Chai Point

This shop is right on Alandi Road in Yeshwantpur. If you know the area, you know it gets quite busy with all the people moving through. We open up early because that is when people seem to want their tea the most. The stove stays on for most of the day and there is always a pot of something brewing. It’s not a very big space, so we have to stay organized or we end up bumping into each other behind the counter. We use a lot of ginger and tea leaves every single week. The floor gets a bit dusty from the road outside, so we are constantly grabbing the broom. It’s a practical kind of place. We don't have comfortable sofas or anything; it’s more for people who are on their way somewhere and need a quick stop. We've seen a lot of changes on Alandi Road over the years but our little corner stays pretty much the same. Sometimes we run out of biscuits or the change in the till gets low, but we just sort it out. It's just work for us, and we try to do it right without making a big deal out of it. We like the regulars who stop by for a chat every morning. It makes the long shifts go by a bit faster. There isn't much more to it than that. We just keep the water boiling and the tea flowing.