Chai

Even though I ought to love coffee, being from ‘the Land Of Coffee’ (Coorg), Chai has been and will always be favourite beverage. I don’t really remember how or when i started drinking Chai. But my earliest memories of it is getting up from my cozy bed in Srinagar, with a cup of tea on my bedside table. My brother and I used to wake up only when the cold November air carried to us the fragrance of tea. And only then would we unwillingly move ourselves out of bed in those beautiful cold, snowy and wintry days to get ready for school. And a lotta times we never opened our eyes but sat up in bed and held that tea cup in our hands so that it’s warmth could compensate for the letting go of the feathery China blanket. Aaaah those days.

And that was where I was introduced to the heavenly Kahwaa!! And the even more heavenly almonds at the end of the cup. Scooping out those almonds with a Chinar leaf shaped spoon after the tea is done is pure ecstasy, now that’s Life!

So there began my journey with Chai. Since then tea has kept me alive through my board exams – X and XII. Our story took a completely new turn in Delhi University. There was not a single International Trade/ Principles of Economics/Macro Economics class which would begin without my Chai ka cup. Be it the sticky sweaty Dilli ki garmi or it’s cruel cold winters, chai would always remain with me. Nothing can ever refresh me like a cup of tea does! The moment I entered my college canteen the counter lady would take out a Rs 3 token (that’s how much a nice big cup of tea used to cost back then) and keep it ready. I still remember arguing with her when they increased the price from Rs 3 to Rs 5. In those days of kadki, even a two rupees jump was inflation hitting the roof. I drew diagrams and explained concepts of Demand and Supply to her and told her that just because she was the only supplier in College she can not act like a monopoly. She stared at me like I was talking gibberish and rubbished my economically sound arguments and refused to give me a token unless I took out Rs 2 more. Unwillingly,muttering under my breath, complaining about how this college is going to the dogs I did give her that two rupees. That’s one of my fondest memories of college.

Wherever you go, Chai follows~ that’s an army mantra. Irrespective of whether you are sitting in a plush Officers mess in Delhi or in the highest reaches of the Himalayan Range, you will always find tea. In Kargil, Dras, and other regions of Kashmir and Leh/Ladakh,in all the army cantts., you will always discover chai brewing somewhere or the other and before you know it, there will be lying in front of you, a plate of biscuits and a hot steaming mug of chai. The first sector to be hit in case (God forbid) there is ever a shortage of tea in India will be the Indian Army! I had gone with my Father to visit one of the regiments near Leh, one that was heavily bombed during the Kargil War and you could actually see Pakistani bunkers using binoculars. The sky was blue and beautiful and there I was high high high above sea level looking at an enemy bunker when I suddenly sniff something familiar. No prizes for guessing here, it was a cup of good old Elaichi walli Chai :)

So there I was holding a steaming cuppa in my hand and staring out at the bright blue sky and the breath-taking beauty that Ladakh offers. I could not have been anywhere better with anything better that day.

Whether you are in the airport waiting for a delayed flight, observing the people around you and getting irritated with noisy kids, or at a railway station, again waiting for a train, Chai is the only thing that keeps you company. Having frequently travelled in trains, a porter boy walking up and down screaming 'Chaiya Chai leyyo Chaiya!" is a familiar sound.

Books and tea go hand in hand. There’s nothing like having a great book to read and an amazing and perfectly made cup of tea to go along with it. Someone said ~ you can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. I vouch for this statement. There was a time when I was almost thrown out of a bookstore because I sat there for hours at their tea shop with an almost-over book in hand! I remember not going there for long time to overcome the embarrassment.

We have a variety of teas now. There’s green tea, herbal tea, jasmine tea, lemon tea, chocolate tea…… but nothing can get me up like a cup of plain sadha chai - with milk and sugar please. Even though I have developed a taste for black tea, I still love my tea with milk and generous amounts of sugar.

My Chai Moments~

“I can’t open my eyes until you get me a cup of chai Mom”

“Toh kya hua yaar, ek hi paper mein toh kum number aaye hain, chal chai pitte hain”,

“I will go mad if I read demand and supply once more, I will die now, get me Chai“,

“I can not work anymore, I need a break from this, Chai anyone?”

“It’s been ages, lets grab a cup of chai and catch up!”

“I am not getting sleep, I think I’ll make myself a cup of chai”

“Mom, Im tired, shopping is a tiring job, can we have some chai please?”

“Look at the weather outside man, let’s get some chai.”

“My life and job sucks right now, I need chai BIGtime.”

“This is amazing news, I love my job and life, calls for a cup of chai”

“Aaaah, that was an amazing drive, bas ek Chai mil jaaye toh mast hai yaar.”

“Chod yaar, usko aana hai to aayegi/aayega, chal mood theek karte hain, chai pitte hain”

“ We came ALL the way here and there aren’t any tickets? Damn! Let’s at least go have some Chai!”

“It’s 3 AM and the AC in the bus is too high, I have more than half of the journey left and I’ve forgotten to get socks AGAIN and blah blah blah….., aah finally a stop! YAY! CHAI!”

Me: Chai, did I just hear CHAI??? Like where?? :D :) :)

My Friend: Maybe you’re studying too much Nine, I said Shy not Chai. But both of us are tired of writing these nonsensical statistics assignments, lets go and get that CHAI!

“Shit man, it’s just 15th and I’m already broke. At least i can afford Chai.”

“Yay! Salary has come! I scream, you scream, we all scream for Chai!!!”

"Perparing for this interview is killing me, let me get myself some Chai and calm those nerves."

"Nayana, you look dreadful, Chai ho jaye?"

"It's 4 am, there is nothing other than milk and sugar in the kitchen and omg! What's that! Chai Patti! :D "

"No man, I am too full, there's absoltely no place for dessert! But Chai/Shai mil jaayee to alag baat hai!"

I will end this now and go make myself some chai. So whatever happens in Life always know ~Where there’s tea there’s hope.