Gossip, Ginger, and a Glass Full of Warmth
I leaned against the window of JP Tea Stall, nestled under the shade of an old tree in D School, and called out my usual order—"Ek kadak chai". Raju Bhaiya, a lean, dark-skinned man with a warm smile, nodded in acknowledgement. He had a way of making everyone feel at home—students, faculty, admin staff—serving them steaming hot tea like clockwork. If you ask me, making tea for people is one of the kindest jobs - to offer them a warm hug in a mug while they struggle to keep up with the …chaos of life. Deadlines, heartbreaks, existential crises—everything feels a little more bearable when there’s a steaming cup of chai in hand. At exactly 10:15, the bell of a cycle rang, announcing the arrival of an elderly man in a white kurta and boat-shaped white topi. He parked in front of the stall, handed over a packet of freshly baked aloo patties wrapped in brown paper, and went on his way without a word. I smiled, as Raju Bhaiya slid me one of those warm, flak...