~ A timeless meet…~

There are people just around you whom you may see almost everyday when you pass through the aisles but you never have thought to converse with them. They are silent workers who may not be having all the material happiness in the world but they still drive the courage to dream big – they are just non-existent in the dictum of the world for they do menial jobs which many may desist to do but they are surely provide their worth in the value chain of life

During my recent sojourn, I felt a strong urge to have tea but could not find any meaningful place which could offer it to me – treading for almost half an hour, I could spot a dilapidated ‘Tea Stall’ which came as a respite for my dying soul – the weather in upper region of mountains change fast, and I was a witness to the fact – quite scarcely clothed, tea was the only hot-supper which could have given me relief from the chill.

Rushing to the gentlemen duo, I could see them both looking at me as I approached them – both had a welcoming smile which was well enough to break the ice for our conversation. A quick catchup followed but not before I straightforwardly asked them to prepare that life saving ‘Tea Cuppa’ which was the need of the hour…

The elder amongst the two was quick to respond and quickly poured water in the pan and started the process in no later than a second, I was impressed with his response and said ‘Thanks’, the younger lad was observing this quick one side conversation but his eyes had a catchiness in them. Both of them were little Shy as I could understand the mundane business they were doing – their tea stall was located in an unorthodox region of mountainous belt I was trekking, and were occasionally visited by few trekkers like me , above all who were tea lovers…

The conversation thus broke and I asked their names and from where they belonged. To my utter surprise I got an answer in English!!! that alerted me as this was not expected of from them. The elder of the lad with a sense of shyness told me that his name was ‘Kishore’ and he was a native of the same place and that  this was his tea stall – he had in fact ‘taken over’ this business from his father who ran the same shop for almost two decades! … and that he was a graduate in History from Shimla.

With a sense of reticence, he broke his silence again and thus spoke “ I wanted to purse IAS but situation and destiny had other plans for me.!” , whilst he narrated his tale, he popped up the tea cuppa in front of me in no time. As I was desperately in want of the beverage, I took the fist sip and inquired about his ‘Buddy’ – “Oh, his name is Rajesh and he is my maternal cousin!, he goes to school and often comes here to help me during the day...”. 

Having taken few sips of tea, which I should admit was one of its kind, I could not held myself back to appreciate his quick recipe. Kishore smiled again and thanked me for my genuine words of appreciation for him. He inquired about me and my purpose of the visit – I told my side of the story and what I do and what is that bought me to their dwelling. 

As I took the last sip, it was time to move forward, I profusely thanked the two for being such a good hosts not before taking snaps and asking them to pose for me as I wanted to capture the time of our meeting as a fond memory, they both reservedly   agreed with their chivalrous smile which confirmed my new found friendship with them… A final goodbye was the last thing I wanted to say to them but the need of the hour was something else…not before sparing me to pay them for such a beautiful gesture at the time of dire need…. A gesture which I will owe to them for my entire life…