In search of Indian food in India

As a Non-Resident Indian, I look forward to Indian food whenever I travel to India. Sadly, my last few business trips have made me feel that perhaps I am being unreasonable and asking for too much. Globalization has truly attacked the taste buds of the modern Indian. During a recent trip to Bengaluru and Mumbai, I learned that finding traditional Indian food is not an easy task anymore.
When you go on a holiday, you have time and are in control of your dining options. You can go to the famous eateries in far corners of the town to treat your taste buds. It is a different story when you are on a business trip. Here you go with the flow. Much as you want to, you can't act like food is the prime driver behind your trip and make detours to the 'Paranthe Wali Gali' in Delhi or 'Badey Mian' in Mumbai.
"Where is your Indian restaurant?" was my first question at the hotel in Bengaluru while checking in. My mind was already conjuring up images of seekh kababs, dal tadka and butter naan. The images vanished as quickly as they had appeared when the check-in agent said, "Ma'am, I am sorry we don't have an Indian restaurant. We do have a multi-cuisine coffee shop that also offers a few Indian options". I give up. How can a hotel chain that was a "Made in India" brand not have an Indian restaurant? A multi-cuisine restaurant is such a cheap apology.
"All is not lost", I consoled myself. "There is lunch tomorrow followed by a day in Mumbai". I was wrong. If you are invited out for a meal, then Italian, French, Thai and anything non-Indian is the order of the day. I found myself resentfully eating a wild mushroom risotto at lunch when I would rather be licking my fingers after eating spicy Malabar shrimp curry. "Why would we go out and eat Indian food - it is something we eat at home every day", my host tried to explain to me. I guess I can't fault his logic. Everyone seems to be following it and I have learnt over years that when enough people start doing something, it becomes the right thing to do.
I was sure I will be able to get a vada sambhar at the Bengaluru airport before my flight to Mumbai. I was wrong once again. The only restaurant was crowded with a bunch of teenagers queuing up to buy the special offer pasta meal, totally overshadowing the Indian options, if any, that were on offer.
The domestic flight was no better. The airhostess proudly presented the meal options - chicken satay or spinach quiche. By then I had lost my appetite. I had a sinking feeling thinking of what was awaiting me in Mumbai.
I dozed off on the flight and had a nightmare that I was being served croissants, Danish pastries, cold cuts and cheese instead of an Indian breakfast. I was really losing it. I want my idli vada for breakfast when I travel to India. Thank God the nightmare didn't come true the next morning.
Thinking about the trip frustrates me. Writing about it annoyed me so much that I was ready to throw something at my cook when he interrupted me to ask "Madam, can I make quiche tonight for the kids?"