To the Morning Streets, Dhaba(s) and my Regular Buddies!

A random Tea Stall at Calcutta.

Namaskar,

Every things are coming on track, slowly. How’s your life been? Started going to work after a clean break?

And, here I’m extremely sorry for the late post. Too late, you can say *grinning face with sweat*! Yes ‘cos, yeh toh emojis ka zamana hain.

In this post all I’m gonna talk about is morning air and healthy vibes, as you can read the same in the title. During my college days, me with my friend — The Food Blogger (@street_food_map) used to travel around Calcutta (as I’ve mentioned in my previous posts). Here, I’m gonna focus on few places where we used to visit on like regular basis. Like daily. Monday to Saturday, I guess.

Balwant Singh‘s Eating House also known as Balwant Singh’s Dhaba.

This is an iconic Dhaba in Calcutta, 90 year old Punjabi Dhaba (restaurant). Now, you must be wandering why and what is Dhaba. “Dhaba is a roadside food stall, organized by Punjabis mainly.” Okay, I’m not going into any History and making this post a boring one!

We used to arrive at this place like at 7 AM approx, after having a bhaand (cup) of chai (tea). We visit there again to have another cup. It was a ritual for us. The beginning months were cool and we really got attached to this place. Every worker over there recognize us. The cashier became our friend. It was like if we didn’t visit there at some time, they used to worry that are we okay. Yes, we have built a relationship, a bond with/to that place.

Two chai bhaands at Balwant Singh’s Dhaba.

After few months, we disliked that tea. Not tea in particular but the tea of that dhaba only. It tastes like shit. (Sorry to the owner or the worker over there, if you’re reading this. Really, no offense!) But that doesn’t stop us going there. We used to go there around same time, not daily but regularly. So that they don’t forget us also we too didn’t want to forget that place!

We used to sit there for hours and chit chat. The dhaba opens at 5 AM and people around there come and have chai and namkin as their snacks. Usually, the people come after jogging, exercise or morning walk to rest and feed their soul! So do us, we were the early visitors with some more other students we used to found sometimes.

Street Wall Art nearby Balwant Singh’s Dhaba.

We found this wall painting near the dhaba. It was an amazing sight. I have many pictures of my friends posing in this street. I remember ‘cos I used to click them. XD (if I may use it, here!)

Indian Coffee House.

During daytime, we used to go “Indian Coffee House”. And “during day means like after 11 AM” for us! It’s more like a cafe. This place is very famous for the college students studying in Presidency College, Calcutta University, etc. Or whenever you visit “College Street”, you m u s t visit Coffee House. Here, you’ll find every age of groups from college students to retired or working professionals. This is mostly for adda like you meeting a friend after long time, this be the best place to sit and rant about life (or anything you want) for hours!!

One day, we really got lucky and have the chance to click it while it was just open, with no people and empty chairs gossiping who all are coming and complaining about those same old shit again.

Indian Coffee House waiting for their people!

At Coffee House, we used to sit and talk about some regular college things. Stuffs like, which books to buy for the upcoming exams, the boy behind you is staring from 27 minutes, I want to order one more cup of coffee and many more. This place is noisy and full of people around you talking, complaining some shit or other still you’ll manage to find peace with yourself and complain more! This place is a vibe in itself, words will fail and I’ll not be able to describe it’s beauty.

Chai at Kona Dukaan at Dalhousie.

When we got tired of Balwant Singh’s chai we used to join here. This too, opens up early at morning like 6 AM. And, I can’t deny this place serves the amazing tea! The name Kona means the corner. The name is so ‘cos of the location of the stall. It’s right opposite Calcutta Stock Exchange.

So many tea stories, right? Well tea is a healthy vibe to me for early morning. What about you? What story or stories you recollect about your college days? It can be fun and can be boring, don’t decide it yourself and let me help you! Comment your stories or your healthy morning vibes fas-ssssst.

Phir Milenge!