My Cup of Tea

It was a busy Monday pre noon, mostly we used to crave for a cup of tea to get relieved from the Monday morning blues but the tea boy who used to fetch us the elixir of that moment not yet arrived, heard someone shouting on the nos they have done on the conference floor, it’s usual every end of the month, they would show the pipeline and the funnel into target and would claim for the incentives, finally they would get settled in a cup of tea.

The pain erupted some where in the back of my spine two hours before crept silently and took the back of my neck spreading to the middle of my head unto the forehead and to my brows unable to open my eyes, it was all usual on a month end Monday. I spread my palm flat pressing it on my forehead as it was all over supporting to my head tracing through the hair with my finger tips searching for the exact place which was the root cause of my pain.

I used to boast myself of this self therapy and even tried with some of my colleague which was a failure, I believe this therapy can be applied only for me not to others. Some one asked me what the hell has happened to the tea vendor, I replied them back thrusting out my lower lip. I know it was unusual, the boy would turn up ever sharply, with a small grin on his face he would visit each and every one wishing them morning, sir tea!.

What he would get from this little bit of money working hard rising up early, buying milk from the local dairy, cycling hours to reach us, will he save to buy a home for himself, or he would get married, I wonder! Never had I thought of him so deep, it seems his absence has induced me to see the pros & cons of his livelihood.

How can he smile and greet every one showing ultimate affection to everyone for this meager income, again I get into his monetary part of his physical existence, I again wonder, will anybody show so much love to everyone being a tea vendor, I have admired his hygiene when ever he come to deliver us, on white shirts & dhoti, I even wondered how he maintains his attire with this low benefits of his business.

I heard footsteps crossing the lobby going out in search of good tea, its unusual scene in my history of my office we never had a lapse or absence of the tea vendor, as if the tea boy has stressed the importance of him by taking a day leave, I got irritated, I am not a person easily get provoked, but I am not in a temperament to hold my common sense, I murmured I would put this boy in place.

The peon came over running calling me I have a phone call, I was about to leave for a break, it was Murugan the tea vendor on the line, he was very apologetic, he said in a low voice that he is unable to come today please bear with the inconvenience. I asked what happened he said his mother was no more, and he broke, I don’t know what to say, he is such an wonderful guy, he never been late, anytime a smile on his face, not for money, the money he earn won’t do anything to change his life but simply can pay for his existence, he loves his profession, he loves us all, he believes his smile and his cup of tea soothes us and enlivens us, because he loves us more than anything. It stroked my mind he too has a mom and he has nothing done to her.