by Aloke Mookerjee
This piece was written a long time back. A recent short trip to Goa during which a visit to the lovely ‘Mario’ shop in Candolim where amongst all the wonderful Mario Miranda themed items, was a picture of a lovable dog holding a flower by the stem between its teeth. Its caption was so very appropriate to my article that I felt the urge to include it.
Ghatia Tea Estate, bordering Bhutan in the Dooars was, at that time, a small compact plantation of 900 acres with a well laid out factory that boasted of two functional gates – the IN and the OUT! Not to be outdone, the factory building also had its own two entry/exit doors; one at the drying room and the other at the rolling room.
As the 'KAMJARI SAAB' of Ghatia, I was required to be at the office in the afternoons after my field work, to dispense with the day's paper work and dole out the minor 'bichars'* to workers who appeared before me after having escaped the Burra Saab's severe growls and snarls! Through all these proceedings my yellow Labrador Tippy would remain quietly by my side.
Having dispensed with the chores, I would walk down to the factory, with Tippy following at heel, and enter the premises through the drying room door. On my instruction, Tippy would sit outside and wait for me to reappear which I invariably did from the same door. We would then walk back together to the bungalow for the now long gone ritual of evening tea in the veranda!
One balmy October evening, after completing my office work, I entered the factory, with Tippy, as usual, sitting and waiting outside the drying room door. Inside, engrossed in an animated (and typically irrelevant) conversation with the 'Kal' Saab (as the Mistry Saabs in the Dooars were known as) I forgot my devoted dog and left for my bungalow by exiting through the rolling room door.
In the bungalow veranda, the vintage trolley pushed on by my vintage bearer creaked out laden with the pot of tea, cakes and curry puffs. After the busy work day, peace and quiet prevailed. A feeling of well-being was seeping through me gently while relishing the spread prepared by the old ‘Mog’ cook (I seemed to have specialised in old and dated house help!). Despite the tranquillity in the air all around, a feeling of something amiss kept nagging me.
Over my second cup and curry puff, the nagging suddenly yielded results and the benign mood jolted on realizing that my drooling and lovable Labrador by my side was missing! I left my tea instantly and rushed out fearing the worst – that she might be lost, wandering and desperately looking for me. I headed quickly, first for the drying room door where I had last left Tippy waiting.
I needed to look no further for there she was still sitting in exactly the same position as I had last seen her, only now with a distinctly forlorn gaze at the door! Ecstatic at the sound of my urgent call and appearance, she bounded up jumping all over me as we quickly began our walk back with her romping by my side in doggy delight.
Back in the bungalow, Tippy earned a well-deserved extra share of cakes and curry puffs that evening. Elated by the larger than usual helping of the delectable treats, I was happily granted a full pardon and my serious (never to be repeated) sin quickly forgotten.
Tippy lived on for many more years greedy for ripened bananas, curry puffs and cream cakes. She now lies in peace under a luxuriant (still the same I hope) Mary Palmer in the compound of the Borjuli Burra Bungalow in the North Bank of Assam.
Is this your first visit here? Welcome to Indian Chai Stories!
Do you have a chai story of your own to share?
Send it to me here, please : indianchaistories@gmail.com.
My name is Gowri Mohanakrishnan and I'm a tea planter's wife. I started this blog because one of the things that I wouldn't want us to lose in a fast changing world is the tea story - a story always told with great seriousness, no matter how funny - always true (always), maybe a tall tale, long, or short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull. There are over 120 stories of tea life here, all written by people who have lived in tea gardens.
Meet the writer: Aloke Mookerjee
Here's what Aloke has to say about himself : 'Long retired from tea, but still active in business. Even after all these years, tea remains to live strongly in my thoughts; they were the best years of my life. Other interests? Always loved Jazz music - still do and have written about this incredible genre. Love vintage airplanes (thus my love for Dakotas!) and cars, and intend to make this my next focus.' Here is the link to all posts by Aloke - Stories by Aloke Mookerjee
Aloke has recently published a book, The Jazz Bug, which is available on Amazon. Read about it here: https://notionpress.com/read/the-jazz-bug?fbclid=IwAR2HjxSU2rY6sq5cX_lzBxJY5oat1i_Z22qKdRRP1Tm77Dqp48B2CAlnGvY
This piece was written a long time back. A recent short trip to Goa during which a visit to the lovely ‘Mario’ shop in Candolim where amongst all the wonderful Mario Miranda themed items, was a picture of a lovable dog holding a flower by the stem between its teeth. Its caption was so very appropriate to my article that I felt the urge to include it.
As the 'KAMJARI SAAB' of Ghatia, I was required to be at the office in the afternoons after my field work, to dispense with the day's paper work and dole out the minor 'bichars'* to workers who appeared before me after having escaped the Burra Saab's severe growls and snarls! Through all these proceedings my yellow Labrador Tippy would remain quietly by my side.
Having dispensed with the chores, I would walk down to the factory, with Tippy following at heel, and enter the premises through the drying room door. On my instruction, Tippy would sit outside and wait for me to reappear which I invariably did from the same door. We would then walk back together to the bungalow for the now long gone ritual of evening tea in the veranda!
One balmy October evening, after completing my office work, I entered the factory, with Tippy, as usual, sitting and waiting outside the drying room door. Inside, engrossed in an animated (and typically irrelevant) conversation with the 'Kal' Saab (as the Mistry Saabs in the Dooars were known as) I forgot my devoted dog and left for my bungalow by exiting through the rolling room door.
In the bungalow veranda, the vintage trolley pushed on by my vintage bearer creaked out laden with the pot of tea, cakes and curry puffs. After the busy work day, peace and quiet prevailed. A feeling of well-being was seeping through me gently while relishing the spread prepared by the old ‘Mog’ cook (I seemed to have specialised in old and dated house help!). Despite the tranquillity in the air all around, a feeling of something amiss kept nagging me.
Over my second cup and curry puff, the nagging suddenly yielded results and the benign mood jolted on realizing that my drooling and lovable Labrador by my side was missing! I left my tea instantly and rushed out fearing the worst – that she might be lost, wandering and desperately looking for me. I headed quickly, first for the drying room door where I had last left Tippy waiting.
I needed to look no further for there she was still sitting in exactly the same position as I had last seen her, only now with a distinctly forlorn gaze at the door! Ecstatic at the sound of my urgent call and appearance, she bounded up jumping all over me as we quickly began our walk back with her romping by my side in doggy delight.
Back in the bungalow, Tippy earned a well-deserved extra share of cakes and curry puffs that evening. Elated by the larger than usual helping of the delectable treats, I was happily granted a full pardon and my serious (never to be repeated) sin quickly forgotten.
Tippy lived on for many more years greedy for ripened bananas, curry puffs and cream cakes. She now lies in peace under a luxuriant (still the same I hope) Mary Palmer in the compound of the Borjuli Burra Bungalow in the North Bank of Assam.
Do you have a chai story of your own to share?
Send it to me here, please : indianchaistories@gmail.com.
My name is Gowri Mohanakrishnan and I'm a tea planter's wife. I started this blog because one of the things that I wouldn't want us to lose in a fast changing world is the tea story - a story always told with great seriousness, no matter how funny - always true (always), maybe a tall tale, long, or short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull. There are over 120 stories of tea life here, all written by people who have lived in tea gardens.
Add this link to your favourites: https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/
Happy reading! Cheers to the spirit of Indian Tea!
Meet the writer: Aloke Mookerjee
Here's what Aloke has to say about himself : 'Long retired from tea, but still active in business. Even after all these years, tea remains to live strongly in my thoughts; they were the best years of my life. Other interests? Always loved Jazz music - still do and have written about this incredible genre. Love vintage airplanes (thus my love for Dakotas!) and cars, and intend to make this my next focus.' Here is the link to all posts by Aloke - Stories by Aloke Mookerjee
Aloke has recently published a book, The Jazz Bug, which is available on Amazon. Read about it here: https://notionpress.com/read/the-jazz-bug?fbclid=IwAR2HjxSU2rY6sq5cX_lzBxJY5oat1i_Z22qKdRRP1Tm77Dqp48B2CAlnGvY
A treat.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteAloke, delightful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Roma
DeleteHow can we ever live without our loyal, loveable mutts? Enjoyed this woofy tale!
ReplyDeleteAgree. However, we have decided no more after my old dog now 16+ goes. Too much to bear when they eventually depart. I cant take it any more.
DeleteIt's always so lovely to read your recollections and stories,Mithoo Uncle .They remind me if such lovely times and I can almost imagine Papa relating similar stories .He had so many lovely anecdotes and stories.Wish he had lived into the WhatsApp and FB era where he would have loved to connect and regale everyone with his memories....I remember Tippy .Lovely fellow! Thank you so much for yet another heart warming recollection.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Neema
DeleteIt's always so lovely to read your recollections and stories,Mithoo Uncle .They remind me if such lovely times and I can almost imagine Papa relating similar stories .He had so many lovely anecdotes and stories.Wish he had lived into the WhatsApp and FB era where he would have loved to connect and regale everyone with his memories....I remember Tippy .Lovely fellow! Thank you so much for yet another heart warming recollection.
ReplyDelete