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.

 

 

Tea Kadai conversations Episode 08

 

23rd February to 1st March 2026

This past week has been one of constant movement and quiet anxiety. Ever since my wife’s biopsy confirmed lymphoma, I have been shuttling between diagnostic centres and hospitals. A PET scan was completed, and on medical advice, an MRI of the orbit followed.

By God’s grace, both scans revealed no abnormalities elsewhere in the body. It appears that the affected portion may have been removed at the time the biopsy sample was taken. After reviewing the reports, the MCCF doctors’ team decided on a “wait and watch” approach — no chemotherapy, no radiation for now.

It is a tremendous relief for the entire family. After days of tension, we are finally able to breathe a little easier.

With this reassuring news, I returned to my usual place at the tea kadai bench over the past three days. Though not all the regular members were present, the familiar rhythm of conversations slowly resumed.

Yesterday, a gentleman from Pondicherry joined us and his name escapes me at the moment — and upon learning that he was fluent in French, Sundarrajan, who is equally proficient, immediately began conversing with him in French. It was delightful to watch these two elderly men animatedly exchange thoughts in a foreign tongue, transporting our modest tea stall briefly to Paris. I could not resist capturing the moment in a photograph for the blog.

 

 

 On 1st March, discussions centred around the US–Israel–Iran tensions and the T20 World Cup match between India and the West Indies. The tea kadai had introduced a “special” — Kara Vadai. Essentially a masala vadai, but shaped like a small grenade. When asked about the unusual shape, the master promptly replied, “Because of the US–Iran conflict!” Even geopolitics finds its way into our snacks.

As for cricket, India must win this final Super Eight match to secure a place in the semifinals. The stakes are high, and opinions at the tea bench were even higher.

And so another day passes in our community — filled with global politics, cricket debates, inventive snacks, and steaming cups of tea. Much of it may seem irrelevant in the larger scheme of life, yet in its own way, it offers comfort and continuity after a week of uncertainty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tea Kadai Conversations Episode 07

 

1st February to 8th February

The full forum of regulars returned, and with Ravindra back from Pondicherry, the liveliness returned too. He shared cheerful stories from his trip and the delightful time spent with his niece, keeping the conversation animated and flowing.

We were also joined by Mr. Sam, a friendly gentleman in his late thirties, along with his young son Joshua. Their presence brought fresh energy into our otherwise predictable circle of retirees. It felt good to have younger voices mingle with our seasoned discussions.

But the real star of the evening was something else,  pani puris, newly introduced at the shop.

Pani puri — those tiny, crisp, hollow puris filled with potatoes, chickpeas, spices, tangy tamarind chutney, and spicy mint water — is famous for its explosion of tastes and textures.

However, our chef seemed to have interpreted “spicy” rather literally. The teekha pani contained so many green chillies that even the bravest among us had tears streaming down our faces. It was less a snack and more a test of endurance!

Seeing the seniors struggle heroically, I informed Narayanan, the owner, that such fiery enthusiasm might not suit our age group. To his credit, he immediately retreated to his kitchen and returned with a milder, better-balanced version. That gesture was much appreciated.

To close the evening on a triumphant note, Ravindra proudly announced that he had purchased a bottle of Johnnie Walker whisky and a bottle of vodka from Pondicherry, claiming they cost barely 70% of Chennai prices — a small financial victory that clearly delighted him.

On a more serious note, as mentioned earlier, the biopsy sample from my wife’s left eye was tested and confirmed as Follicular Lymphoma. The coming days will therefore be busy with oncologist consultations and PET scans.

All in all, they were simple, ordinary evenings — tea, snacks, familiar faces, and the quiet joy of companionship.

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8th February to 22nd February

The conversations during this period were less frequent for me, as I missed several evenings due to my wife’s ongoing medical appointments.

A couple of incidents within the campus, however, deserve mention.

An elderly gentleman, nearly 86 years old, passed away. His only son, who lives in America, did not come to India for the final rites. The ceremonies were conducted by the community maintenance team, as instructed by the son. At first glance, this felt strange. But as we discussed among ourselves, we also acknowledged that we do not know the circumstances that prevented him from coming. Therefore, no judgement.

It did, however, spark a meaningful reflection among us: perhaps we elders should not emotionally burden our children with expectations shaped by tradition. Times have changed, distances have widened, and responsibilities must be understood in context. Letting go gracefully may be a wisdom we need to cultivate.

In contrast, another senior gentleman and his wife donated ₹1 crore to the Army Welfare Fund last week. Such generosity is rare and admirable in today’s times. When I met him to convey my appreciation, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he had made a similar donation last year as well.

Acts of detachment on one hand, acts of generosity on the other — life in our little senior community continues to present quiet lessons.

On that reflective note, I close this episode of the tea shop conversations.

Tea Kadai Stories- Episode 06- 22nd Jan to 31st Jan

 

This week passed quietly, without much excitement, except for a small argument that arose out of some pointless discussions at the tea shop. During the exchange, Ravindra suddenly burst out loudly, accusing me of trying to influence his opinions and impose my views on him. As usual, he declared that it was his constitutional right to express whatever he felt and that he would not and could not be subdued.

One of the seniors present gently remarked, “Why have unpleasantness and arguments when we all have one step already in the grave?” That simple line struck a chord with me. I immediately withdrew from the discussion and decided not to comment unnecessarily on Ravindra’s opinions anymore. At this stage of life, peace of mind feels far more valuable than winning an argument.

I was also absent from the shop for nearly four days — two days because our cat was recovering from its health issues, and another two days to attend to my wife’s eye problem.

What we thought would be a routine visit to the ophthalmologist, merely to check the corrective lens prescribed for her left eye, unexpectedly opened up a new concern. The doctor noticed a lymphoid growth in the conjunctival area and advised a biopsy, especially considering her past history of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The sample collection was scheduled for 30th January 2026.

As instructed, we went to Billroth Hospital, where the procedure is expected to take about thirty minutes and was completed within an hour. The collected sample was handed over to me, which I then submitted at Apollo Cancer Hospital for histopathology and Lymphoma Panel examination.

Now we wait for the report, expected in four days. I came across this statement which I feel is apt “Worrying does not reduce tomorrow’s trouble; it only reduces today’s strength.”