As the night kicked in, on came a woman on the streets of SB Road who guaranteed... she sold the best chai in the whole of Pune. Let’s meet, Sunita Pramod Agarwal urf Aunty Ji, a brash independent woman who’s earned her fanfare and a living sitting on the same side path of SB Road selling tea from 11:30 pm – 5:00 am.
The story of how she came about to being that Aunty Ji we all love, is a rather Bollywoodish Tale. Married 40 years ago, a frail baniya woman from Agra shifted into Nanapet, Pune. A few years into marriage a family feud cropped up which eventually led to her and her husband moving out of that home. It’s then that her husband started selling breakfast at the same spot and when income wasn’t enough she began to sit through the night selling tea. The rest as they say is history.
But besides all of this there were 2 other questions I didn’t have answers to, A. What was so special about a glass of Chai especially when she sold it at Rs 10? B. She set herself up at the same spot every night but not even the police ever bothered her, or so I had heard. The former was answered the minute I tasted her garam adrak ki chai, and the latter took a while to surface. Finally she spoke; “Police ke saath sambandh ache hain, aur aaj main jahaan hoon sirf unki dua se. Hum unki izzat karte hain, aur woh humari.” After her husband passed away 5 years back the police told her “Vidhwa ke aasoon poch, aur kaam kar” (Wipe these tears of a widowed and get back to work). And, thus started this relationship, which quite honestly is very surprising in today’s times.
When asked about competition, she overtly says that there is no competition what so ever. And why would there be? Every customer there vouches for the fact that the chai has no water content. She uses only Chitale milk (priced 10 Rs higher than Amul for every litre.), the best of sugandh elaichi and a lot of love.
A little more probing led into finding out that she now owns over 3 flats around the city, has 2 educated daughters, and one very beautiful 2 year old granddaughter. Then why, why would she still bury herself into making Chai for 6 straight hours every night?
All aunty had to say then was, “Mujhe ab in Bache logon se aur Business se bahut pyaar hai.” She’s a woman who wants to sell tea until her last breathe, and with a hint of nostalgia she added ‘If I were to die, I would like to die selling tea to these kids and those people who’ve made me Aunty Ji.’
A chulah stove; couple of vessels; a stool to sit on; stock of cigarettes, cream rolls, mik and ChaiPatti with a mob around in a 1-foot / 2-foot area on the side path.
- by NIKITA CHOTALIA
The story of how she came about to being that Aunty Ji we all love, is a rather Bollywoodish Tale. Married 40 years ago, a frail baniya woman from Agra shifted into Nanapet, Pune. A few years into marriage a family feud cropped up which eventually led to her and her husband moving out of that home. It’s then that her husband started selling breakfast at the same spot and when income wasn’t enough she began to sit through the night selling tea. The rest as they say is history.
But besides all of this there were 2 other questions I didn’t have answers to, A. What was so special about a glass of Chai especially when she sold it at Rs 10? B. She set herself up at the same spot every night but not even the police ever bothered her, or so I had heard. The former was answered the minute I tasted her garam adrak ki chai, and the latter took a while to surface. Finally she spoke; “Police ke saath sambandh ache hain, aur aaj main jahaan hoon sirf unki dua se. Hum unki izzat karte hain, aur woh humari.” After her husband passed away 5 years back the police told her “Vidhwa ke aasoon poch, aur kaam kar” (Wipe these tears of a widowed and get back to work). And, thus started this relationship, which quite honestly is very surprising in today’s times.
When asked about competition, she overtly says that there is no competition what so ever. And why would there be? Every customer there vouches for the fact that the chai has no water content. She uses only Chitale milk (priced 10 Rs higher than Amul for every litre.), the best of sugandh elaichi and a lot of love.
A little more probing led into finding out that she now owns over 3 flats around the city, has 2 educated daughters, and one very beautiful 2 year old granddaughter. Then why, why would she still bury herself into making Chai for 6 straight hours every night?
All aunty had to say then was, “Mujhe ab in Bache logon se aur Business se bahut pyaar hai.” She’s a woman who wants to sell tea until her last breathe, and with a hint of nostalgia she added ‘If I were to die, I would like to die selling tea to these kids and those people who’ve made me Aunty Ji.’
A chulah stove; couple of vessels; a stool to sit on; stock of cigarettes, cream rolls, mik and ChaiPatti with a mob around in a 1-foot / 2-foot area on the side path.
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