There has to be one post on the things we love – and we crave for. Especially when we are specifically asked to refrain from them and they constantly nudge our brain and never leave our thought. These are the things you consume on daily basis and then they become a part of you and your personality. For me, Chai (tea) is one such thing without which the day doesn’t seem to start. Hence, it is important to shed some light as to why do I love chai? I mean koi reason tou ho :O)

If there is anything I miss during fast – it is chai 😐 Not that I am chain-chai-drinker (what a beautiful term I have just invented :)) but a cup of tea sorts of kick start a day. A chai is not just a drink – it is much more than that. It is the reason for colleagues to meet at 10 am and gossip about the latest office happenings. It makes sure that the family is well-bonded when all the working members come home in the evening and want a little time out. It is one thing you give to your loved ones when they are down with a headache or a fever and this comes out as the only life saver.

Let me also remind you that it was chai (tea) that made sub-continent a colony back in 1600 when the Englishmen established East India Company. They had three basic objectives 1) Trading for Spices (they introduced us to the tea and then we hooked on to it like an addict :/ 2) Exploration 3) Colonization. We didn’t know their intentions back then but the chai has the power to rule the world.

Honestly, I don’t even recall since when I became addicted to tea but there are so many sweet memories associated with it. This chai has given me some great friends at work. One of my bosses used to say that the best workplace is the one where you have your best friends. They give you a reason to be happy and stay rooted – chai refuels friendship. Everyone seems to be venting out well when this little monster is in our hands.

During this entire wedding process in Pakistan, most of many important things get settled over a cup of tea. From the first meeting session (which I personally do not approve of but still :/ ) till the very end, this one drink sorts out all the challenges that are there to make a wedding happen.

At my home, we make doodh patti, that is we don’t add water to the milk. But at my parents’ place, they make mixed tea using water – the usual method of making that kind of tea. Can you believe that my mother-in-law never likes the taste of the tea being made at my mommy’s because she believes it is not well-made? and my mother always avoid having tea at my home because she finds it too thick and filling? She says that the tea at my house is a meal in itself – lol – no doubt I had an effusive louve marriage :p

Chai has given us a great opportunity to make up with each other whenever husband and I had an argument. During the initial years of my marriage, we used to live on the first floor of a rented house. It was very close to the airport so after every half an hour or so, there would be an aircraft landing right over our terrace. Can you imagine that the main highlight of our weekend was the tea session we used to have on the terrace ??? while looking at the sky and talking about aircrafts, their optimum speed, the time we spend at our offices, and life in general.

Plane landing right over the terrace…!

Husband experimenting with his camera while juxtaposing myself with the terrace … later he started calling me a bhoot, lol

I will always cherish those chai session on that terrace.

Tea is actually a big deal in a Pakistani household. Everyone seems to be hooked on to it and it provides that perfect me-time we all want. It has the power to cure the wounded souls and a splitting head!

I hope you are enjoying your cup of tea exactly the same way as I am while writing this post.

Stay strong and happy until then 🙂