Express Chai

Our place, Express Chai, is at House No.36/48. It’s on Street No 47, just off the Mehrauli Badarpur Road. We are right there in Badarpur. It’s quite close to the toll tax area, so it gets very busy. You can hear the trucks and cars all day long. It's a bit dusty because of the road work, but we manage. The shop is small and we keep it as tidy as we can. We spend most of our time boiling water and getting things ready. The stove stays hot from morning until we close up at night. There are a few benches for people to sit if they have a minute. We get all kinds of people, from drivers to office folks. Some are in a hurry, others like to chat. The walls have a few old calendars on them. We don't have fancy decorations or anything. It’s just a regular spot for tea. Sometimes the rain makes the street a bit messy, but customers still find their way to us. We’ve got the regular milk crates stacked in the corner. It's a local shop through and through. We use simple glasses and big pots. Every morning starts with cleaning the counters. It’s a lot of work, but it keeps us busy. We like the rhythm of the street outside. It feels like we are part of the neighborhood.