For the 20-member core staff of the famous Paradise Gold Restaurant in Secunderabad here, it was a morning which they would not forget easily. India’s cricketing great and Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar spent almost an hour in the hotel, interacted with them and also shared his experiences.
The Master Blaster drove straight from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad to the hotel around 10 a.m. was seen in a very relaxed mood.
“He was very pleasant and courteous. It is an unforgettable feeling,” exclaimed restaurant-owner Shaik Maqsood Ahmed, echoing the sentiments of his staff, who were very much excited to have the ex-India player amidst them. Sachin is said to have chatted with the staff on various subjects. Besides, cricket, he also told them how much he loves the city.
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“I always have fond memories of this restaurant. Ojha (Pragyan) used to bring the famous biryani parcels to me quite frequently. They were a huge hit with us back home in Mumbai,” the batting great informed the select audience.
True to his reputation, Sachin politely turned down the offer to have snacks, but preferred to have the famous Hyderabad Irani tea. He did enquire if he could have some biryani parcels and within minutes the chef handed over two parcels of mutton and chicken biryani.
“He was delighted to collect them and promised to return to the restaurant,” revealed Maqsood, who was told about the visit three days ago.
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Sachin’s visit, is part of a promotional campaign for a soft drink, was postponed earlier twice – once because of Telangana agitation and then because of a bereavement in the cricketer’s family. Armed with the biryani parcels and kebabs, he quietly drove back to the airport.
It is a different issue that he was stranded there for three hours because of the delay in Mumbai flight.