ChaiKettli Ki Charcha

Tea Kettle's Chat

An old tea kettle at a Nukkad (street corner) was addressing a set of new cups and glasses introducing them to the chai tradition they were becoming part of.

During colonial times, tea associations promoted free stalls at railway stations, factories, textile mills to cultivate the habit of tea drinking. Indians soon made tea their own, blending it with sugar, ginger, cardamom and other local spices.  

Today our tea tradition takes many forms; a warm social hospitality, an essential daily ritual, a welcoming gesture for guests, and a powerful social connector across all walks of life.

From the bunch of old crockery some of you can share your experience at work. One of them spoke “Garam chai ko bahon me le kaleja jalta hai, khullad jaisa eshq chai ke sanng aur kaun karta hai.” Another cutting glass said I enjoy to carry the chai to customers who sip with so much love and fondness. Just yesterday chatting were a few elders looking at me one said “mere ishq ki itni kahani hai, mera dil aj bhi, chai ke glassi ka dewana hai.”

“Achi Chai, is served at many places,” smiled the kettle, but memorable chai is prepared only at a few. Forty years here, only because of the good teaming and the philosophy of our dear Chaiwalla. He believes Achi chai ka asli swaad sirf adrak, elachi aur doodh se nahi ata hai. Usme thoda sa pyar, thoda sa sabr, thoda sa seva aur Waheguru ka Simran - ubalna padta hai. 

The chaiwallah extends senior citizens and outstation students’ credit, which he intentionally forgets. Those who came as young boys now come with their children. His policy “Insan ka dil aur Chai ka cup hamesha bhara hona chaiye”.

I feel blessed to be the kettle container where every ingredient loses its identity to create one fragrant cup of kadak masala chai, consumed by people with disturbed mind or minds at peace. Looking at the new cups and glasses he said, those little moments when customers are sipping their tea you get to learn a lot of the individual by their conversation, so observe well and listen well.

"Very correct", said a stylish cup, who are you asked the kettle. I belong to your regular customer who brings his own cup to be served tea and who forgot me here yesterday. My observation, many in conversation over chai confide easily to others, rather than the one who should be the actual recipient. For example, my owner discusses his family here but never sits to confide with them.

Very true Beta, after watching customers for forty years, I categorise them ‘the living dead’ and the ‘living liberated’. The living dead merely pass their days. Their bodies are present, but their minds remain trapped in complaints, criticism and worry. They survive each day but rarely celebrate the gift of being alive.  

As a kettle, taking steam for others is my pleasure, more gratifying it is when the chai is consumed by the living liberated. They do not wait for life to be perfect, they carry their peace within themselves, and wherever they sit, even a cup of tea becomes a celebration. Kehte hain, chai sabko ek jaise milti hai, farq itna hota hai har vyakti use apne mann ke swadd ke saath peeta hai.

Look, lets get ready our first customers for the day are coming- like a kettle never drinks its own tea, it exists to serve others, likewise ap sab ki seva is equally important- Saaf sutra pyar se chai pilaye, tabhi Garam Chai Andar aur Man Ki Baat Bahar ati hai’.