Joys of tea and monsoon
The monsoon clouds on the horizon and the hot cup of tea in hand have always mesmerised me beyond description. In these months, when the rain-laden-clouds hover in the sky, the tea intake goes up and sipping it all through the day, especially in the morning and evening sessions, gives a virtual kick. Dharmendra S Rataul writes.
The monsoon clouds on the horizon and the hot cup of tea in hand have always mesmerised me beyond description. In these months, when the rain-laden-clouds hover in the sky, the tea intake goes up and sipping it all through the day, especially in the morning and evening sessions, gives a virtual kick.
I still recall my days at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. Tea was part and parcel of our hostel life as discussions in the campus' intellectually-stimulating environment used to run till past midnight.
From Shah Rukh Khan to Hollywood and US foreign policy to South Asian countries' cooperation, all were issues of a heated debate, not without the unending tea sessions.
The thick vegetation of The Ridge, on which the JNU campus is located, used to smell heavenly, with tea adding to the flavour. The evergreen campus used to blossom, and humidity was beaten with mugs of tea. Unforgettable. During those days, Bill Clinton used to be a matter of intense interest and discussions, and with that the tea sessions, too, were prolonged.
Later, in the busy life, I hardly noticed taking tea, but whenever it rains, I am delighted to share a cup with family members and friends. Among various work places, Shimla was an exciting place where the thick forests have their own charm during the monsoon. The rainy season lasts a bit longer here in comparison to the plains, and so does the intake of tea.
On the picturesque Khalsa College campus in Amritsar, which is my work place these days, the greenery is a perfect canvas for my tea sessions. From the windows, the clouds rise and so does the urge to sip tea. When it rains, tea becomes such a cherished drink. Usually, friends and acquaintances complain about the habit, saying that people usually take tea more during the winter, but it has not impressed me much. For me, the wet season and tea always go together.