Bungalows that became homes

Hello again, dear readers!

Delighted to welcome you all to take a Sunday evening ramble with Gumi Malhotra. When I read this lovely little tale by Gumi, I was transported to another time and place …as I’m sure you will be. Don’t lose any time before you start reading, because you do want to be back in time for that cup of tea!! Cheers! - Gowri

by Gumi Malhotra

Transfers in tea meant a change or tweak in work environment for the husband, a different club for games, a new set of friends for us but most importantly for me, a new home. There was excitement and trepidation in equal measure about the new abode. I’m saying new but the bungalows we moved into had seen a multitude of families and bachelors make these handsome and somewhat weathered rooms into households.

The thrill of seeing an antique writing table, a new refrigerator and a well landscaped garden fully compensated for a rusted bathtub or a gloomy kitchen, the latter of which I luckily never saw much of!

Each family left something of themselves in these homes. Nails on the walls, which were dealt ferociously with pliers and paint, but occasionally one spotted sweet reminders of past inhabitants in the form of tiny marks on the wall marking the height progression of growing children. In tradition, one enjoyed a favorite dish of the previous family taught to the cook by the lady of the house.

There will always be a special house for all of us, for me it was the Chota bungalow in Nahortoli TE. It was a small cottage with the most charming garden which transformed from shades of green in summer to a blaze of colour in winter. This was Imaan’s first home where he had his first chaotic birthday party and like every hapless kid in tea, adults far outnumbered the children and alcohol flowed more freely than orange squash!

We spent three idyllic years in this bungalow and I would like to believe that it will always be a bit of mine.

Meet the writer: Gumi Malhotra

Hello chai people, here’s another attempt to pen down one of the million memories I carry with me. We came away twelve years ago with our hearts full ( not so much the pocket) of such nuggets. We live in Bangalore now and what started as a hobby in the gardens has become my calling. I paint pet portraits. The happiest days spent in tea were in the Jali kamra with my paints, the boys occupied with make believe cars and a steady stream of tea flowing from the kitchen. Cheers!

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 in 2018 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, maybe long, short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull.

You will find yourself transported to another world! This is the link to all the stories on this blog: https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/ Be sure to add it to your list of favourites! Happyreading!! Cheers to the spirit of Indian tea!