Monday, April 14, 2014

A mind trip about that pot of chai !

The alarm clock is a persistent and obstinate animal, one that goes off in the morning all weekdays, at the same old hour, even in the face of stiff resistance. And mostly, that is the (very shrill) trigger for the duvet cover to receive a step-motherly shove, be resigned to a dishevelled heap at the foot of the bed, and your signal to waveringly make your way to the kitchen and get that comforting pot of tea ! One eye on the clock, the other on the rolling boil in the pan, you rejoice when the door bell rings and you joyfully realise your maid hasn't bunked today ! NOW you can really enjoy that chai...;-)


As you set the tea cup on the tray, you notice that the new born rays of the sun are knocking gently against the curtains, giving you an invitation to draw open the satin barriers and let them in...


You notice your plants looking at you longingly from their corner, saying good morning and wishing you'd have a little more time to strike up a conversation with them, but they know they would have to wait for the weekend for that :-)



The tea tray then makes its way to the most comfortable corner of your home...Is it the one where there is ample sunlight, or the one with the comfy footstool to put your feet up ? Maybe it is the one by the window where you can keep an eye on your dog chasing squirrels outside, or perhaps the one with the arm-chair in the balcony, the target for the 'paper-wallah' to practise his daily aim...:-)


Settling down, you bend over and pick up the rolled up newspaper, slip your fingers underneath the thin black rubber band, and carefully put the fastener onto the tray next to you (thinking in vain that it'll come handy some day!) You are then ready for your daily dose of sports, scams and scandals and other 'news' while your second hand rests lightly around the morning cuppa. Your eyes skim over the edge of the newspaper to see if the steam from the cup is still as visibly strong, or if it is time to pour yourself a refill. A bite into the Marie biscuit, you save the rest as a treat for your dog, and in another ten minutes or so you are ready to lift the cup to drain what's left over. And then the daily ritual begins-of preparing yourself to get ready for the world, to look forward to a day full of bosses, reviews, deadlines and deliverables...
...A new day has begun...



...fleeting thoughts of the 'morning-chai account' over the years gone by. And if you have moved to another part of the globe like I have, then I must share with you, that, though the teapot has changed, the tea leaves have still remained the same :-) The corner is new but the biscuits aren't ! :-) And while the familiar feel of the newspaper has been replaced by the not-so-flattering 'iPad app', the thought that accompanies the chai, more or less, remains the same...


Yes, for the time being there are no bosses, no reviews and no timelines to meet, but there is still that familiar anticipation, and that simple curiosity about what lies ahead today for me, a heartfelt hope always for the best, ahead of my morning pot of tea... :-)


12 comments:

  1. And if all these carry glimpses of bride's love nest and it's little happy corners...wah..kya baat hai!!!

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  2. Lovely !! This post contains all the ingredients that make the most perfect cup of tea or rather prepare the setting for a perfect cuppa :) Ho jaaye chai :)
    Lovely images too !

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    1. Thanks, yes, bilkul, ho jaaye ! Have I mentioned the minor detail that the husband makes better chai than yours truly ? :)

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  3. Such a refreshing take on the morning cuppa! Enjoyed reading it the first thing in the morning:),smiling to myself at your apt description of the duvet being shoved and the paperwallah's aim and those little rubber bands so carefully hoarded to be used 'someday'!superb!

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    1. Thanks Vandana, yeah these little things that remind you of 'subah wali chai' and the 'rush-gush' to get to work after that :) Glad you enjoyed it.

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  4. first of - hello and welcome! looks like yours is a fairly new blog and it is always fun to welcome new people to the circle. I am deepa from Aalayam. Do stop by and check us out at http://aalyaminspiration.blogspot.com

    i will definitely browse through your archives - i already like what I see..

    ~deepa

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    1. Hi Deepa, wonderful to connect with you here. Supriya dropped in a line earlier, and I have to tell you that 'Aalayam' is truly nothing short of being inspirational :-) I stumbled upon it through Sruthi's page and it was a wonderful discovery. So you have a regular follower in me :-)
      Yes I started writing recently, and must say, it is addictive. Hope to see you here more often and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for stopping by once again and have a lovely day !

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    2. A wonderful post. I wish I could have a cup of tea like this one sometime..for a change ! As right now my cup is upside down ! tea...along with hubby lunch and breakfast and baby's morning rituals fill my cups on weekdays ! on the weekend though I can think of creating a scenario like this...lets c when that happens..lol. beautiful pics !

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    3. Thanks Pooja, can imagine,a leisurely chai story would be difficult with your princess wanting all your time :)

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  5. :)) I smiled through this post! My everyday morning too, in many ways.
    And that last pic is so beautiful.

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