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.  

Tea Kadai conversations Episode 09

 

March 3^rd to 13^th March

 

 

The 3rd of March witnessed the first total lunar eclipse of 2026, and on account of this celestial event the tea shop remained closed that evening. According to traditional Hindu belief, many people refrain from eating during the period of an eclipse. The eclipse began at 3:20 pm and concluded at 6:47 pm. When the moon rose later in the evening, it appeared in a deep crimson hue, popularly referred to as the Blood Moon.

On another note, both Doctor Mohandas and I have stopped interacting with Ravindra due to certain differences of opinion. I would prefer not to dwell on those matters here, as they are hardly worth elaborating upon. Since the tea kadai is a public place, no one can be prevented from visiting it. Therefore, whenever Ravindra is present, we simply avoid engaging with him and continue our conversations with the others who gather there, responding minimally to anything he says. The message seems to have been received clearly, as he has not been seen at the shop from then onwards while we are present.

Tragedy also struck within our community. One of the residents, Dr. Joe, met with a road accident near Ranipet while driving. Sadly, his daughter, who was travelling with him, lost her life in the accident. Upon hearing the news, Mr. Ramaswamy and his wife—also residents here and related to the family—rushed to the hospital in Krishnagiri. It is said that Mr. Ramaswamy suffered a heart attack there and tragically passed away as well. Life can indeed be painfully uncertain, with two deaths occurring within the same family in a single day. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved family members.

The India versus England semifinal on the 5th of March brought a welcome moment of excitement. India won the match by a narrow margin of seven runs in what turned out to be a thrilling contest till the very end. India thus advanced to face New Zealand in the final scheduled for the 8th of March. Meanwhile, the usual conversations and cups of chai at the tea kadai continued, though Ravindra remained absent during the days we were there.

The WT20 final between India and New Zealand on the 8th was screened on a large screen arranged in the open tennis court within our community. Residents gathered to watch the match together under the night sky. India went on to win the tournament convincingly, and everyone enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the communal viewing. During the event, I had a small fall and scraped my knees, but fortunately it was nothing serious.

On a broader front, the escalating conflict in the Middle East has begun to affect India in unexpected ways. The country is now facing an acute LPG shortage, forcing many restaurants across India to curtail operations or temporarily shut down. At Ashiana Senior Living Community, where I reside, contingency measures have been implemented. The community kitchen has begun using alternate fuel sources such as wood, and the menu has been simplified to cater only to basic needs. Fried items like papad, vadai, and puris have been temporarily discontinued.

 

Fortunately, the tea kadai continues to operate for now. However, we do not know when the shop’s gas cylinder may run out, after which even our daily cups of chai may become uncertain. We sincerely hope that commercial gas supplies resume soon.

The ongoing conflict has also had a significant impact on the stock market, which has fallen sharply, wiping out large sums of investors’ wealth. One can only hope that the situation does not escalate further into a wider global conflict, let alone a nuclear one. Until then, life goes on much as before and conversations continue, tea is shared, and we gather each day at the tea kadai, hoping for calmer days ahead.