The Tea Shop

It is quite early 🌞 that I go to work everyday. However, it is a pleasant time to drive 🚗with the day just beginning. The pollution whether it is air or noise is less. The air at least appears to be cleaner and fresher, though it may take experts to tell us whether it really is. Groups of dogs 🐕🐕🐕can be seen at junctures that are owned by them. You dare to speed near them, and you shall be a prey of their ear-piercing barking and chase. Children going to school, people off to work, speeding vans to reach venues on time, shops opening slowly, fresh vegetables and fruits being transported to their destination, etc is a regular sight.

Amidst all this, there is a small tea stall on my way to work. The whole routine of this person has been constructed by me over a period of several days because I just get bits to watch of his routine as I pass by his little shop. Depending on whether I am slightly early or late, I can see different chapters of his routine. Compiling it together, this is what it looked like.

The Tea Shop belongs to a middle-aged, simple man. Early morning, he first opens his Tea-Shop on the side of the road. It is a small covered cart like structure which are used by street hawkers. The first thing is to open his cart. This is followed by arranging all the required things properly as they have been stacked the previous day when he closed the shop. This is followed by taking out the broom 🧹 and sweeping the area surrounding the small business. That's not all. This is followed by sprinkling of 💦💦💦 to settle the dust particles that are floating in air due to the sweeping. Now the place looks clean. The ground moist with a soft earthen smell. The place is welcoming of course. Now he sets out two or three small plastic stools for his customer to sit comfortably. The seats are thoroughly wiped with a piece of rag cloth that rests on one of his shoulders. The place is his temple of work, and he has a small devotional place within his cart where he does his small prayers, lights a couple of incense sticks might be with a prayer that his business should do well today. 

Now is the time to light the stove ♨️ and start preparing the tea as his customers may walk in any time from now. An old aluminium vessel that has lost its shape and colour due to the repeated use is placed on fire. Water followed by milk, tea leaf, sugar and other condiments go in one by one but quickly. It is all measured but measurements are not sophisticated measuring cups or spoons 🥄🥄. The measurement tools are the teaspoons and cups not of any standard measurements. The tea yet will be the same each day you go there, and I often wonder only to realise that these measurements have been adopted after practice. It is a tried-and-tested method which we may not find in books.

The timing🕖 is perfect. Here the tea boils and there are his customers. He greets them, asks them to have seat. Few of them are regular customers, so he would ask few customised questions to them as their long association has allowed the Tea Vendor to know quite a bit of his customers' lives. A question here, a answer there, and the tea is ready. He pours it into disposable cups and very carefully hands it over to his God- like customers. Sipping the hot tea☕, the chatting continues, and they disperse confirming to meet in evening and few the next day. The routine will continue with also preparation of some bulk orders from nearby offices.

The beauty of this whole thing is the dedication and meticulously-planned schedule that is executed day in and day out. Kudos to the businessman - a master of his trade!

Take care

Regards

SRN