after the fall of the house of sushi, there’s only been one serious japanese contender in these parts – sushi zu. but they’re not exactly affordable (or consistent since chef adil’s departure), and sometimes you need to grab sushi that doesn’t nuke your wallet.

so i must mention @shima.bento, where nadheemadhi, sampaafulhu and later, i, have ended up on this listless friday evening. it’s in hm, near brightway high school’s 3rd gate, and you could miss it if your eyes aren’t sharp. i’d initially thought they were a takeout place but turns out there’s room inside for six.

the girls have ordered a sushi moriwase and some eel and sea urchin (uni) nigiri on the side because well, they love spiky seafood. plus, samfa and i’d had really good sea urchin experiences in our heyday. i’d liken uni’s texture and taste to a slithery piece of kelp. which is pretty good in case you’re wondering.

‘what took you so long?’ asks nadheemadhi.

‘he was out with his boyfriends,’ says sampaafulhu. i grunt.

‘getting any action?’ asks nadheemadhi. what passes for humour with these two.

there’s just one server, a young man from bangladesh. he seems familiar somehow. soon, he brings the moriwase to the table.

‘the tuna nigiri is good,’ says samfa. ‘wonderful tuna.’

‘i’m not loving the rice,’ i say.

‘you never do,’ responds samfa. and it’s because i like rice that’s been washed in rice vinegar, which none of the sushi restaurants here do, except maybe oishii when it was in hulhumale (nudge nudge).

the eel and uni nigiri are placed on the table. i try some eel – it is great, sweet and full of the umami of good fish.

‘there’s something off about the uni,’ says samfa. i pick one up with the chopsticks and she’s right, it doesn’t taste good. maybe it’s been in the fridge for too long. in any case, it shouldn’t have been served.

‘how’s the food?’ the server asks.

‘it’s alright, except the uni,’ samfa tells him.

‘i’ve seen you at oishii,’ says the server. and then it clicks. of course. it’s md jaufar.

‘it’s sad what happened to them,’ i tell him.

‘very sad.’

‘yeah,’ i say. ‘so, are you happy that sheikh haseena’s gone?’

and this question turns out to be a huge mistake because jaufar cannot stop himself, the words gush torrentially from his mouth. nadheemadhi and samfa seem to be enjoying it tho.

‘khaleda took some money too, but you know even sheikh haseena’s peon has 10 million. dollars! balaa.’

‘will the nobel prize winner be any good?’ asks samfa. the nobel prize winner is of course mohamed yunus, head of bangladesh’s interim government who introduced microfinancing to the world.

‘he’s been good so far,’ says jaufar. ‘but must wait and see dho, mihaaru student bunaa goiy hadhanee. the students are even controlling the traffic. now no more chandhaa.’

in the end, he gives us a 10% discount and two dishes on the house.

‘i’ve yet to meet a bangladeshi who isn’t excited by sheikh haseena’s departure,’ says samfa as we walk out.

‘well, how many do you know anyway?’ i ask. ‘and how much was the bill? i thought it’d be free cos it’s me.’

‘less than 600 for everything.’

‘not even 200 each. and i am SO stuffed.’

‘me too,’ says nadheemadhi. ‘i can’t do dessert.’

‘me neither,’ says samfa.

so, we’re gonna be back, shima bento. and maybe some of my readers will explore your wares too.