A Hindi Nostalgia

A short nostalgic text in honour of Chai

It approaches you so gingerly with its elvishly light footsteps, but it does not rush to you. It is almost like a lover’s wake up call, warmly distracting you from that deep consuming sleep. It tacitly reminds you of an infusion or was it a concoction? But if you are not careful you can easily slip into memories of a hot summer day in the fast flowing streets of Old Delhi. That day when you seeked refuge from the punishing Sun by hiding under the tarpaulin of the Jalebi vendor only to feel the radiant burning sensation of the sizzling ghee and oil. Oh yes! You remember the light smell and taste of cardamom and cinnamon, who have arrived with their undefeatable army of sugar. The blurred memory of escaping towards the shade of the chai stall appears in your mind, but is quickly overtaken by another memory which is in sharp focus. It was that moment when you narrowly escaped collision with that rickshaw, which was hurrying through the masses of humans like the accidental taste of ginger invading your tongue. A more rhythmic memory responds to the sight of a suffering impression on your face: the memory of swaying in the train carriage bound for Agra. This memory is initially infused with the feeling of longing, the wait for the chaiwala to pass by. Then the infusion grows into excitement as you smell the taste of strong kadak-chai approaching. But suddenly, this train begins to decelerate! You can smell the burning of hard working brakes slowing the approach to the station. The train driver lets out a whistle of steam informing the passengers of the coming station. The train slows down further. He lets out another whistle. This time the sound sizzles and cautions you of the impending stop. You remember getting off at the station. With no chai in hand. But surrounded in the concoction of steam and smoke. The third whistle declares the train’s imminent departure. It has forced your arrival at the station of the present. Old memories aside, why do you find yourself surrounded in smoke? Yes, you must burst into action like a firefighter. Your chai is burning on the hob and it must be saved!