My day starts

with a cup of tea.

Once, maid aunty fed me in bed—

life felt luxurious.

A warm cup of tea

always comforted me.

On heavy bleeding days,

tea turned into coffee.

Different teas

for different moods—

Masala tea on happy days,

Elaichi tea on off days,

Ginger tea on depressed days,

Green tea after heavy meals,

Black tea on rainy evenings.

Tea was a part of life.

And then, suddenly—

tea became heavy

in guest cups.

Matrimonial apps

turned elaichi tea

into white ceramic

guest-cup conversations.

That’s when I noticed—

I am not everyone’s cup of tea.

Somehow,

life poured me into a cup.

Tea turned into morning coffee,

then slowly—

into morning sickness.

Now,

a warm cup of tea

feels like a luxury.

That’s how

this love story with tea evolved.

We still keep in touch—

not as warm as before.

But still…

a cup of tea can warm me,

whether it is hot or cold.

-Dr Amritha S.S