Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 27:

Smart city Bhubaneswar witnessed a heart warming sight yesterday when special guests aged three years and above trotted in for a sumptuous biriyani lunch in a swanky restaurant in Patia area of Odisha capital. Shiraz restaurant famous for its Awadhi cuisine made 100 tiny hearts go pitter-patter with happiness.

On the eve of its official opening of the second outlet in Patia, the restaurant was crowded not with customers but with 100-odd children who were served the delicious  biriyani with love and care. It was a finger-licking experience for these children who were specially invited here for lunch. The aroma of chicken and vegetarian biriyani  floated in making tummies growl with protest and was devoured in blissful hungry happy minutes by the guests.

“It was a tremendous experience and the warm wishes and good luck that these children showered on us will work like a good luck charm for us in the days to come,” said a very moved Zeeshan Ali, proprietor of the restaurant.

It was a field day for the children who came from a foster home in Jharpada jail and an orphanage in Bhubaneswar. “There was a little girl who was barely three years old and could not eat with her own hands and had to be helped .There were small boys who helped each other and it was an eye-opener as to how they become the strength for one another,” said Gargi Bhattacharya, wife of Zeeshan and an active social worker.