Chai & Thanda Cafe

Chai & Thanda Cafe is a small spot at U 196 along Vikas Marg in Lakshmi Nagar. It’s not much more than a counter and a few benches, but it’s our place. We spend our days boiling milk for tea and keeping the fridge stocked with cold drinks for the students who go to the coaching centers nearby. The noise from Lakshmi Nagar is constant, with rickshaws and bikes buzzing past the front door all day long. We have a small stove that never seems to turn off, and the walls are a bit darkened from the smoke over the years. It’s a humble setup, and we don't have any fancy signs or advertisements. People find us because they want a quick break from the heat or a hot cup of chai while they wait for the bus. We handle everything ourselves, from cleaning the glasses to picking up the milk packets in the morning. Sometimes it gets so crowded that people are standing out on the sidewalk, but nobody seems to mind much. We aren't trying to change the world or build a brand; we just like the routine of serving our neighbors and watching the city go by from our little corner on Vikas Marg. It’s a honest day’s work, even if our aprons are always a bit stained by the end of it.