The Little Chaiwalla / Madhavi Vaidya

He would wait close to the tunnel for the train that passed every two hours. The tunnel chiseled through the mountains and made a zigzag way for the train to pass. And no sooner would he feel the vibrations on the railway tracks, he would jump and then start walking fast looking over his shoulder to spot the train from inside the tunnel. As soon as he would sight the train he would wave his hand at it and then fasten his pace and start running. He would run along the sidelines of the tracks to catch up with the speed of the train that would make an appearance out of the tunnel in a matter of minutes and then would halt after sometime.

Gopi was a little businessman selling tea, the Chaiwalla for the passengers as the train would halt for a few minutes in between the tunnel and the next station. Dressed in Khaki shorts and a white shirt, his look was completed with a pair of worn out chappals, the ones that were not even his size. He would clank some metal object on the train so to make the announcement of his arrival. He would then raise his tea basket; a typical basket with six small compartments that would hold small empty disposable earthen tea cups. On his left shoulder hung a rugged bag that carried the extra tea cups for use. The teapot in his other hand looked typically overused, a little deformed, marked with tea-stains and its mouth giving way to a steady stream of steam.

Gopi's small house in the valley, stood apart as it perched itself on the brow of the hill. It was somewhere in between the tunnel and the station of Deola, a hill station that was famous for monkeys and occasional sightings of leopards too. So apart from the daily adventures of Gopi's life; his main motivation to sell tea was to be able to sight a leopard someday.

His parents would sell Pakoras and Vadas at Deola station. But little Gopi took pride in the fact that running alongside the train and conquering the fear of encountering leopards added spice to his already adventurous life in the valley.

As soon as the train would puff to a halt on the tracks, Gopi would flash his big teeth that protruded a little out of his mouth. He would then shout at the top of his lungs; 'Chai, chai, garam chai, pachaas paise ko ek' (hot tea for fifty paisa each). Then while clanging his kettle against the train from one window to another the onlookers would sometimes respond; some curious, some miffed, some sleepy, some hungry and some very thirsty. Children would giggle at him but the elders would many a times get irked by Gopi's repetitive, long-winded words and his high pitched tone.

Amongst the crowd of other vendors who would sell Raspberries, Mulberries, Peanuts and Corn, Gopi the Chaiwalla quite easily succeeded in making good business. To his luck their wasn't much of a competition in the tea department though; except for another tea vendor, an old, weary woman who would sit under a tree in a corner all by herself and would occasionally try to raise her weak voice which almost always went unheard. But Gopi would be kind enough to share a rupee or a two with the old lady on some days when he would earn more than he expected.

In a matter of ten minutes he would empty his little kettle. And then as the train's shrill whistle once again cut through the peace and tranquil of the beautiful valley that was devoid of any human menace, Gopi would stand and watch the train that sluggishly but steadily moved and caught up with speed and rhythm in its wheels. He would then start counting his little earnings. He would keep at it till the train was gone far ahead, vanishing only with its echo being left behind. Gopi would then play with the monkeys and occasionally feed them some peanuts.

It would get quite dark even in the early evenings. His parents who would arrive a little later had many a times warned Gopi against the leopard wanderings.

One July afternoon as Gopi was waiting for the train he heard something in the bushes above the tunnel. A few steps back and he saw something move in the trees on the slope. He moved further behind and there it was the Leopard. The wild beast looked beautiful and graceful. Swaying its tail it fixed its eyes with Gopi. To his disbelief this was indeed the awaited moment and now his life was going to be even more exciting.

But he soon realized that it wasn't as exciting and funny as he thought it to be. Slowly the leopard was getting a bit too close. The leopard today had surprised Gopi by emerging unalarmed in the afternoon instead of the late evenings. Sweat trickled down Gopi's forehead as his breathe became heavier and louder.

With just a few meters' distance between the leopard and Gopi it was now clear that the beast had apparently ventured out at this hour hunting for its lunch. Gopi was almost sure that his carefree, adventurous life would soon come to an end. And all of a sudden a shrill whistle emerged from the tunnel making the leopard disappear in the trees. Before Gopi could fathom what had happened the train passed by him leaving a numb Gopi sigh with relief. After a few meters when the train halted Gopi recollected his composure. The train had indeed come as a savior to Gopi that fateful day.

Gopi thereafter continued his life as a Chaiwalla. He now no longer waited for any more leopard sightings, instead enjoyed his little mischief with the local monkeys and his encounters with the varied human species. And his savior continued to trail everyday through Gopi's little world of adventure.