissa le liya!"
Sharma Ji ne gusse mein dekha, phir thanda hokar bole, "Theek hai, lekin ab tune paneer khaya hai toh sham ki chai aur samosa teri taraf se!"
Dono dost dhoop mein baith kar hansne lage. Aakhirkar, dosti paneer se zyada swadisht jo thhi!