Vada Pav aur Chai - A Story of Routine

'Bhaiya, ek vada pav aur chai laga dijiye.' the constant ringing of this very phrase, the sound of the traffic merges with the voices of students, employees and clamour of labour all chattering amongst themselves. Shree Siddheshwar Wadewale, a small snack centre with a few high tables for customers to place their food on, is a place I discovered through a friend and have not stopped visiting since. Every time I go, I find something new to love about this place, from the regular employees to the adorable dog nearby. Despite the constant traffic considering how close the airport is, the place has a sense of peace and quiet. It is one of the very few things that stay constant around here. Between assignments and extra-curricular activities, having a cup of kadak chai with a spicy vada pav dipped in the tangy chutney, can bring the right amount of motivation to finish the task. People-watching while blasting music and taking a short break has never been this rejuvenating. I, personally, like to think of what the others would be discussing or thinking about. Would they be stressed about a project? Or are they planning their trip back home? Are they just eating quickly before a meeting or a class? Or are they people watching and possibly thinking about my life, too? 

The more you look around, the more you realise that almost all of us are living in a set framework, wake up, go to work/college, come back, think about work/college, sleep and repeat. Most times, we forget to take a moment and just breathe. Going over for a quick snack here feels like that breath of fresh air, the break from all work-related thoughts. No assignments, no projects, no problems, just me and a cup of garam chai. It is fascinating how people from all backgrounds, each with their own set of problems and experiences can bond over something as simple and common as vada pav and chai. There is something extremely unique about this combination that holds so much comfort, like a warm blanket on a cold winter morning.  

The calm Pune breeze mixed with the loud chatter from the college nearby fades away as the first sip hits my throat, my music suddenly takes over and all my worries fade away. After a few minutes, I remove my earphones and focus on the people around me. The smiles and laughs from fellow college students, and the employees of the offices nearby unwinding before they head back home, all take me back to the circle of life and how we tend to make our lives monotonous. It is the little things that can completely change your day and that has always been extremely fascinating to me. Who knew a cup of kadak chai and vada pav, from a specific place, could make a new city feel like home within seconds?