The sun was paying
hide and seek with the morning clouds, clouds filled with water
threatening to deposit its treasure anytime. The town of Rampur was
slowly waking up to the morning. Fifty houses made of bricks, cement
and a lot of brotherly love occupied the town. Roads that were tarred
once in five years, coinciding with the general election cycle, the
time when the local goonda used to accompany the candidate in his old
rickety Plymouth car to 'ask' people to vote for him. People there
lived a pretty simple life. Really simple.Rahim chacha, the 'mochi',
Raghavan, the kirana shop owner and a few other businesses dotted the
town.             The
Jasheela tea stall was the most frequented joint of the town. The stall
was packed with people. The tea was not too great though.Rahim chacha
parked his lamby 150 cc scooter near the shop and entered it with a
hint of trepidation. Fear was written all over his face. He sat on the
empty seat and called on chotu to get him tea.Raju was the tea-maker at
Jasheela. Chotu immediately shouted,'Master, Rahim chacha is full
tension.Ek chai ekdum solid.'Chotu was the only person who served tea
there. 

            Raju
swung into action. The boiling milk was sending waves of steam in the
air. He poured the tea concentrate into the glass, dark and hot. The
aroma of tea filled the air. He dipped a small cup into the boiling
milk and then added it to the tea, stirring it. The sugar dabba was
closed. He held the glass and went to see Rahim chacha.

            'What happened Rahim Chacha?'-he asked

            'I have been ruined. My wife no longer wants to live with me'

            'Why? What happened all of a sudden after ten years?'

            'I was drunk last night and uttered the word - Talaq thrice in a fit of rage'

            'Oh Allah, What did you do!'

            'I have
been asking Allah and her forgiveness from the time I woke up but they
do not seem to be in the mood to forgive me. How will I ever survive?
She was my strength'

            'Hold this glass of tea and I will help you'-said Raju

He picked up a piece
of paper and wrote something on it. He handed the paper to chacha.He
read it and then asked,’ will it work?’Raju smiled and said-'Zaroor.It
will. Say it with a lot of love in your eyes and she will be yours
again. Drink the tea.'

            
Chacha sipped the tea.Raju; this is the best tea that I have had.
Perfect chai! Here is the 4 rupees for the tea.Raju put the coins in
his pocket and waved goodbye to chacha.            
Dawn turned into dusk and Raju was engrossed in his mundane duties. He
completed his evening puja.The fragrance of agarbathis and the lamp had
descended into the corner of the stall, purifying it. 

            There was
a commotion outside. People ran out and noises were heard.Raju ran out.
The local milkman had met with an accident with the poet and were now
arguing on who will pay the compensation for the milk spilt. ‘People',
Raju sighed and continued with his chores.Raghava came into the tea
stall, sweating profusely.’ Why does everyone have to sweat profusely
when they come here' - wondered Raju.Raghava's daughter had eloped from
home and married a person of another caste, highly unacceptable by her
father.

                       
Raghavan was very sad and asked Raju for a tea.Raju prepared the tea.
The sugar dabba was closed. He handed Raghavan the tea and asked
him-'What happened?'

            'My
daughter ran away with Narendar, the fisher man from the other
vaillage.He does not belong to my caste. I have lost everything, my
prestige. The village folk will now look down at me.'

            'Nahin
Raghavan, You are committing a mistake. She had to run away because you
would never have accepted her love. You must be fortunate that your
daughter has been able to experience the best gift of God, love'

            'You are
wrong Raju; you have never had a daughter. What do you know about the
pain of a daughter eloping with someone?’ Raghavan continued angrily.

            Silence
descended for two minutes.Raju then said,’ Five years back when I came
to this town to establish my tea stall here, I was in your position. My
daughter had eloped and I was very angry. Angry enough to hunt her down
and kill her. I was ashamed and I left the town soon after. On my way
to this town, I met a traveling saint. He asked the reason for my
misery and I said so. He guffawed at me and Said,'Beta,Your are a
fortunate father because your daughter has been able to experience the
best gift of God, Love. Forgive her and you shall also experience the
same.'

            When Raju
turned around, Raghavan had left. The tea stall had become silent
again. A few days later, chacha came running to the tea stall. He
hugged Raju and said-’you are truly my savior said and did what was
written on the parchment. My wife is mine again. May Allah bless you
for seven generations’; he planted a kiss on Raju's forehead.

            A few
hours later, Raghavan came to the tea stall with two visitors, his
daughter and his son in law. Raghavan looked at Raju.Their eyes talked.
few moments later, a tear filled Raghavan hugged Raju and asked him to
make three teas.

             The tea was the same, without any sugar.Chottu was baffled to see that people liked the tea her despite no sugar.

Chotu later asked
Raju,'Bhaiya, give me twenty rupees. I will buy two kilos of sugar. The
sugar dabba has been empty for a long time and you have not noticed it.
How do the people like the tea here? No sugar at all.'

Raju on hearing this laughed and replied-' sweetness is not in the sugar but in your words and actions'