Magnanimi-tea

They sat around with the photos and albums strewn across the room. The children looked at one of the photos in awe. "Papa! Look at the beer bottles in your hands! And these tins?" said Ragani with a curious smile. "And you're holding it up like it's the World Cup!" added Veer.

Pam and Vijay took a look at the photo and then began reminiscing as Vijay sipped on his cup of Darjeeling tea. "This picture was taken in 1986," said Vijay. "I was acting for Mr Jeewan Pandey in Meenglas T.G. at that time... Aahh, those days," he sighed, as the memories of 40 decades came rolling in.

A recent photo of the Parmars: Veer, Pam, Vijay, Ragani and her husband Jayant Rohatgi

Vijay had driven into Meenglas factory in the Willy's Jeep to see the kal saab busy with the cold-weather overhaul. "Akhil, let us go for a drive today," he said. "Yes, sir, I will be ready in ten minutes." Soon, both of them were out of the garden, enjoying the January chill on their faces as they crossed the Jaldhaka River bridge. Though the thrill of the open jeep was welcome, the 30-minute drive through the forest had left them chilled to the bones.

The Clubhouse, Nagrakata. Photo Credit: Kuljyot GIll

Vijay parked his Jeep and stepped out with Akhil at Nagrakata Club. Morning fog sat low over the baseline, and the net sagged with dew. The thwack of the tennis ball on the racquet echoed throughout the clubhouse. On the table beside the tennis court sat an impressive collection of tins of baked beans, sweet corn, sausages, tuna fish, and juices. Behind the array of tins, lined up like soldiers as if awaiting inspection, stood bottles of beer.

Upendra and Swaraj Sharma were warming up on the court as Inder and Vandana practiced on the other court. Harleen, Deepak Dua, Manu Ganpati and a few others stretched on the side enthusiastically. "Welcome, welcome," boomed Vimlesh Sharma and Ashim Barua, beckoning the bearer, Somra, to serve hot cups of tea. The two were the Burra Saabs at Hope & Jiti T.G., respectively, at the time.

The porch and the tennis courts, Nagrakata Club. Photo credit: Kuljyot Gill

The Nagrakata Club members were magnanimous to offer Vijay and Akhil to join the "Tins & Bottles" tennis tournament. The partners had already been chosen out of the hat. So it was decided that Vijay and Akhil would play as a team.

Akhil looked at Vijay nervously, "Sir, I'm a novice at tennis and barely know the game."

"Oh, it's just a game, we will play for fun," Vijay encouraged. The fog was clearing now, though the grass courts still held the night's chill. The planters and the ladies sat around sipping their drinks and teas. As the ball bounced around from one rally to another, so did the conversations. Vimlesh and Ashim lounged on the chair next to the court, basking in the winter sun with drinks in their hands, making lazy circles with celery stalks. "Lovely weather,"

said Vimlesh and Ashim nodded in agreement, their eyes on the game.

The sun was high now, flattening the shadows. Through a miraculous series of lucky bounces, Vijay and Akhil defeated opponents far stronger than themselves and reached the finals. Akhil later described it as "divine intervention disguised as sportsmanship."

The match was turning into a grind. Akhil's legs were heavy, but Vijay was tall and powerful, and so were his serves, which started biting his opponents. Everyone cheered for the aces and clapped to encourage the teams when they double-faulted. The challengers, quiet till now, began picking their spots, a lob here, a cross-court slice there. The bearers, Somra and Mangra, in their white starched uniforms, went past again. "Last round saab, nimbu paani... meetha paani?" But everyone was too engrossed in the final match.

The score slats showed 40-30. Vijay cracked a return down the line. Akhil sprinted to the ball. Volley done. There was silence for a second, and then came an explosion of cheers. Vijay threw his hands up to the sky, celebrating their victory. Akhil grinned. They hugged. Vijay said, "We've got a lot of sunshine and fresh air today, Akhil," and then they congratulated the other team.

Mutual friends of Vijay Parmar and Akhil Tiwari

Mrs. Swaraj Sharma thanked the assistants and their other halves for their participation and organization. She then called upon the victors to felicitate them. The hamper consisted of all the tins and bottles that had stood on the table earlier.

Vijay and Akhil popped open a bottle each in celebration. Then, in the finest traditions of tea, they shared the entire prize with everyone around. By the time the beer was finished, nobody could remember who had won, but everyone remembered the tins and bottles. Although they had arrived as accidental players, Vijay and Akhil left with a rich experience and richer bonding.

They drove back to Meenglas as the dusk was setting in, happy to have won and happier to have shared.

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Vijay Says:

Mr Vijay Singh Parmar and Mrs Pam Parmar

The club life in Tea was the highlight of enjoyment after a hard week of work. It was a day every planter looked forward to, a place for hard games followed by a jam

session, drinking, dancing and mingling with the colleagues and absorbing the great tales of the senior planters and their advice was the icing on the cake.

The club tournaments like Tins and bottles in Tennis or Table tennis, Edinburgh cricket shield, 11-a-side and five-a-side football, were always played with high spirits. Golf was another level. Not to forget the Ladies DLGU. They all added to the glamour and charm of the tea club activities.