Cup of Life

This is my 8th project speech on using props while delivering the speech. It took me 8 months to think of the idea while I was in US. I collected different kinds of tea-leaves and brands which I put on chart paper. Used milk, raw tea and lemon to show how tea won over coffee. I was disappointed when I lost out to another lady who was delivering her 5th project by just one vote (because I had not participated in the voting process). Big lesson for me.

"Chai Chai", shouts the porter at the station at the top of his coarse voice in the wee hours of the morning. Oh it’s so cold today, and I want to snuggle beneath those warm blankets. But alas, nobody ever thinks about me. Am just too tired of getting up so early everyday and waking up everyone else. But at times am lucky when the soft hands of a woman touch me while she makes a cup for her husband. Still on bed, when he takes his first sip me and then says “Aah ..” rubbing his eyes “Honey, you are so wonderful!" Ahh .. well was it not me that has made his day with this first cup of tea.

But it was not like this before. Oh how I remember those early days of my life, atop the Himalaya Mountains in Darjelling with acres and acres of greenery all around. And how I used to snuggle beneath my mother in those torrential rains and brave the sun too. My mother often used to say, "Son you are made for greater things in the world". But then I used to love dancing with the wind and playing with the butterflies and insects. Oh.. What a wonderful life that was!

Then one fine day, I awoke from my slumber hearing my brothers and sisters shrieking at the top of their voice. Oh.. what’s happened and before I could find out what’s going on, my twin leaves and the tender bud got plucked swiftly by an expert hand. I did not even have time to say good-bye to all my loved ones. Once inside the basket, the real journey of my life started unfolding.

At the end of the day, I found myself in a processing factory. There were so many like me and soon we soon became great friends. As tender as we were, we were really not prepared for what was coming in for us. But whatever said and done, my friends and myself promised that we shall always remain together and brave all odds. A little later in the evening I found hot air blowing over me to remove the excess water. I got choked and my mouth dried up. Next day we were put in a rolling machine and felt searing pain as my veins were broken and crushed. It was really tough and at night when we went to sleep, we found that our bodies had never ached this badly. One of my friends quickly said, "Hey we are much tougher than this, we can endure much more". Remember once you come out of this grilling, you can demand a price for whatever you are. With those words and strong determination we went through heat and fire till we became brown and strong. Training and examination over we have now been sorted and graded. We are now fully prepared to face the world.

Then the D-day appeared as we sat for the campus interviews – Lipton, Brook Bond, Tata, CTC and host of other companies came. Some of us were really lucky to be picked up early. I was a bit disappointed initially as I saw some of my closest friends getting through while I was left behind but then at the end I too got through with Brooke Bond. Never in my life had I felt so elated. Oh what a relief it was!!

Inside the office I soon found myself amongst lots of different types of teas - the green tea, the white tea, the oolong tea. All my colleagues seem to have some unique capabilities and experts in their own way. For instance, the green tea is delicate in taste and yields pale green beverage. The oolong tea on the other hand has a mixture of my character and green teas taste. I too thought of my strength to produce unique aroma and astringent taste. I knew that if I had to win I had to improve on my strengths and work on my weaknesses.

Even as we were trying to outperform each other, the leader of our group remarked "Guys, its time we shed our individualistic nature get united and show our strength. We have got an enemy.. Everybody clamored.. Who? Well he said the coffee. We gasped!! Even as he said, we found that coffee vending machine in the break room just beside us.
I felt like hitting and lashing it left and right. But then we discussed and decided that in order to survive in this world, we would need to make associations.

First we started our association with lemon. It was a huge success, as lemon tea became the talk of the town. Then, I associated myself with cold ice. I was shivering in its presence but thanks to those hard days of training. I withstood it and was again a huge success. At home also, I developed a special relationship with ginger and cinnamon to give that special taste. By this time, I had left my enemy the coffee miles behind and became the world's most favoured drink.

Everyone from an old man, a poor man, rich man, fit man, stressed man needed me at sometime of his day. I have this unique capability of giving them the much needed energy and rejuvenation. I am the cause why they take a little break from their monotonous work. I have often eavesdropped into so many interesting conversations but believe me if one had implemented even 1% of those creative and innovative ideas, this world would have been a different place to be. Not to mention, the little rumours and chitchats I get to hear from those lovely ladies when they come together after their siesta. One day they started a discussion on the best way to make tea - put milk first or tea first. This went on and on and they almost started to fight over each other when I thought of teaching them a lesson. I just spilled over. She ouched .. oh my god ... my white dress .. what am I to do now .. its all over. Though she tried Ariel, the stain still remains on her dress! I like being naughty at times.

Today am rich and famous. People like to drape me in costly packets and tea bags and sell at high prices. My proudest moment was when the great tabla maestro Zakir Hussain himself tasted me in front of millions of viewers and said "Wah Bhai Taj Boliye". International firms have taken me up and produced so many different flavours – orange, lemon, cranberry, Earl Grey, English Teatime, Herb tea, Mint tea.

But over the years, we from the tea fraternity realized that people lack one thing – that is the proper way to have a cup of tea. Some gulp it down, some take it like juice. So we have formed an association called “Tea-masters International” to improve the drinking habits of individuals and recommend the best way to drink tea

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.Live the actual moment.Only this moment is life”

Life is a challenge and makes you go through myriad of emotions at each moment. But remember
If you are cold, tea will warm you;

If you are too heated, it will cool you;

If you are depressed, it will cheer you;

If you are excited, it will calm you.

So have tea and face the world bravely as the world loves those who can perform under pressure and in the most difficult of circumstances. I smell and taste the best when put in hot water. So what are we waiting for? Come meet me just outside the Audi and raise a toast to the cup of life.

This write-up was also published in PGSEM newsletter in Feb 2008. Received good comments from Professors and friends alike.