Tea Kadai conversations – Episode 14

 

Over the past few days, my visits to the tea kadai have been irregular, largely due to my wife’s health concerns and my own dental appointments. As a result, I’ve missed much of the daily chatter, but one topic continues to dominate conversations within the community—the increased maintenance charges imposed by the service provider from April 2026.

Image by ChatGPT

The Resident Welfare Association has not accepted this hike and has been seeking justification and supporting documents for the increase. However, based on updates shared with residents, the service provider has not responded adequately to these queries.

An open house meeting was recently conducted by the association, where committee members shared their views not only on the revised charges but also on broader issues affecting senior residents. A key concern raised was the disruption in commercial gas supply to the community kitchen. It was alleged that non-payment to the gas agency led to the cancellation of the consumer number, forcing the kitchen to rely on firewood. This has, understandably, affected both the quality and variety of food being served.

The association has suggested that residents—both owners and tenants—pay maintenance charges at the February 2026 level rather than the revised amount, as a way to pressure the service provider into negotiations. However, opinions among residents are divided. One group supports partial payment now and settling the balance after mutual agreement, with legal action as a fallback. Another group believes in paying the full amount upfront and then pursuing legal remedies if needed, arguing that courts may not entertain cases where dues are unpaid.

What stands out, rather disappointingly, is the level of discord among residents. Many of them, despite their experience and past positions of authority, seem to engage in unnecessary arguments, especially on Whats App groups, often dismissing even constructive suggestions.

Personally, I prefer to stay away from these politics. While the association plays an important role in representing residents’ concerns, it should avoid unilateral decisions that may disrupt essential services. Ultimately, I intend to act based on my own judgment rather than follow any stance blindly. After all, the quality of services was a key factor in choosing to live here, and that should not be compromised.

On 28th April, one of the more interesting conversations revolved around a solo road trip undertaken by Mr. Rajan to Shillong and back…an adventure inspired by a similar journey recently completed by another resident Dr Kamaraj.

Rajan shared vivid accounts of his experiences along the way. His journey through West Bengal coincided with the election period, which brought unexpected challenges. Due to local restrictions, hotels were not accommodating outsiders, leaving him stranded for options. After considerable effort, he managed to secure an Airbnb stay for two nights, which provided some much-needed relief.

The return leg of his journey presented a different kind of hurdle. In Telangana, he encountered a widespread fuel shortage, with over 200 petrol bunks reportedly shut. Anticipating uncertainty, he adopted a simple but effective strategy of refuelling whenever he came across an operational bunk, ensuring he was never caught off guard.

He also recounted an unusual and slightly unsettling interaction at a toll booth. A member of the transgender community approached his vehicle seeking money. Upon his refusal, the individual scribbled something on his windshield—possibly a signal to others ahead, though he wasn’t certain. Rajan chose to wipe it off shortly after and, as a precaution, decided to avoid stopping immediately after toll booths where such encounters are more common. Overall, his story sparked curiosity and discussion, offering a glimpse into the unpredictability and resilience that is often required in solo travel across diverse regions.

 

 

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 04 - A week of casual meet

 

On 8th January 2026, the tea shop felt a bit empty. The doctor didn’t come, and Senthil, the banker, was also absent. Still, the rest of us gathered as usual and chatted without any clear direction. Soon the talk turned to love and death. Ravindra quoted some famous person, saying a man becomes mature only when he learns to love death. Mr. Shridhar added that a man actually dies twice—once at marriage and again at the end of life. He also said love begins not in college, but in school.

When Ravindra asked Sundararajan about his college romance, Sundararajan got irritated and asked why Ravindra always talked about love. Ravindra shot back, loudly, that it was his constitutional right to talk about any subject he wished. An awkward silence followed. Shridhar quickly calmed things down, saying there was no point getting upset when all of us already had one foot in the grave—it was better to laugh. Mr. Gururaj, who had just come for tea, caught the last part of the discussion, and soon after, we all dispersed for the day.

On 9^th January evening the forum met as usual but was totally subdued due to yesterday’s uproar and the subsequent discussions of the incident over WhatsApp chat wherein our freelance journalist was not willing to accept that his angry reaction was not called for and he kept insisting that we have no right to give him sermon as it is constitutional right to express his views and thoughts about others. A quite day of tea and samosa at the tea kadai.

10^th January evening we all met as usual and we had a guest Dr Panigraha , an oncologist who has come to visit his son who is staying in the villas which are for multi-generational accommodations within the gated community of Ashiana Shubhum and studying medicine at the SRM university nearby. Casual conversations took place till the time of dispersion.

I did not visit on 11^th January as I had gone to the city and could not get back till late evening and thereby, I missed meeting the regulars at the tea kadai.

12^th January evening the forum met as usual and the conversation today drifted towards the amount of water that needs to be drunk in a day by an adult male. Journalist stated 6 litres as per a doctor he met outside whereas our doctor said that the maximum fluid intake has to be 4 litres and as per Google it states 3.7 litres for male but Ravindra was not willing to accept this and he question Dr Panigraha who had also come today and his opinion was between 5 to 6 litres. It was quite evident that each had their own opinion and there was no consensus in arriving at the quantum of water intake. The conversation ended with this topic and all of us dispersed for the day after our usual sip of tea / coffee and snacks. 

13^th January both me and Dr Mohandas reached the shop at about 4.10 pm just to see a board tied on the shutter of the shop stating that the shop would be closed from 13^th to 17^th January on account of Pongal celebration as the tea master Guru is traveling to his home town Madurai. We just sat outside the shop and had small talks and also Doctor was checking my bridge camera and its operations and he was quite amazed by the zoom it has… I do have a Canon Power shot for which I paid just Rs 33000/- whereas Doctors has a much costlier camera because it is a SLR with a prime lens. I have always felt that the camera I have suits my purpose as I am just an amateur photographer and with built in zoom it is good for my wildlife photography and I never felt the need of having a SLR with large lenses.