Capital Tea

This shop is right at Plot No- 120 in the Kalathiya Industrial Estate. If you know Diamond Nagar Part-2, you know it is mostly factories and big warehouses around here. Being on Kamrej Road means there is always a lot of heavy truck traffic and the sound of machines running in the background. I start the day by sweeping the front because the dust from the industrial units settles on everything overnight. We have a big stove and some large pots because the workers from the nearby factories come in big groups during their breaks. It is mostly a lot of standing and pouring tea into small cups as fast as possible. The walls are painted a dull color and there are stacks of tea chests piled up near the back door. It gets very loud around noon when everyone is out on the street. I don't have time for much talking, just nodding and making sure everyone gets what they asked for. The air smells like diesel and tea leaves most of the time. My apron gets dirty pretty quick but that is just part of working in an industrial area like this. We have a small fan that doesn't do much against the heat, but we leave it on anyway. It’s a busy spot and we just try to keep up with the morning and evening rushes. The pace never really slows down until the sun starts to go down over the sheds.