Designer Teas.....

Blogger friend Braja posting this as part of the Thursday Challenge series (subject : blue). A platform tea stall at a wayside railway station Krish(na)nagar, in West Bengal, or should I now say Poschim Bonga....

As she says :

"Beyond rustic simplicity...the stove top smeared with cow-dung for purity; a hole in the top holding hot coals; a pot that you'd only find in an antique store in the western countries; the smell of freshly brewed chai, served in tiny clay cups, complete with creamy milk and the perfect amount of sugar. Cost, 1 rupee. Experience, priceless..."

(photograph by Braja Sorenson)
....and sitting
on your haunches,
crinkled eyes,
a bit of
blowing
into the tea
spraying
into your moustache;
the ginger
invigorates,
as you have
your daily
worldless conversation,
with
a
lifelong friend,
who helps you row
your boat across,
day after day......

In High Places.......

Ghatkopar is one of suburban Mumbai's busiest railway stations. In an outstanding display of how national resources are shared on a rainy day , two hitherto urban cows, venture up on the overbridge to experience how it feels to come up in the world.

Photo by Harish Krishnan of Blogadda on his daily commute.







Children
trailing with parents,
dragged to school
across the
Ghatkopar railway
overbridge
on a windy, rainy
actually wonderful day.






This mother,
missing her childhood
meadows,
greens and rivers,
shows the kid
the fun
of looking at
a bovine image
in a
rain puddle
on the bridge....

She hears
an announcement
on
the PA system,
and rubs the
Calf's forehead
indulgently...
the Go-"shala" ****
at Ghatkopar East
has declared a holiday today .....


****Goshala : shelter and residence for cows
"shala" : Marathi for "school"