Parotta or Parata or Protta

Parotta, Parata, too sophisticated. In Madurai, we simply call it Protta/Brotta. And Brotta isn’t just food, it is an emotion.

It all started with a silly WhatsApp status I posted, cribbing about being dragged into a vegetarian parotta meal with vegetarian friends. Everyone knows the best way to have a parotta is with salna, that spicy, soulful curry made in a very specific way. Nutrition is zero. Taste is 100.

A school friend saw that status and replied. That one message spiraled into hours of back-and-forth about the art of parotta, the best street-side joints, the secret to perfect salna, and the unapologetic joy of tearing into those flaky layers. What began as food talk became friendship talk. Honestly, I don’t remember having such deep, fun conversations about something so simple.

Now we have made a pact. Both of us are on a weight-loss journey, but our reward when we hit our goals is to take a three-day pilgrimage to Madurai, the mecca of parottas. Just good food, good company, and the joy of reliving a childhood favorite.

Adult friendships do not need drama. Sometimes they are just as simple and soulful as bonding over a brotta.