Chaai - Paani

Water, Sugar, Tea leaves.... guess thats it! I guess you don't need anything more than that to make me. Of course, depending on the flavors, you can add ginger,lemon etc but for just a cuppa plain chai, thats all that is needed. I was named Tea but I prefer introducing myself as Chai (total desi you see) though...mainly cos of the thrill associated with that word. From a reader's point, i am sure you guys feel its just another drink which millions of people have on a daily basis. I am sure to most of you all its second nature. The day just doesn't start without a cup of tea. But before i go ahead, i do wana say hi to all the fans of my best pal Monsieur Coffee. I guess together we complete the morning drink for millions of folks across the world.

Life has been interesting for me. I have taken so many forms you see...I am Tea at an elegant restaurant/hotel, 'cutting' outside a local bombay railway station, chai at every second household across India. Man, its fun to take so many forms and see and touch the life of so many people. I may be priced at 2 bucks as a 'cutting' and 50 bucks as 'Tea'. But what some people don't realize is just because I am served in a cup which is made of opulent chinaware in a 5-star hotel, my value doesn't go up by that number. I still prefer bringing a smile to the face of my person who enjoys me. Its so amazing to be the morning drink for someone - The way they look forward to me, the smell emanating from the cup, wow!!! trust me ..gives me a completely different kinda high! Its something which I can just express but surely you guys can't even relate. The pleasure of making someone's morning and through him/her influencing a zillion others directly or indirectly is bliss..

I am sure everyone of you at some point of time must have had me with hot and spicy pakodas/bhajias. I remember when I was being made and served to a few people sitting in the balcony of a multi storey building in bombay, in an apartment facing the sea... i could see the tension ease off their faces. They all had different worries and thoughts which were related, unrelated, sensible, stupid, unnecessary, good,evil, productive...every type and kind. But with each sip of me and bite of pakodas blending beautifully with the cool and serene weather and the smell of wet mud acting as the perfect catalyst to the aromas of the green/spicy chutney,at that point all one can think of is..What more do I want in life!!! . I am sure you are imagining this in your mind right now...if you aren't then I suggest you try it once and it would be an experience which gets sealed in your hearts forever.

But before I end, I love to see myself as the Cutting. Especially at 8 AM outside most railway stations in Bombay, you can see everyone from a hawker to a municipal sweeper to even executives relishing me with my other best pal Mr. Vada Pav. I can see everything from movies, actors, conspiracies to business dealings being discussed with every sentence being interrupted to take a sip of me from the cup! They don't realise the tea thats going in and the way their mood is getting better because it is an involuntary action for them. But I just love the importance,attention and the fact that I am an inseperable part of their life.

Before I sign off, I remember a guy discussing with his friends as he relished his cutting and vada pav during a heavy downpour. He said, "Yaar..this is life. All I want is Chai..Vada Pav and a Ferrari!!". I don't exactly know what the last one was but am sure seeing the affection I get , Mr.Ferrari must be in the same league too. I better go now..i can see this guy opening a packet of Marie Biscuit. I am sure I know what he plans to drink with it...I guess you might have done it sometime too right???

People are not just getting dumber, but more and more opinionated...

But not in the right direction!

The whole nation's heart skipped a beat just because our very dear Mr. Amitabh Bachchan was admitted to the hospital and had to get a minor surgery done. There are reports of people travelling all the way from UP,northern states and from down south too just to catch a 'glimpse' of him. A 'glimpse' could equate to see him walking on the lobby or get into his car. But poeple have travelled all the way with the hope of just seeing him and waving out to him. They don't realise the amount of money spent or most importantly the energy and time consumed in the process.

For starters, I am a die hard Amitabh fan. I am in awe of his personality and his ability to bring the country to a grinding halt for a second when something unfortunate happens to him. I repsect the aura surrounding him and totally agree that he deserves a special mention. But certianly not to this extent. The Indian Media is responsible for giving birth to a star and also contribute to it's downfall. But here I see nothing but encouragement of stupidity. My question is simple and lucid...Would/Have the media or any average indian give/given so much importance to the death of a soldier injured in a war? I do recognise and respect the contributions of Mr.Bachchan. He truly has put India on the global entertainment map. But Personally, I would owe more to the soldier who is braving the cold and ensuring that I enjoy my life than to any Amitabh Bachchan movie in all these years. I agree a star like him deserves a special mention and a national coverage. But nowadays every website has a periodical update about his health just like there was during the Tsunami or any other national calamity. Is the comparison justified? I don't mean to get too emotional but practically thinking, I feel its due to our incapability to not prioritize and not realize our respopnsibilities and their importance, that the problems in India just keep piling up.

Has an entry level police officer whom we affectionately title "pandu" received any sort of recognition for a gallant effort? Why is their contribution not recognised? A soldier/common man who died doing his duty receives no special mention but this gets hyped up to such an extent? Just because he doesn't dance in exotic locales and delivers punching dialogues, his identity is sidelined?

I read an article recently about a new Akshardham Temple built near Noida for a whopping amount. Was it necessary? Is India short of religious places or shrines that the absence of this one would have made a difference? Couldn't the funds used to build this be devoted to resolving issues of higher priority? Instead of appreciating the beauty of this new monument, I would really be thrilled to know that in some remote corner of India, a village full of people have been assured clean drinking water for the rest of their lives! The value generated from that investment would be more spiritually satisfying instead of visinting a temple famous for it's embellishment.

I know I am not an intellect to comment on people or categorize them but I sure can voice my opinion and raise my questions.

As i sign off, all i can think and wonder is..Why India? Why? Why?

Nice One...

Once four MBA students were boozing till late night and didn't study for the test which was scheduled for the next day. In the morning they thought of a plan. They made themselves look as dirty and weird as they could with grease and dirt.

Then they went up to the dean and said that they had gone to a wedding last night and on their return the tyre of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way back and that they were in no condition to appear for the test. The Dean was a Just person so he said that you can have a retest after three days. They said they were ready.

On the third day they appeared before the dean. The Dean said that as this was a special condition all four were required to be in separate rooms for the test. They all agreed as they had prepared well in last three days.

The test consisted of two questions totally weighing 100 points.

Q1. Write down your Names. (2 points)

Q2. Which tyre burst ? (98 points)