The steam, the aroma, the taste—all summon. Remember all those hot cups of tea we enjoyed during our nostalgic college days? As if an era just passed by stealthily, but it left behind that mesmerizing taste, lingering around some corner of our irresistible taste buds, along with some refreshing memories, just like that hot cup of tea we all savored during those mystical youthful days.

The nukkad on the road had some really visitable restaurants, but feet used to drag knowingly or unknowingly to just that one Tea Stall located in some insignificant corner, canopied by some shaded trees, where the whole college used to be buzzing during their lecture break.

Even today, if I’m given a choice whether I would like to have an expensive cup of Mint tea or Green tea in some peppy cafe, or creep around that one tea stall, you bet I’d opt for the latter. Tea is going to be Tea after all, but the enriching experience is what stays on.

Come monsoons and winters– the tea stall owner used to generously mix a dash of ginger in the tea and serve…….And voila! Every sip used to do its magical bit to beat away all the stress associated with college studies/ completions/ assignments/ lectures/ exams tension et al. It all used to just come on you—the taste and the experience.

Two- three cups down in your system, and you’re back to your classroom, all set to take whatever that was to follow…whatever that you were fated to receive!

A quick visit a couple of months back to that very Tea Joint was sufficient enough to bring back those fond memories—and the best part is that nothing had changed—neither the stall, nor the location, nor the sleepy headed shade of trees under which is still canopied that insignificant yet so very popular tea joint, of which, we during college days were so fascinated by.

And the most enthralling part of this nostalgic visit was when eyes saw the tea stall owner who was the same chap, an old fellow now. It was wonderful having met him after such a long time span. It would have been quite an unrealistic thing to expect that he would recognize me. But know what? He did. He obviously didn’t recollect the name, but he remembered the face, he said, and that was indeed a nice thing to say. His wrinkles had multiplied, his health had deteriorated a bit, but the taste of the tea he made, hadn’t. It was the very same magical taste, which brought back some really sweet memories.

The entire experience was so much like reliving the past, and especially splendid it all seemed because I had visited in winter, and that was when the famous Ginger Tea used to graciously be served, in the half cutting chai glass!

And the day I visited, I was overcome by the hospitality of the chai owner with his superbly enriching and ever so refreshing ginger tea.

Three cups down, I signed off the stall, having basked in the reminiscences of the charming college years. I was slightly taken aback when the fellow refused to let me pay him for the tea. He remarked only one thing, which after having said, I was helpless. He said” Mehmanose kabhi paise nahi liye jate”. I just gave my host one last look, thanked him and led myself back home after having felt utterly elated with the cups full of nostalgia.

Popularity: 2% [?]