Tea Kadai Closed, Friendship Open

 

Our campus tea shop has recently started a WhatsApp group where the daily menu is posted along with the all-important announcement of whether the shop will be open or closed. On 17th June, the message was loud and clear: "Shop Closed Today."

Now, one would assume that this would discourage customers from visiting. Clearly, the management underestimated the determination of six seasoned regulars! As if responding to a call of duty, we turned up at the usual spot and occupied the benches in front of the firmly shuttered shop.

 

There we sat for a couple of hours, without tea, without snacks, and without any intention of leaving. Passers-by must have wondered whether we were staging a silent protest or waiting for a grand reopening. In reality, we were simply enjoying each other's company, discussing everything from world affairs to whose memory was failing the fastest.

The gathering proved that while tea may have brought us together initially, friendship is what keeps us coming back. The shop was closed, but the conversations were open, the laughter flowed freely, and the companionship was as refreshing as any cup of tea. Sometimes, the best item on the menu is togetherness and fortunately, that was available in unlimited quantities here at Ashiana Shubham Senior Living at Maraimalainagar, Chennai

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 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.”