Home Bodies

Come Friday night, and the tony Smokehouse Grill at Greater Kailash is choc-a-bloc with revellers queuing up for a long night of fun and freewheeling. But last weekend was different.

As Delhiites reeled from the aftershock of terror strikes, Friday night was not about partying and the weekend saw them staying indoors

Come Friday night, and the tony Smokehouse Grill at Greater Kailash is choc-a-bloc with revellers queuing up for a long night of fun and freewheeling. But last weekend was different. It was half empty 8212; and those who walked in discussed terror rather than dance the night away. Delhiites stayed away from restaurants, cinemas and malls 8212; their usual hangout zones 8212; and mourned in private as Mumbai burned, bled. If they did go out, it was to cast the votes.

Riyaaz Amlani, the Mumbai-based owner of The Smokehouse Grill, says, 8220;We saw a 50 per cent dip in the sales because most people chose to stay indoors. Moreover, we were closed on Friday since it was a dry day because of the assembly elections the next day,8221; he says. The diner had upped its security after the September blasts, and is now ensuring that the measures are stringently put in place.

Sudha Kukreja, who runs three restaurants in the Capital, including Ploof at Lodhi Colony Market and Saltz at Greater Kailash, says. 8220;We usually see a full house over the weekend. But last week, from Thursday onwards, the footfall was pretty low.8221; While sales dipped by 40 per cent on Thursday; it was 15 per cent less on Saturday and Sunday.

The scenario was similar at multiplexes. Filmmaker Vasu Bhagnani even postponed the release of Sorry Bhai, scheduled for last weekend. 8220;People are obviously scared. This is, by far, the biggest terror attack we have seen,8221; says Sanjeev Bijli, co-owner of PVR Cinemas. While PVR closed down its Mumbai theatres over the weekend, in Delhi, the footfall was around 30 per cent. Stringent security measures too are in place. 8220;We have two levels of security management and usually operate on the lower level, but now we have switched to the top level of security,8221; says Bijli.

Attendance at malls too was dismal. Select Citywalk and MGF Metropolitan Mall at Saket, hotspots of south Delhi, saw a thin attendance. 8220;We have taken adequate security measures,8221; says the PRO for Select Citywalk. But would that be enough to bring the crowd back?

Paromita Chakrabarti

Paromita Chakrabarti is Senior Associate Editor at the The Indian Express. She is a key member of the National Editorial and Opinion desk and writes on books and literature, gender discourse, workplace policies and contemporary socio-cultural trends. Professional Profile With a career spanning over 20 years, her work is characterized by a "deep culture" approach—examining how literature, gender, and social policy intersect with contemporary life. Specialization: Books and publishing, gender discourse (specifically workplace dynamics), and modern socio-cultural trends. Editorial Role: She curates the literary coverage for the paper, overseeing reviews, author profiles, and long-form features on global literary awards. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent writing highlights a blend of literary expertise and sharp social commentary: 1. Literary Coverage & Nobel/Booker Awards "2025 Nobel Prize in Literature | Hungarian master of apocalypse" (Oct 10, 2025): An in-depth analysis of László Krasznahorkai’s win, exploring his themes of despair and grace. "Everything you need to know about the Booker Prize 2025" (Nov 10, 2025): A comprehensive guide to the history and top contenders of the year. "Katie Kitamura's Audition turns life into a stage" (Nov 8, 2025): A review of the novel’s exploration of self-recognition and performance. 2. Gender & Workplace Policy "Karnataka’s menstrual leave policy: The problem isn’t periods. It’s that workplaces are built for men" (Oct 13, 2025): A viral opinion piece arguing that modern workplace patterns are calibrated to male biology, making women's rights feel like "concessions." "Best of Both Sides: For women’s cricket, it’s 1978, not 1983" (Nov 7, 2025): A piece on how the yardstick of men's cricket cannot accurately measure the revolution in the women's game. 3. Social Trends & Childhood Crisis "The kids are not alright: An unprecedented crisis is brewing in schools and homes" (Nov 23, 2025): Writing as the Opinions Editor, she analyzed how rising competition and digital overload are overwhelming children. 4. Author Interviews & Profiles "Fame is another kind of loneliness: Kiran Desai on her Booker-shortlisted novel" (Sept 23, 2025): An interview regarding The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. "Once you’ve had a rocky and unsafe childhood, you can’t trust safety: Arundhati Roy" (Aug 30, 2025): A profile on Roy’s recent reflections on personal and political violence. Signature Beats Gender Lens: She frequently critiques the "borrowed terms" on which women navigate pregnancy, menstruation, and caregiving in the corporate world. Book Reviews: Her reviews often draw parallels between literature and other media, such as comparing Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune to the series Only Murders in the Building (Oct 25, 2025). ... Read More