Shilpa had few vices and one of it was her morning chai. She had to have it at 6 AM and it had to be the Lasa-Lamsa Chocolate Tea. She had lived in Hyderabad all through her growing years and it was the tea that she swore by. She had a lot of “ought to” and “should,” but considering her age it is to be expected she become even more wedded to the routine than others do. So, she had to prepare it the way her mother did. She disliked the tea made by anyone else other than her own. Despite the advancing age, she religiously woke up early, meticulously measured water, added the tea leaves. She added some grated ginger. Just as it simmered, she added a dash of milk, just enough to have a golden hue, a tawny shade, a rich butter scotch. She didn’t prefer the dandelion shade to her tea neither did she like the darker medallion. Just before she filtered the tea into her blue cup, she added a generous pinch of cinnamon and inhaled the woody flavour and felt her mood rise despite the ageing muscles and bones. The blue mug carrying her tea was one of the pair she had purchased with her then new husband some fifty years before. She sat down in the porch and savoured the first sip, the zing of the chocolaty- peppery-citrusy mix of ginger and cinnamon as it hit her taste buds.
And then one fine day in 2021, Shilpa knew something was wrong when the tea tasted different or rather it tasted not at all…
She called her doctor and caught the infection at an early stage before the damned virus hit her lungs. It was cinnamon she said to one and all when they asked her how she managed to identify the problem. Her tryst with cinnamon tea continues and you can catch her sitting on her porch with her blue cup inhaling the Cinnamon from her Chocolate Lasa-Lamsa Chai from Hyderabad.
This post was created for the Blogaberry Creative (Monthly) Challenge.
10 comments
Nice use of the prompt – CHOCOLATE and loved your style of narration. Flash fiction is a very short story that still has characters and a plot despite its brevity. You maintained it very well.
An outstanding use of the theme given and you made the best use of it in a story format. Flash Fiction is not my expertise but I will try to learn from your style and may be someday come up with Flash Fiction. Thank you so much for this fiction.
I checked and there is a branded chocolate tea that you have mentioned in the story. This was new to me, and you have used the tea quite innovatively. I am pretty clueless abotu flash fiction, and I enjoyed reading this story.
Enjoyed reading the story but did not understand the relationship between Alice and Shilpa .
Hey thanks a lot . Initially had named the character Alice. Later changed. The error slipped by
That’s a beautiful and sweet story. You’ve used the theme and word prompt so creatively. I’m amazed
What a captivating tale of Shilpa and her cherished morning ritual! It’s fascinating how something as seemingly simple as a cup of tea can hold so much significance and nostalgia.
Cinnamon does add a lovely fragrance and flavour to the tea. I remember how my MIL added a pinch to her tea every time. Nice narration.
Your routine of enjoying your morning chai resonates with many of us. Your dedication to your favorite tea blend, prepared just the way your mother taught you, shows your appreciation for tradition and comfort. It’s impressive how you maintain your routine, especially during challenging times. Your keen sense of taste, noticing the change in flavor, saved you from a potential health issue. Your love for your special chai and your porch moments with your blue cup are heartwarming and relatable.
An interesting way of weaving the chocolate-flavored tea into the story. Something I have not tasted before. I will surely check it out.