#Chaipoint

“There you see, yes, that way straight used to be a famous Dhaba”, Manav said to his younger kid while pointing straight.

“But I don’t see anything as such there papa”, said Shilpi.

“I don’t think it exists anymore but let’s check out that place once”, said Manav to which his wife and son followed (and Shilpi too).

So, here is Manav who is accompanied by his family on his Silver Jubilee function of Graduation College.

As he approached that area, he could see clear flashbacks running right in front of his eyes and he went down the memory lane. There was no dhaba anymore but a chai shop still existed – yes, that chai shop only.

Shilpi read the board aloud which lay hung in a poorly state, ‘Chai Centre’.

As Manav moved in he saw a family of 3 people – a man (the shop owner), his wife and their daughter.

“Hey listen, earlier this shop had some other name and, as far I could recall Raheem uncle used to run this. Is he, is he (hesitated a bit) still alive?”, Manav poured his heart out to that man.

Before the man could say anything, there came a voice from behind, “Aree, abhi hum jinda hain bhai.” That was Raheem uncle, though shattered by old age but still intact with his sense of humor and ‘liveliness’.

“Raheem kaka!”, burst out Manav and gave a tight hug to him. 

“The name earlier was ‘Gomti Chai Vaale’ and you could forget?”, said Raheem kaka.

“I remember, you are the one who always kept complaining that with the increasing year of your graduation my tea prices are also increasing. Now I have a complaint about you. Where were you for so many years? Now, answer, say something.” Kaka said jokingly and rejoiced fully since he was also aware that at least Manav came there.

“Aree kaka, conditions were tough actually, father’s early demise, mother’s long term illness, and many other things too.”

Pointing towards his wife, kaka asked, “She’s that girl only with whom you usually used to come to my dhaba?”

“Yes kaka, I am the one”, Megha said with all smiles. 

“So kaka, who’s this man, I mean, your son, Kabir bhaiya, where is he?”

“If you remember, Kabir always had different views than mine and used to fight a lot. He finally shifted to the city and this is his son, Ahmed. It’s a blessing that my grandson followed me and decided to stay here only.”

“Never mind, I have lots of love of uncountable sons and daughters of this college and with god’s grace my grandson proved wiser than my son.”

“It’s been long since we have been just talking, let me prepare some tea for everyone”, Ahmed said while changing the topic.

“No, wait, today only I have the right to make tea and no one else”, kaka said this as if he was making some declaration.

A few minutes later, with every sip of tea, Manav could experience that same old smell – still the same in all manners.