Tea and bonding over tea

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During my time spent in Chhatarpur, I had developed a special affinity for the small tea stall that was located near our area of residence there. Mother and I visited the tea stall almost every evening. The owner of the tea stall could not speak in Hindi properly and spoke in their own Bundelkhand accent. My mom knew no Hindi and I too was not very fluent. But both mom and I bonded with the man, his wife and two daughters. I still wonder how they understood our language because my mother spoke in plain Bengali even if it was Hindi. Bengali readers will know what I am trying to say here. I started calling him 'Chacha' and during my last few days there, he promised my mother that he would readily come to my wedding to serve tea to the guests and would wait for the invitation eagerly. He blessed both my mother and me. I recalled this incident with a smile on my face yesterday evening while mother and I were chit-chatting over tea. I completed by B.Ed from a university there in Chhatarpur and I also remember the tea stall right in front of my B.Ed university. I remember the two days of my B. Ed exam, when it poured heavily and both mom and I not only enjoyed the beautiful village picturesque around my university but also happily conversed with the owner of the tea stall there. Luckily he knew Hindi.

My love for tea and roadside tea stalls have only grown over time. I am yet to understand the spark that CCD holds. Or any modern decorated cafe. During my graduation days, I had a tea stall attached to the hostel building I used to stay in. It was very popular and is still very popular. I am talking about 'Sharma's tea'. The tea always tasted excellent but as a college student, staying far away from my hometown,spending Rs15 for a cup of tea, was too much for me. But I miss the tea dearly and I will surely go to Sharma's when I next visit Kolkata. And that's next to next week. 

In Rajasthan too, right beside our campus, was a tea stall and it was a good place to chill after a hectic day in the campus. Those evenings are dearly missed. Currently in my hometown, I have bonded with most tea stall owners. As I have already shared before that I love taking solo walks and when I do that, I make sure I reward my mind and body with a cup of tea. 

Durga Puja is knocking at the door and as a Bengali I am surely excited. The Puja fever did subside for a considerable few years of my life due to many reasons which I have already shared with you all in my previous posts. But now Puja is just another way for me to spend my days the way I want. A way to spend my days with my family, doing things that I like and enjoying and living without fretting about what's next. The Puja holidays help me travel, relax and take care of myself and two thousand other things that I am unable to pay attention to on normal days. 

What are your plans for the Pujas? 




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