Just my cup of tea

"Looks like we're out of sugar." I told my mom-in-law.

Wait a minute... we're out of sugar?? I asked myself. And it was a surprising fact because since I can remember, we have never been out of sugar. And then I figured it out -- I usually don't put sugar in anything, and that's why it seems like it lasts forever. But since the in-laws are here, we have all been drinking copious amounts of tea and that's why we are out of sugar. I love it. I love the idea that we're actually out of sugar. I love the idea that we have a use for sugar. I love the whole 'ghar par chai banti hai' idea. Strange, considering that I'm not even a fan of tea. Sometimes I prefer just making it to drinking it. But the whole concept of chai feels good. Feels hospitable, cosy, warm. Homely.

And the smell of masala tea is just so heavenly. More than the taste itself, the smell is therapeutic. I like to boil the cardamom and the cinnamon and the bay leaves with the tea when making masala tea. None of that instant masala tea powder nonsense for me. In fact, to the annoyance of some of my Singaporean friends, I say, "This is masala tea? Chheh! You should come home for real masala tea." And so it's absolutely great that the in-laws love my masala tea. Actually my Dad-in-law has a very strict policy on my masala tea. It's called 'Never say no'. All I have to say is "Chai?" Any time of the day. Any day of the week. I love it. There's nothing like sitting down, sipping tea and chatting with family. Throw in pakoras if it's raining and you've got a party going.

When I was a kid, Mom used to have a cup of tea every morning. In fact, she couldn't function without it. Dad, on the other hand, is literally a 'tea-totaller'. He used to drink a glass of milk every day with my sister and me (of course, in my case, a lot of it fed the plants, but that's a whole other story). In fact, once Mom was away, and my Dad lacked the inclination and skills to make lunch, and so had 2 litres of milk. For lunch. Yup, that's my Dad.

And so, since our childhood, Dad has been telling my sister and me of the evil addiction that tea is. Strange, considering my sister drinks tea every day. In fact, my sister is so virgo about her chai that I don't even dare to make her a cup because in the world of virgos, putting 2 nanolitres of milk less, or boiling it for 2 nanoseconds more, or not covering it for exactly 13.2 seconds before serving it 'ruins the tea'. Apparently. Too stressful I say. Make your own. And she does.

I'm not too sure if Dad knows she has crossed over to the dark side though. He still warns me about tea over the phone all the time. In fact, if you were to listen to one of my phone conversations with Dad, you'd think my Mom was a hard-core drug addict.

Dad - She's addicted, you know. There's nothing I can do.
Me - Dad, please...
Dad - No seriously. She tried to give it up, but she started having... what do you call it??
Me (wearily) - Withdrawal symptoms...
Dad - Yes yes! Withdrawal symptoms! And then she went right back. It's an evil addiction.
Me - Sigh...
Dad - Wait, you don't have tea at all, do you?
Me (pausing to sip my tea) - Not at all, Dad.

Well, that's kind of true. Tea only features in my home menu when parents or in-laws are here. Viv and I don't drink tea, so it's nice to have someone to make it for. The best part is that since we moved into the new house, we have reserved a room for the parents. The idea is to have each set visit us by rotation and stay with us for a couple of months each year. And so I know that there will be free flow of 'ghar ki chai' all year round.

It's a comforting thought.

Chai ho!