Maa Kamakhya Tea Company

Maa Kamakhya Tea Company is situated in Motihari, near the Jama Masjid. It is a part of the Post Office Motihari area in the Tehsil. The masjid is a big landmark, so we always hear the call to prayer throughout the day. It’s a very old part of town. The streets are paved with bricks in some places and they get quite muddy when it rains. We have a shop that is filled with the scent of tea. It’s a deep, earthy smell that sticks to your clothes. We don't have any bright neon signs. The name is just painted on a wooden board above the door. Inside, we have sacks of tea piled up. We spend a lot of time weighing them out and talking to the people who come in. Motihari can be quite dusty, so we are always wiping down the jars and the table. It’s not a glamorous job. We have simple stools to sit on and an old fan that makes a clicking noise. The area near the masjid is always lively. There are vendors selling fruit and clothes just a few steps away. We like being part of this neighborhood. We know the other shopkeepers and we look out for each other. When the day ends, we pull down the metal gate and lock it with a big padlock. It feels good to finish a day’s work and head home through the familiar streets. The evenings are usually a bit cooler.