Silently Falling in Love: Again (Edited)

Chapter 16 - Cup of Chai

Anjali – September 2006

"How was the first day of school yesterday?" Raj asked, as he got ready to leave for the office around 6am.

"The same as usual. The same snobby parents with their snobby kids bragging about their wonderful summer vacations with the same plastered on fake smiles." I responded.

"Really, Anjali, you're going to do this again?"

"What is so great about this school that you think this is the end all for our children?" I asked.

"God, Anjali, we go through this every year! The edge this school will give them is enormous. I work in the real world and I know how tough it is. You need every edge you can get," Raj repeated for the thousandth time.

"But they're our kids they will do fine," I defended.

"All you want is fine? The world is more competitive today than it ever has been. This school gives them a fantastic education, great connections, and wonderful activities to create their character. They need all of that if they're going to excel in their lives."

I shut down and stopped arguing. I hated arguing. Raj left shortly afterwards, and I pulled out the ingredients for making chai, the black tea, cardamom, ginger, brown sugar, whole milk, and my favorite fresh mint.

I grated the ginger while the tea boiled and then dropped in 2 teaspoons. I opened the cardamom pods and crushed them using my small mortar and pestle. I could have ground it in advance but grinding it right before using it gave the tea a better taste. As I crushed the cardamoms, Raj's words about living in the real world replayed in my head. The silent accusation, as if I didn't live in the real world because I no longer worked. A job I gave up to support him and take care of the family. An architecture degree replaced by an MRS degree. Four years of college and thousands of dollars all down the drain.

I poured in the milk and let it simmer for the next several minutes. After five years at the school, I had made no close friends. I did things with families at the school, but no one I would call in an emergency. Finally, I added the crushed cardamom and then the torn mint leaves.

As it simmered for the last few minutes, I pulled down a mug for myself and a coffee thermos. I sieved the tea and poured it in the coffee thermos for Alex and my own in my favorite mug. I sat and drank my tea. I stared at the coffee thermos. If Alex shared my venting with other parents, everyone would know how much I hated the kids' school. And then Raj would kill me and blame me for sabotaging the kids. Maybe I was mad at myself rather than the school, but it was easier to blame the school, wasn't it?

...

I searched for Alex after drop-off, hoping I hadn't missed him. I spotted the dark-haired guy in jeans and a white t-shirt with a company logo on it.

I caught up to him. "Hi Alex. How are you?"

He turned around and smiled at me and I noticed he had blue-green eyes. Stunning blue-green eyes.

"Hi, Anjali. I'm good, how are you?"

"A cup of chai for you. I made it myself this morning," I handed him the coffee thermos.

"You made a cup of chai for me?" he asked incredulously.

"Don't worry I'm not telling everyone that you have a sailor's mouth and can't stand most of the other mom's here," he said as his face lit up in a smile and I saw the crinkles at the corners of his eyes and his eyes shined even more.

"Thanks, Alex, but the chai is still for you, to ensure you say nothing," I said as I thrust the coffee thermos towards his chest.

"Thanks." Calmly he took a sip. "Will I die if I drink this?"