Our hometown is Udaipur. The best way to reach there from Pune is to take a train until Ahmedabad and then a taxi to Udaipur. Usually the train is an overnight one and reaches Ahmedabad about 6.30-7am.

One of morning rituals for most people is to have tea in the morning. So, the moment we get ready to board the taxi, we need to sip a piping hot tea at Ahmedabad station. About 15 years back, we wanted to have tea, but avoiding the rush at Ahmedabad station. We chanced this tea stall where a man in his 50’s was serving tea right opposite Ahmedabad’s Kalupur Railway Station.

It is our habit to start a conversation while we are waiting for something. We started chatting with this ‘chaiwale kaka.’ That time he told us that he was working hard so that he could make his son an engineer. We were quite surprised that a tea stall owner wanted to make his son an engineer and not another chaiwala. His thoughts impressed us. We took a decision that every time we land an Ahmedabad railway station, we shouldn’t leave without having his chai. It was one small way of contributing to his son’s education.

Yesterday we stopped at Kaka tea stall again. I saw a young guy helping kaka. As we was making tea, I asked him, “Kaka, is this your son?”

He proudly said, “YES!”

I enquired further, “Isn’t he an engineer?”

Kaka continued, “Yes he is an engineer. He has done Electronics Engineering, but doesn’t do a job anywhere. He has figured out ways to repair Air Conditioners as Ahmedabad is extremely hot. Also he has learnt how to repair mobiles and other electronic items. In the mornings until my workers at around 8am, my son helps me at this tea stall!”

I turned to his son and asked, “But isn’t the repair season for AC repair over? What will you do now?”

The son calmly said, “When this season is over, I start taking bookings for train and air tickets. When there is money in account, you can do something or the other, isn’t it?”

As I was gathering my thoughts, Kaka chipped in, “For him, it is like – let the money come in from anywhere. There needs to be a source of income!”

A sense of happiness and joy filled me as I sat in my taxi. There are umpteen examples of people who had a dream, but fizzles out in a few years. But here is this kaka who had a dream of making his son an engineer, which he has fulfilled and worked relentlessly for about 32 years now.

The son has gratitude for what his father has done for him. Hence he respects him and helps him in whatever ways he can! Isn’t this an amazing example of Father-Son duo working together respecting each other?

Next time you’re near Ahmedabad station, do visit this kaka right opposite Kalupur Railway Station. His stall is on the main road opposite two wheeler parking! Needless to say – the tea he serves is lovely too! His tea is a result of hardwork, love for family and his joy of serving people with their morning ritual!

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