Amid pandemic, take-away the new mantra at famous Giani tea stall

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 25

Giani tea stall, an iconic spot for “Chai pe charcha” on Cooper Road here has resumed functioning after almost two months of closure due to the lockdown. However, the hustle and bustle at the spot is missing.

Long queues of vehicles along the road that leads to Bhandari Bridge have now disappeared. Those uncountable red plastic chairs spread across the market lane on the roadside now also remain empty. This would be one of the favourite spots of passersby, especially morning walkers, who would sit in groups and hold discussions ranging from politics to routine gossip over a cup of tea.

Stall owner Gurmeet Singh said they had never ever dreamed about such a situation in life. Covid-19 had badly affected their business. “Jaan hai to jahaan hai... par jaan vi tahi hai je kamm kaar te hath per chalde rehan. (Health is wealth, yet life is fruitful only if you have work and your organs are working),” he said. Gurmeet makes sure that his workers follow social distancing and adopt hygiene and cooks wear gloves and mask.

Since dine-in is prohibited under the norms, take away is the new mantra. A steel table has been placed at the entrance to stop anyone from entering the shop.

During the normal course, the stall was visited by numerous politicians, including Parkash Singh Badal, Capt Amarinder Singh and Navjot Sidhu, and Bollywood actors Rishi and Ranbir Kapoor. “I am missing those morning get-togethers at my shop. Discussions over happenings in and around the city would also update my knowledge without reading any newspaper,” he said.

About his changed schedule, he said, “Now we come at 8 am and wind up by afternoon. I am used to working for over 12 hours at a stretch. I could not sit idle at home. I come here just for a change, whereas there is nothing like business. Due to the lockdown, the sale has been badly affected,” he said.

Gurmeet said his grandfather has opened a tea stall by the same name in Lahore before Partition. “ After Partition, the identical stall was started here”, he said while avoiding to reveal the secret of his unique tea recipe.

Karan Pal Singh and his wife said, “It is the trademark of Amritsar. Tea and snacks served here have a unique taste,” he said. Vishal, a mobile trader, said they were addicted to this place. “ Kachoris you get here has no match in the entire city. The same is with tea,” he said.

Advocate Manish, said he had specially come to have snacks and tea. “This is one place where you certainly come across your friends or others acquaintances.”

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