The Perfect Cuppa

"Take care, Ji. Bye, Pari beta. See you in a week," said Dadi to Dadu and me, waving as her taxi pulled away from the gate.

- Niveditha Reddy

"Kamala! Wait! Did you tell anyone how to make my chai?" Dadu called out, but the taxi was already at the end of the road.

"Arey, Dadu! Don't worry. There are so many of us at home to make tea for you - Ramji, Mom, Dad, and I, of course," I said.

"Nobody knows how to make tea like Dadi," Dadu said, sadly shaking his head.

I had seen only my Dadi make tea for Dadu. Since she wasn't allowed to take phone calls for the next week during her yoga retreat, we couldn't call her to get her tea recipe.

"Sa'ab, your chai is ready!" our cook, Ramji, called out to Dadu, prompting us to get back into the house.

I got started with my homework while Dadu took a sip from his cup of chai.

"Ack!" exclaimed Dadu after taking a sip. What was that weird expression on his face?

"Sa'ab, I made the chai kadak, with extra tea leaves the Assam variety. Is it not good?" Ramji asked Dadu worriedly.

Dadu quickly smiled. "Arey nah. I like it. It's just a little too kadak."

After Ramji left, I went over to Dadu. "Dadu, did you like the chai? Shall I make you a fresh cup?"

"Mera baccha! Don't worry. The tea is great! I'll go enjoy it on my balcony," he said, much to my relief, before he walked over to his room.

That evening, when Mom and Dad returned from work, they were surprised to see Dadu asleep on the sofa.

"Is Dadu unwell?" Dad asked me.

"He seems fine, Dad. Just sleepy," I said, clearing up my books from the table.

As Dadu stirred awake, Mom called out to Dadu from the kitchen.

"Papaji, will you have chai?"

"Yes yes, Anita beta. I need a good cup to wake me up," said Dadu before turning to Dad.

"Vikram, when is the India - Australia match? Damodar has called me to his house to watch it with him," said Dadu, a die-hard cricket fan.

"It is this Sunday, Papa."