You inspired me- Part 1

I remember this day very well. I, in fact, can never forget this day. The 24th day of February, 2012. This day gave me courage to fight the odds of my life. This day taught me what it is to live. This day put forth the meaning of life to me. This inspiring day I met young Veer Deol.
Veer was born in Mumbai and eventually shifted to Kerala when he was 10years old. He admired nature like no one did and was very young, maybe in his early 20s. His parents divorced each other when he was in college and since then, he preferred living alone. He had an elder sister, to whom he was very close in his family. She lived in Kochin.
I met Veer, not at my Chai shop, but on the middle of the highway, when I was riding back to my shop from the town. He asked me for a lift. He looked tired and but not dirty. He had short hair and had an unshaven beard. He carried with himself a rucksack bag, perfect for his travels. He looked like he deserved a lift more than anyone on the highway that day, trust me.
"Any place closeby to rest?", he asked, in hindi. I understood the language well as I worked at Raichur, a small town near Pune with my uncle. I was unemployed and he decided to lift me up in life with that wonderful job of a table-cleaner. I was sarcastic, but whatever I am today is because of him.
"Yes, sit", I told him. We drove to my tea-shop. I had a small room at my shop where I slept at nights if I got late. I would not mind letting Veer stay there, if he asked. He looked matured and strong for his age, not physically but mentally. His eyes had reason as to why he stood there. Why he was on one of the hundred highways in our country with a bag and without any contact with the outside world? What made him let go off everything? I wanted to ask him all these questions and many more, but I instead said, "Here, take this room. You can rest here".
"Can I spend the night here?", he asked me with a soft voice. He looked like a loved kid. "Yes! Definitely", I told him and handed him a blanket. "What's your name, son?" I asked him. "Veer Deol, bhaiya. Call me Veer", he replied. I nodded and left. He slept soon, and woke up just in time for the dinner.

Singara Chennai.

As I wondered where I had kept the jar of sugar last night, I heard Raghav's voice nearing the shop. He was with a new friend, unknown to me. I had not seen him here anytime before.
"Two teas, Anna. My account!", he said. This was his habit- "My account". What Raghav used to practice was something different and logical. He would have his account with me for whatever he brought from the shop including cigarettes, tea, etc., and he would clear the account at the end of the week. I trusted him, as for the past 3 years, he had not missed once.

"Who is he?" I asked, as Raghav came to take their teas. "1st year, Anna. Very good boy. His name is Aurav. He is from your city, Chennai!". As soon as he said Chennai, I felt an understanding grow towards Aurav, as if I had knew him all along.

Chennai or let me call it Madras the capital city of Tamil Nadu, is where I grew up. Madras is a brilliant city, not only because I grew up there but also because I have seen and felt the beauty of Madras. Those beaches where you see filmy couples sit and romance or the ripped Tamil men with thick mustaches playing Rugby fiercely, little later to realise that they are all policemen and it is their past-time, that is Madras for you. The temples my mom took me to, the fairs where I played my heart out, the "Pongal pandigai" as we call it and the vibrant food dishes, made me fall for Madras. So why did I end up here? I will let you know soon. 

"Oh yes, Madras. Nice..", I murmured and smiled.

Unlocked a new achievement!

As I stood near my cash desk and watched the technicans fit my new television and the antenna, students surrounded the shop in awe. I could feel the excitement in the air as the boys started to suggest me different channels which they wanted at the shop.
"Anna, super! There is no chance for me to attend college from now. Do not forget to subscribe ESPN and Star Sports anna!"
"Anna, subscribe MTV and let the music play at the shop 24x7!"
"Anna, Fashion TV? Please. They catch us if we surf on the college wi-fi", he stopped as I looked back and stared. "C'mon, it was just a suggestion!" he continued. Everyone burst out laughing, I too did.
They finished fitting the TV as I asked one of the boys to check if everything was fine with the remote and TV. Channels started to display and within seconds, Bollywood and Kollywood songs were blaring at my tea shop. I was delighted and smiled from ear to ear when students wished me for my new achievement- the only tea shop to have a TV in the surroundings of the college.
Venky and his friends had just arrived at the shop.
"If you do not mind Anna, can we watch a football match here, tomorrow night?" asked Venky, a third year Mech student as he put his hand inside the jar of biscuits. "It is a Champions League match anna, very prestigious tournament in world football, similar to how Champions League t20 works. Please anna!". I was supposed to spend a week's night at the tea shop as my wife left for her parent's house. I thought about the idea of keeping the shop open all night and serving tea to the boys. "Watching these boys enjoy the game would be fun", I thought.
"Sure! The shop will be open tomorrow all night. Feel free to come. Tell your friends too! Now tell me what to you want? Tea or Coffee? Vada is hot and tasty, try them", I told the boys while pointing at the vadas. They looked delicious, indeed.

A Sunday morning about bikes.

"Anna, two strong teas with sugar and one strong tea without sugar, please", an Afro-haired boy, nearly in his 20s, ordered me. He was accompanied by his two friends, both looked younger than him. He asked for three cigarettes, lit them and joined his friends while I was dexterously busy making their teas.

It was 7am on a bright, Sunday morning and I had just opened my shop. I had to pay the milkman for the ten liters of milk that I had brought yesterday when I heard one of the boys talk about buying a new bike.
 "How is Bajaj Avenger? Is it worth buying?" asked the shortest boy who had long hair and a goatee with a cigarette in his right hand. He seemed to look like a bike lover as I have seen him adoring many college bikes before which stop at my shop. "Ahh, Bajaj Avenger? No. Bad reviews from my friends. Try getting the new Duke, it is amazing!", the Afro boy spoke, as I finished making 3 strong teas for them and asked them to take it. As they came to get their teas, the third boy opened up, "Duke is quite costly, and for a first bike, I don't think such a powerful engine is necessary. Your first bike should give you control on gears and as you know, a bike averagely picks up faster than a moped. One should get used to that also. What if you get a Duke and cannot manage it, at first?". The boy seemed to talk smart, I have seen him several times at my shop,only with his Afro friend. They returned back to their plastic seats which they had set sticking to the wall so that they could lean back on the wall comfortably. "That's valid, surely! But, if he is going for looks, no bike will have looks and a less powerful engine. Take r15 for instance, it looks god-like! But, you get a powerful engine too. It is tough to find a properly balanced bike when one has to think about money too", said the Afro boy. He continued, "Hmm, why not a RX-135? You can buy a second-hand from Chennai and then, re-model it with your own style. I would prefer a Maroon color", he stood up to return his empty glass to me and paid me for the teas. He picked up three more cigarettes and lit them. He asked one of his friends for an extra 18 rupees as the third boy came up to return their glasses and paid me. They began to leave, while his friend was still in deep thought about the RX plan, sitting on the chair while resting on the wall. "That sounds good! Actually you have a RX right? How's it?" he asked, while he stood up from the chair and stretched. ."Its brilliant. The exhaust is orgasmic and the feel is just too good. Don't ask me if I am going to sell it, because I never will!" said the Afro boy who continued by imitating the sound of the exhaust, "drrrenn, drrrrrennnn, drr drr drren! Ahh! I need to get back soon to Chennai. My bike is calling me!"
After staring for a while at his senior friend and his antics, the boy with the goatee spoke with excitement in his eyes, "Soon, very soon, I ll come pick you up on my RX:..." before he could finish, his senior friend continued, *laughs* Thanks, but there is no need. Tell me where you want to meet, I ll join you with my RX. You ride yours, okay?", he finished and laughed at the other boy, continued by his third friend as they started to leave.
*sighs* "Fine!" said the boy and walked behind his friends. "See you, anna!", the boy said as he turned back to wave me good-bye. I smiled and waved back at him.