Jai Mata Di Tea Stall

This tea stall is out in Jhotwara, over at Shop It Road in Pandit Ji Ki Dhani, Harinagar. It’s a modest little place, mostly just a bench and the big brass kettle on the burner. We spend the whole day boiling water with ginger, cardamom, and plenty of tea leaves. The smell of the tea brewing carries quite a way down the road. Most of our customers are people working nearby or drivers passing through who need a quick break. We serve the tea in small glasses, and it’s usually boiling hot. It’s not a place for a long fancy meal, just a spot for a quick cup and maybe a biscuit. The dust from the road sometimes settles on the benches, so we wipe them down whenever we get a spare second. There’s always someone standing around talking about the weather or the news. We don’t have a sign that lights up or anything like that. People just know we are here because the kettle is always steaming. It’s a small operation, just a couple of us handling the stove and the washing up. When the rain comes, people huddle under the small overhang to stay dry while they finish their tea. It’s a simple way to spend the day, watching the world go by from this little corner of Harinagar. We’ve been here for years and the stove rarely goes out before sunset.