Nagesh Pillai

I came to Mumbai at the age of 18 in 1991, and Chembur was my first and last stop. The first cutting chai I sold back in the day, was priced at 60 paise, and today it's ₹10. Woh zamana gaya abhi.

For more than 35 years now, I've been selling tea in this locality. A good part of this time, nearly 24 years, was spent on the Highway (Sion-Teombay road, near Guru Prasad Bar & Restaurant), and the later part here (next to SBI Swastik Park branch Sindhi society).

From 5 A.M. to 7 P.M., this shop is where I've been for more than two decades, each day everyday. Be it Mumbai's relentless downpour or the scorching heat, I'm in front of the stove, except for a short lunch and nap break between 12 P.M. to 2 P.M.

While you'll also get Sheera, Poha, Idli, Medu Vada, Dosa and Uttapa during the morning hours, and tea, coffee and Ukala throughout the day, tea is MY USP. The taste of my chai has stayed the same over the years as I've never used any flavours. Tea leaves, sugar, milk and ginger, that's my recipe for a perfect tea.

People usually inform me about a new Yewale Tea, Nagori Tea or Irani cafe opening nearby, but it doesn't bother me much because my customers are fixed. People drink my tea for the taste. Yes, sales have been affected due to the competition, but that's part and parcel of the business.

Bhagwan ne sab ko pet diya hai.

But one thing is evident, that the business over the years has changed. Earlier, we delivered tea in vatis. My workers carried around 25 vati on flat thali. Either, you delivered the tea and waited for the vessel to get empty, or you took another round to collect them.

Back then, most of these officewallah (customers from corporate offices) used to come to my shop to have tea. Now we have to deliver it to their desks. From glass cups to use-and-throw paper cups and from vati to polythene bags, things have changed a lot.

And that's exactly why the next generation isn't ready to get in this business. They feel the reward isn't worth the toil. Standing in front of the stove for the whole day, while also managing customers, workers, transactions, phone calls etc. it isn't for the weak.

Aaj kal ek bacche ek din khade rahengey to sar ka pasina pair tak aa jaega.

Now I'm almost 65, but I don't have any plans to retire. Till the time I'm healthy, I'll keep working. Yes, things get difficult as you age but once you go easy on yourself, your health dwindles.

Baki kya hai, upar se call aa gaya na to usko uktane ka he hai, usme cut karna ka option nahi hai.