Life & The Afterlife
Chef Anuj Sood was a bright young star at the ITC Gardenia who helped open up their specialty restaurant Cajsa (meaning pure). I remember going there for an intimate pre-opening and meeting up with the very talented Anuj . His excitement was infectious! On my subsequent visits I would always see him hard at work behind the counters, encouraging the staff with a pat or a kind word. A young father who's eyes would light up when he spoke of his daughter and wife in Australia. To him cooking was an art form and he literally conjured up magic with his gastronomy skills winning the admiration of his peers and seniors in the industry. An avid traveller, a passionate singer and dancer, Anuj was the life of every get-together. Yet, one morning he never woke up. He just slipped away after wishing his still shell-shocked mother goodnight. R.I.P. Anuj. I never imagined that after that warm hug we shared when I congratulated you on your superb dinner barely three months ago would be the last. Gone much too soon…
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