Tea Kadai conversations Episode 12

 

 As the war in the Middle East continues unabated, its effects are being felt even within our community, gradually disrupting everyday life. The rising strain on the money market and the shortage of cooking gas have significantly impacted the functioning of the community kitchen. In response, firewood is now being used as an alternative fuel, with stoves set up outside the kitchen. This, however, exposes the cooks to intense heat, making working conditions extremely challenging.

Yesterday, on April 2nd, eight members of the kitchen staff collected their salaries and left without prior notice, unable to cope with the harsh conditions of cooking over open firewood. Their sudden departure has placed immense pressure on both the management and the remaining canteen staff. Despite this unexpected loss of manpower, the team displayed remarkable resilience by ensuring that breakfast and lunch were prepared and served on time.

Amidst these challenges, we had the opportunity to spend some meaningful time at our tea kadai with a Danish couple of Indian/Sri Lankan origin. The wife, a Malayali/Tamil from Mumbai, and the husband, originally from Jaffna, have been settled in Denmark for over four decades. They are currently here to oversee interior work for a one-bedroom flat in Phase 5 of the community, where the wife’s mother will soon relocate. Conversations with them brought a refreshing human connection amidst the ongoing tensions.

Another issue that stirred discussion was the suspension of shuttle services for residents who have not paid their maintenance charges. An acquaintance of ours reportedly created a scene with the management over this matter, which escalated to the point of a police complaint being filed. Incidents like these reflect the heightened stress and friction within the community.

On a lighter, more thought-provoking note, there was an interesting discussion about a coconut tree climber from Kerala/Karnataka. He reportedly charges ₹100 plus five coconuts per tree for his services and climbs up to 100 trees a day. While the calculations of his earnings—running into lacs of rupees per month—may be somewhat idealized, the story underscores an important lesson. Even seemingly modest professions, when carried out skillfully and consistently, can provide substantial income. The broader takeaway is clear: no work is insignificant. With dedication, discipline, and the absence of ego, any profession can be both dignified and rewarding. Ultimately, working for oneself, with purpose and integrity, can often be more fulfilling than conventional career paths.

 

 

Tea Kadai conversations Episode 11

 

 

 

At the tea kadai within the Ashiana Shubham senior living community, two rickety wooden benches sit on either side of the shop, with a long flight of steps leading up to it. This humble setting has quietly become a vibrant gathering place, where seniors and regulars sit with their cups of tea or coffee, engaging in conversations that range from the happenings within the community to events unfolding across the world.

For many, this daily visit offers a welcome break from routine and a chance to connect, to listen, and to be heard. Familiar faces meet, conversations flow easily, and even occasional visitors are quickly drawn into the warmth of the group.

As I mentioned in an earlier episode, I am one of the regulars here. Along with Dr. Mohandas and Sundararajan, I spend nearly an hour and a half each day on these benches or steps, whether the shop is open or not. Over time, I’ve come to realize that what draws us here is not just the tea and snacks, but the shared joy of companionship. In this phase of our lives, we gather to celebrate it in our own quiet way..through conversation, laughter, and the comfort of being together.

Every resident carries a story. However small or trivial it may seem, sharing it brings a certain lightness, a sense of relief. The tea kadai has become a space where these stories find listeners, and in doing so, create connections. I hope to continue sharing these moments and conversations in future episodes.

A few days ago, Dr. Mohandas and I met Sundararajan’s wife. She told us how he rarely stepped out in the evenings before. But now, ever since he began joining us, he eagerly looks forward to that time of day. As evening approaches, he gets ready with enthusiasm and heads to the tea shop, excited to meet us and others. Seeing this change has brought her great happiness—and hearing it brought us quiet satisfaction, knowing we had played a small part in lifting someone’s spirit.

Interestingly, the tea kadai is not just for the senior residents. People from the multi-generational villas within the gated community also drop by regularly here for a cup of tea, a snack, or simply for the conversations. In this way, the little tea shop has become more than just a place for us for it is a shared space where lives intersect, stories unfold, and bonds are gently formed.

 

Tea Kadai conversations Episode 10 - Middle East conflict and its consequenses

 

We are all living in deeply uncertain times. The world today feels like it is standing on a fragile edge and that edge is getting thinner by the day with the conflict in the Middle East continuing into the 4^th week. Since the re-emergence of Donald Trump on the global stage, we have witnessed a shift away from cooperation, toward confrontation… shift away from dialogue, toward dominance. Power is being asserted more openly, more aggressively, and often without consensus. UN Charter that was formulated after the World War 2 to prevent such occurrences has failed miserably in this conflict for; they are unable to check the same.

And nowhere is this more dangerous than in the Middle East at present times. The rising tensions involving Iran and Israel and US are not just regional issues but are global fault lines. What we see, what we hear, is limited… controlled… filtered. But beneath that, there is a growing storm — one that threatens to spill far beyond borders where the war is being fought.

Because when this conflict began in that region, the entire world felt it.

Energy… was the first casualty.

The Middle East powers the world. And when that flow is disrupted especially through critical routes like the Strait of Hormuz the impact is immediate and unforgiving. Fuel prices rise. Supply chains strain. Economies begin to tremble.

And then comes the second blow — the markets.

We are already seeing the consequences. Volatility. Losses. Uncertainty. For many especially our senior citizens in the community this is not just about numbers on a screen. This is about a lifetime of savings that are suddenly at risk.

But perhaps the most powerful truth in all is this is that Global crises do not stay global. They enter our homes and our Kitchens too. In our own community, we are already adapting to shortages. Gas supplies have become uncertain and families are forced to turn to alternatives. The community kitchen once a place of comfort now operates with limitations, doing its best to provide what it can. Discontentment among the residents with the service provider not able to arrange for gas and not providing proper meals at the community dining. This is how the war touches ordinary lives here. Not always through bombs and explosions……but through disruption, anxiety, and quiet struggle.

History has taught us time and again that when power goes unchecked, when aggression replaces wisdom, the cost is catastrophic. We have seen it before, in times we hoped never to repeat, such as the devastation of World War II. And yet, here we are… once again… watching tensions rise. So, the question is simple:

Will wisdom prevail? Will restraint overcome ambition? Or will the world once again learn its lessons the hard way? Because if we fail to choose dialogue over destruction… the consequences will not be political but will be human.