Author: Sandeep | YogiWrites.co.in
A soulful and witty reflection on an unexpected encounter with a chai wala that left a lasting impact. This is a story about ego, simplicity, and the kind of wisdom you won’t find in any self-help book.
The Railway Station Morning That Rewired My Ego
It wasn’t a “golden sunrise” kind of day.
It was more of a sweaty-Indian-summer-at-5:40am kind of morning. The kind that smells like old metal, warm paav, and dreams delayed by two hours thanks to Indian Railways.
I was stranded at Pune Junction, carrying more pride than luggage. Wearing an over-ironed linen kurta that screamed “I’ve read Osho AND Eckhart Tolle”, I was on my way to conduct a workshop on “Spiritual Entrepreneurship”—don’t laugh, it’s a thing.
As I waited for my eternally late train, the universe, in its usual mischievous style, decided to school me. And it did so through a man with a tin kettle and broken chappals.
The Chai That Slapped My Soul Awake
He rolled his cart with that classic rhythm only chai wala know—half melody, half hustle.
“Chaaaaiiiiii… garam chaaaaiii…”
He sang like he didn’t care who was listening, yet somehow, everyone listened.
I was scrolling on my phone, crafting a perfectly pretentious Instagram caption about “stillness in chaos”, when he looked straight at me and said,
“Bhaiya, aapko garam chai chahiye ya gyaan?”
(Do you want hot tea or wisdom?)
I blinked. “Both?” I joked, laughing nervously.
He smirked and said, “Toh dono ₹10 mein milta hai. Lekin gyaan thoda kadwa hoga.”
(Both cost ₹10. But the wisdom might be bitter.)
Now you have to respect a man who sells enlightenment with his elaichi.
He handed me a kulhad of chai. No sugar. No napkin. Just raw, spiced, hot perspective in terracotta.
Our 5-Minute Conversation That Humbled Me More Than Years of ‘Work’
I asked him casually, “How long you been doing this?”
He replied without flinching, “24 saal. 3 shaadiyan. 2 heartbreaks. 1 lungi. Aur ek samajh:
Zindagi ka asli swaad garam chai jaisa hota hai — uska maza tabhi aata hai jab thoda jalaata hai.”
(Life tastes best like hot tea — you only enjoy it after it burns a bit.)
I stared, then laughed, but not the ha-ha kind. The what-the-hell-did-I-just-hear kind.
He asked what I did. I told him I help people build spiritual businesses.
He nodded, stirred the next cup, and said,
“Toh aap toh modern sadhu ho. Lekin sadhu hone se pehle, chapal sambhalni padti hai. Aur kabhi kabhi, dhool mein chalna padta hai.”
(Then you’re a modern sage. But before being a sage, you’ve got to learn to manage your slippers—and sometimes, walk in dust.)
Slap. Ego. Cracked. Wide. Open.
The Unexpected Zen of a Tea Seller
We look for gurus in ashrams, but sometimes, they’re wearing vests stained with chai and wisdom.
This man, nameless and unpaid by likes or LinkedIn endorsements, knew more about groundedness than most bestselling “coaches” ever will.
It reminded me:
Humility is not a virtue you read about. It’s what you taste when someone who earns in coins teaches you something your MBA couldn’t.
There’s a sacred kind of silence that follows such moments — the kind where even your mind shuts up and just nods in surrender.
Why This Matters in Your Life (Yes, You, Scroller)
You don’t have to wait for a Himalayan trip to find clarity.
Maybe your “guru moment” is waiting at your bus stop, behind a dosa counter, or in a chai stall near your office.
We’re often too busy looking up to realize the truth is sitting right below, cross-legged, smiling with stained teeth and a cracked kettle.
Our ego wants mentors in suits.
Our soul? It seeks mirrors in the humble.
Next time life feels too complicated, get off your high horse and order a ₹10 kulhad. And listen.
You’ll be surprised who the universe sends to teach you what the textbooks missed.
And A Final Stirring Thought
I boarded that train eventually. But I left something behind—my superiority.
And I carried something precious with me—a reminder that true greatness isn’t loud, it’s kind.
It doesn’t wear brands. It carries a kettle.
Until next time,
Keep your soul grounded. And your tea kadak.
The next masterclass might just come with a biscuit.
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