There’s something about a cup of tapri chai that makes thoughts flow effortlessly. As a graduate student in Pune, cozying up with my friends over a cup of tapri chai always concocts nostalgic memories—of friendships, romance, and theorizing everything, interspersed with economics and random thoughts.
Maybe it’s the rhythm of life at a roadside stall—the hiss of boiling tea, the chatter of strangers, the aroma of ginger and cardamom swirling in the air. Or maybe it’s the way chai slows time, letting us pause, reflect, and sip on life one moment at a time. Over winter especially, the significance of tapri chai felt even more heartening.
Some days, musings over chai are deep—about dreams, destiny, and the stories we carry. Other times, they’re fleeting—like why monsoon rain feels more poetic when paired with a cutting chai or why the best conversations happen when tea is poured into tiny, imperfect cups.
At the tapri, wisdom is served and with each sip, I let my thoughts wander, embracing the randomness of it all.
Care for a cup? Let’s muse together.
Random musings 
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